The situation in Afghanistan A/RES/72/10 improving Afghanistan’s electoral process, welcomes in this regard the issuance of the electoral law on 28 September 2016 and the announcement by the Independent Election Commission of Afghanistan that parliamentary and district council elections will take place on 7 July 2018, reiterates its support for holding credible, inclusive and safe elections, and calls upon the Government to continue to implement the necessary electoral reforms and prepare for elections to further restore trust and confidence in the electoral process and its institutions; 25. Welcomes the increasingly wide and comprehensive dialogue on the political transition towards strengthening the unity of the Afghan people, and underscores its importance for consolidating democracy and Afghan political stability; 26. Calls upon the Government of Afghanistan to continue to reform effectively the public administration sector in order to implement the rule of law and to ensure good governance and accountability, and welcomes the commitments, efforts and progress made by the Government in this regard; Rule of law, human rights and good governance 27. Emphasizes that the rule of law, human rights and good governance form the foundation for the achievement of a stable and prosperous Afghanistan; 28. Recalls the constitutional guarantee of respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms for all Afghans, without discrimination of any kind, stresses the need to fully implement the human rights provisions of the Afghan Constitution, in accordance with obligations under applicable international law, in particular those regarding the full enjoyment by women and children of their human rights, and acknowledges efforts of the Government of Afghanistan in this regard; 29. Recognizes the recent election of Afghanistan to the Human Rights Council, and welcomes the commitment and responsibility assumed in upholding and promoting human rights at the national, regional and international levels, within the framework of relevant international human rights instruments to which it is a party; 30. Reiterates its concern at the destructive consequences of violent and terrorist activities, including against persons belonging to ethnic and religious minorities, by the Taliban, including the Haqqani Network, as well as Al -Qaida, ISIL (Da’esh) affiliates and other terrorist groups, violent and extremist groups and other illegal armed groups and criminals, for the enjoyment of human rights and for the capacity of the Government to ensure human rights and fundamental freedoms for all Afghans, stresses the need to further promote tolerance and religious freedom and to ensure respect for the right to freedom of expression and the right to freedom of thought, conscience or belief as enshrined in the Afghan Constitution and the international covenants that Afghanistan adheres to, emphasizes the necessity of investigating allegations of current and past violations, stresses the importance of facilitating the provision of efficient and effective remedies to the victims and of bringing the perpetrators to justice in accordance with national and international law, calls for full implementation of the mass media law, while noting with concern and condemning the continuing intimidation and violence targeting Afghan journalists, such as cases of abduction and even the killing of journalists by terrorist and extremist and criminal groups, urges that harassment and attacks on journalists be investigated by Afghan authorities and that those responsible be brought to justice, and welcomes in this regard the issuance of the presidential decree of 31 January 2016 outlining specific measures for ensuring the safety, security and protection of journalists; 17-20698 7/13