A/RES/64/11 26. Calls for full respect of the human rights and fundamental freedoms of all, without discrimination of any kind, including on the basis of gender, ethnicity or religion, in accordance with obligations under the Afghan Constitution and international law; 27. Acknowledges and encourages the efforts made by the Government of Afghanistan in this respect, and expresses its concern at the harmful consequences of violent and terrorist activities by the Taliban, Al-Qaida and other extremist and criminal groups for the enjoyment of human rights and for the capacity of the Government to ensure human rights and fundamental freedoms for all Afghans; 28. Recalls Security Council resolutions 1674 (2006) of 28 April 2006 and 1738 (2006) of 23 December 2006, as well as the statement by the President of the Council of 14 January 2009, 7 on the protection of civilians in armed conflict, expresses its concern at the high number of civilian casualties, including women and children, notes that the Taliban, Al-Qaida and other extremist and criminal groups are responsible for the significant majority of civilian casualties, reiterates its call for all feasible steps to be taken to ensure the protection of civilians, and calls for additional appropriate steps in this regard and for full compliance with international humanitarian and human rights law; 6F 29. Recognizes the importance of holding free, fair, credible, secure and inclusive elections as crucial steps towards consolidating democracy for all Afghans, as identified in the Afghanistan Compact, stresses the responsibility of the Afghan authorities in this regard and the need for timely and orderly preparation of the forthcoming elections, calls upon the international community to continue to provide financial and technical assistance, recalls the leading role of the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan in coordinating these efforts, encourages international partners, including the European Union and the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, to send electoral observation missions and support teams at the request of the Government of Afghanistan, and calls upon the international community to continue to provide support to the Government to ensure the security of the elections; 30. Welcomes the steps taken by the Government of Afghanistan on justice sector reform, stresses the need for further accelerated progress towards the establishment of a fair, transparent and effective justice system as an important step towards the goals of strengthening the Government, providing security and ensuring the rule of law throughout the country, and urges the international community to continue to support the efforts of the Government in these areas in a coordinated manner; 31. Urges all concerned bodies, in this regard, to implement the National Justice Programme in a timely manner, and stresses the importance of improving security as well as legal rights and services for the Afghan people; 32. Acknowledges the progress made by the Government of Afghanistan and the international community towards devoting adequate resources to the reconstruction and reform of the prison sector in order to improve respect for the rule of law and human rights therein, while reducing physical and mental health risks to inmates; _______________ 7 6 S/PRST/2009/1; see Resolutions and Decisions of the Security Council, 1 August 2008–31 July 2009.