Ana Domínguez Rodríguez
Position Paper
France in UNSC
Youth in Afghanistan
The delegation of France shows deep concern in regard to the situation in Afghanistan,
specifically on how political instability, poverty and economic struggles, and extreme presence
of violence is affecting Afghan children. France urges action to be taken by the international
community.
France, aside from their dedicated efforts to bring peace to Afghanistan through military
strategies and as part of NATO and UN operations, has worried about the future development
of Afghanistan. French aid in Afghanistan during its previous transitional period in 2002 had
been focused on tackling economic deficient areas, such as bringing finance from the French
Development Agency (AFD) and Priority Solidarity Fund (PSF), focusing on agricultural
development and the creation of rural development programs, and, at the same time, France
has excelled with the provision of civil of up to 40 million euros per year. Additionally, France
has collaborated with the EU and the UN Development Programme for the implementation of
initiatives that aimed to strengthen the rule of law and improve the governance. (L'Ambassade
de la R.I. d'Afghanistan en France, n.d.) One of the most important achievements of France has
been the creation of the French Medical Institute for Mothers and Children (FMIC), as well as
Franco-Afghan schools (Lycée Esteqlal and Lycée Malalaï).
With the arrival of the Taliban in 2021, global aid has disappeared, still France has never ceased
its efforts. Through the Crisis and Support Center (CDCS) and the NGO Chaîne de l’Espoir,
nutritional products were sent to children suffering from malnutrition, as a joint operation with
the EU (Ministère de l'Europe et des Affaires étrangères, 2023). Nevertheless, France has deep
concerns on the situation of women and girls, due to the restrictions in labor and education,
and has highlighted so numerous times how this violates human rights and fundamental
freedoms. When it comes to children, France has denounced practices such as corporal
punishment (Broadhurst, 2023). This is why, France supports firmly UNAMA and works to
ensure compliance with Resolution 2593 (2021) of the UNSC (Broadhurst, 2023).
The Delegation of France has deemed action as necessary in order for children to stop being
victims in this political state and proposes the following: (1) Provide security and funding to
schools and hospitals, such as through the FMIC, (2) Continue to provide humanitarian
assistance to women and children, but through international led and supervised programs, (3)
Further expedite legal immigration processes to avoid extraditions that could endanger the lives
of refugees, and (4) Actively continue to support organizations such as UNAMA and
collaborate with other foreign development agencies that can help in this matter.
France has stated that these initiatives could help to make children not the target for recruitment
by the Taliban, it is important children are given opportunities early on in order for them to be
able to improve their economic status and consequently not having to resort to desperate
measures. When it comes to violence and political power, it will be hard for international action
to be carried out, the most effective measure to bring improvement shall be dedicated to
hospitals and schools and funding managed by foreign powers. With these proposals, France
calls other members to take action and assure children protection, education and a future.
References
Broadhurst, Nathalia. (2023, March 8). Security Council emphasizes that punitive restrictions
on women’s rights, escalating hunger, insecurity taking devastating toll in Afghanistan
| UN press. United Nations. https://press.un.org/en/2023/sc15222.doc.htm
Broadhurst, Nathalie. (2023, March 16). Afghanistan: France welcomes the unanimous
adoption of the resolutions on UNAMA. Permanent mission of France to the United
Nations in New York. https://onu.delegfrance.org/afghanistan-france-welcomes-the-
unanimous-adoption-of-the-resolutions-on-unama
Délégation Permanente d’Afghanistan Auprès de l’UNESCO et de l’ICESCO. L’Ambassade
de la R.I. d’Afghanistan en France. (n.d.). https://www.amb-afg.fr/en/aide_francaise
FMIC: Our History. French Medical Institute for Mothers and Children . (n.d.).
https://www.fmic.org.af/AboutUs/ourhistory/Pages/default.aspx
Ministère de l’Europe et des Affaires étrangères. (2023, March 9). Afghanistan – France
sends humanitarian aid to the Afghan people (09.03.23). France Diplomacy - Ministry
for Europe and Foreign Affairs. https://www.diplomatie.gouv.fr/en/country-
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people-09-03-23
