Security Council

5566^th Meeting (PM)

SECURITY COUNCIL PRESIDENTIAL STATEMENT DEMANDS RELEASE OF WOMEN, CHILDREN

BY LORD’S RESISTANCE ARMY, EXPEDITIOUS CONCLUSION OF PEACE PROCESS

Stresses Importance of Respect for Cessation of Hostilities,

Calls in All Parties to Commit to Long-Term, Peaceful Solution

The Security Council today demanded that the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA), one of the parties in the long-running conflict in northern Uganda, release immediately all women, children and other non-combatants, in accordance with its resolution 1621 (2005) on children and armed conflict, and that the peace process there be concluded expeditiously.

In a statement read out by Council President Jorge Voto-Bernales (Peru), the Council, noting that the conflict between the Government of Uganda and the LRA had caused the displacement of up to 2 million people and the death of about 100,000 people in the region, as well as leading to the death of eight United Nations peacekeepers in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, stressed the importance, for peace and stability in the region, of both parties respecting the 29 August cessation of hostilities, which had been renewed on 1 November.

In its statement, the Council, following closely the talks between the Government of Uganda and the LRA, which began in Juba, southern Sudan, in July, called on all parties to commit fully to a further long-term and peaceful solution to the conflict.  It invited United Nations Member States to support efforts to bring an end to the conflict, and to ensure that those responsible for serious violations of human rights and international humanitarian law would be brought to justice.

The meeting started at 12:05 p.m. and adjourned at 12:10 p.m.

Presidential Statement

The full text of presidential statement S/PRST/2006/45 reads as follows:

“The Security Council welcomes efforts aimed at bringing an end to the long-running conflict in northern Uganda, and is following closely the Juba talks process between the Government of the Republic of Uganda and the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA).  The conflict with the LRA has caused the displacement of up to 2 million people and the death of about 100,000 people in the region, as well as leading to the death of eight United Nations peacekeepers.

“The Security Council welcomes the cessation of hostilities which took effect on 29 August 2006, and was renewed on 1 November 2006, and stresses the importance, for peace and stability in the region, of both parties respecting that cessation of hostilities.  The Security Council commends the government of southern Sudan for facilitating this agreement, and for its efforts to further a long-term and peaceful solution to the conflict, and calls on all parties to commit themselves fully to this end.

“The Security Council demands that the LRA immediately release all women, children and other non-combatants, in accordance with Security Council resolution 1612 (2005) on children and armed conflict, and that the peace process be concluded expeditiously.

“The Security Council will continue to monitor developments closely.  It invites United Nations Member States to support efforts to bring an end to this conflict, so that peace and security can be restored to the region and the rule of law re-established, and to ensure that those responsible for serious violations of human rights and international humanitarian law are brought to justice.

“The Security Council welcomes the briefing provided by the Secretariat on 7 November 2006, which it will consider further, in particular in light of progress in the Juba talks process.  It recalls the briefing provided on 19 April 2006 by the Ugandan Foreign and Defence Ministers, the visit to Uganda of the Secretary-General’s Special Representative for Children and Armed Conflict in June 2006, and the briefings by the Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs on northern Uganda on 20 April and 15 September 2006.

“The Security Council welcomes the announcement by the Government of Uganda of the establishment of a Joint Monitoring Committee to oversee the delivery of a prioritized Emergency Action Plan to tackle the humanitarian issues in northern Uganda, looks forward to further progress on improving the living conditions for civilians in northern Uganda, measurable against clear benchmarks, and urges Member States to maintain their support to these efforts.  It also welcomes the Government of Uganda’s work so far on its Peace, Recovery and Development Plan to address the long-term needs of the region.”

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For information media • not an official record