Afghanistan was unanimously elected on Tuesday as Chair of the 3rd Committee of the UN General Assembly for the upcoming 73rd Session and will be represented by Mahmoud Saikal, Afghanistan’s ambassador to the UN.

“The third committee of the UN General Assembly covers agenda items relating to a range of important human rights, social and humanitarian issues that effect people all over the world. It meets in regular session intensively from September to December each year, and thereafter as required,” a statement by the UN read. 

Afghanistan’s election, on behalf of the Asia-Pacific Group, as Chair of one of the key committees of the main body of the UN General Assembly signifies the international community’s recognition of Afghanistan’s significant gains in the field of human rights, according to the UN statement. 

In addition to its chairmanship of UNGA Third Committee for the 73rd session, Afghanistan is currently one of the Vice-President’s of the General Assembly and is a member of the Human Right’s Council (HRC) and Economic and Social Council.