News (Consolidated) - UNSOM

KABUL - The head of the United Nations drug and crime agency has called on Afghanistan to address the “growing problem of domestic drug consumption” in the country, which is the largest producer and cultivator of opium in the world.“There are more than one million opiate addicts in Afghanistan…

KABUL - In the wake of the terrorist attack in the Afghan capital of Kabul last Friday, which, amongst others, left four United Nations personnel dead, the head of a UN staff body has called on Member States to sign a UN convention designed to help ensure the safety of its personnel.Speaking at a…

KABUL - The Government of Afghanistan and a United Nations agency responsible for promoting international cooperation in education launched a national strategy on technical and vocational education and training earlier this week in their bid to increase the country’s skilled workforce.Afghanistan’s…

KABUL - A group of independent candidates who are contesting Afghanistan’s upcoming elections for Provincial Council seats announced today the formation of a so-called ‘Cooperation Council’ in order to work collectively in efforts to mitigate fraud, the monitoring of the election process and…

KABUL - In its effort to deter more farmers from cultivating opium poppy crops, the Government of Afghanistan plans to expand its award scheme for provinces that effectively implement poppy-eradication programmes.Launched by President Hamid Karzai in 2007, the Good Performers Initiative (GPI), which…

KABUL - A United Nations-backed high-level anti-corruption body said today that it found “significant vulnerabilities to corruption” in the work of three of Afghanistan's government ministries and its Civil Service Commission, while also highlighting “questionable practices” that affect peoples’…

KABUL - Excellencies, I am honoured to co-chair today’s special Joint Coordination and Monitoring Board meeting together with Minister Zakhiwal. I think we can all agree that while there have been some long meetings, and a few tough moments, discussions have been undertaken in a spirit of…

KABUL - The top United Nations official in Afghanistan, Ján Kubiš, said today that the international community, including the world body, remains “resolute in its long-term support for Afghanistan” while being clear about the need for progress on mutual commitments made under the Tokyo Mutual…

KABUL - A United Nations report released today said that female teachers are “urgently needed” to boost the education of girls in Afghanistan, which has the highest level of gender disparity in the world.“In Afghanistan, female teachers are vital for girls to be able to enroll in school, but women…

KABUL - Click here for the joint statement of the co-Chairs – Afghanistan’s Finance Minister Hazrat Omar Zakhilwal and United Nations Secretary-General’s Special Representative for Afghanistan Ján Kubiš – on the conclusion of the Special Joint Coordination and Monitoring Board (S-JCMB) meeting today…

KABUL - The United Nations human rights chief has warned that “hard-won gains” that Afghanistan has made since 2001 in a range of areas, including human rights, “may be forfeited” for the sake of short-term political goals as the country passes through momentous times of its history.“The human…

KABUL - The Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary-General for Afghanistan, Ján Kubiš, strongly condemns the killing of the two members of the election campaign team of one of the presidential candidates, Dr. Abdullah Abdullah. They were shot dead by unidentified gunmen in Herat city…