Security Council

5758^th Meeting (AM)

SECURITY COUNCIL EXTENDS STABILIZATION MISSION IN HAITI UNTIL 15 OCTOBER 2008,

UNANIMOUSLY ADOPTING RESOLUTION 1780 (2007)

 

Affirming that the security situation in Haiti had improved but remained fragile, the Security Council today extended the mandate of the United Nations Stabilization Mission in the country (MINUSTAH) for one year, while endorsing the Secretary-General’s recommendations to reconfigure its deployment.

Through resolution 1780 (2007), adopted unanimously, the Council decided that MINUSTAH should be extended until 15 October 2008, and that its military force level be reduced and its police component increased, in order to help the Mission better support the Haitian National Police to consolidate security gains in urban areas.  The military component would then consist of 7,060 personnel, while the police component would go up to 2,091.

Through the text, the Council also called on MINUSTAH to assist the Government to pursue comprehensive border management, underlining the need for coordinated international support in the effort.

In addition, it requested the Mission to expand its support to the Government’s efforts to strengthen State institutions at all levels, especially key ministries and agencies outside Port-au-Prince.

The meeting began at 10:12 a.m. and ended at 10:16 a.m.

Resolution

The full text of resolution 1780 (2007) reads as follows:

“The Security Council,

“Reaffirming its previous resolutions on Haiti, in particular its resolutions 1743 (2007), 1702 (2006), 1658 (2006), 1608 (2005), 1576 (2004) and 1542 (2004),

“Reaffirming its strong commitment to the sovereignty, independence, territorial integrity and unity of Haiti,

“Welcoming recent steps towards achieving lasting stability and democracy in Haiti,

“Welcoming the continuing achievements in Haiti’s political process, including through the peaceful holding on 29 April 2007 of the final round of local and municipal elections, and noting with satisfaction the number of women and youth engaged in this process,

“Recognizing the interconnected nature of the challenges in Haiti, reaffirming that sustainable progress on security, rule of law and institutional reform, national reconciliation, and development are mutually reinforcing, and welcoming the continuing efforts of the Government of Haiti and the international community to address these challenges,

“Recognizing that respect for human rights, due process and addressing the issue of criminality and putting an end to impunity are essential to ensuring the rule of law and security in Haiti,

“Acknowledging significant improvements in the security situation in recent months but noting that the security situation remains fragile,

“Emphasizing the importance of cooperation between Haiti and neighbouring and regional States in effectively managing and securing Haiti’s borders, and in line with the shared interest to secure these borders,

“Underscoring that international illicit trafficking of drugs and arms continues to affect the stability of Haiti,

“Commending the United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH), for continuing to assist the Government of Haiti to ensure a secure and stable environment,

“Emphasizing the role of regional organizations in the ongoing process of stabilization and reconstruction of Haiti and calling on MINUSTAH to continue to work closely with the Organization of the American States (OAS) and the Caribbean Community (CARICOM),

“Stressing the importance of establishing credible, competent and transparent governance, and encouraging the Government of Haiti to further strengthen State institutions,

“Welcoming the initial steps towards establishing a legislative framework for judicial reform through collaboration between the legislative and executive branches,

“Commending the establishment of the Consultative Commission on Prolonged Pretrial Detention, and expressing its strong support for further efforts on this issue, as well as in addressing prison overcrowding,

“Calling on the Haitian Government, in coordination with the international community, to advance security sector reform, in particular by continuing the implementation of the Haitian National Police (HNP) Reform Plan, as well as efforts to reform the critical judiciary and correctional systems,

“Welcoming the support of OAS to update the Haitian voter registry and calling on the Haitian authorities, with the continued support of donors and regional organizations, as well as MINUSTAH and the United Nations system, to establish permanent and effective electoral institutions, and to hold elections consistent with Haiti’s constitutional requirements,

“Underlining the need for the quick implementation of highly effective and visible labour intensive projects that help create jobs and deliver basic social services,

“Acknowledging the laudable work done by Haitian authorities and MINUSTAH to respond to the needs of disaster-affected people, and welcoming future coordinated actions in this regard,

“Expressing gratitude to the troops and police personnel of MINUSTAH and to their countries and paying tribute to those injured or killed in the line of duty,

“Welcoming the Secretary-General’s report S/2007/503 of 22 August 2007,

“Determining that the situation in Haiti continues to constitute a threat to international peace and security in the region, despite the progress achieved thus far,

“Acting under Chapter VII of the Charter of the United Nations, as described in section 1 of operative paragraph 7 of resolution 1542 (2004),

“1.   Decides to extend the mandate of MINUSTAH as contained in its resolutions 1542 (2004), 1608 (2005), 1702 (2006) and 1743 (2007) until 15 October 2008, with the intention of further renewal;

“2.   Endorses the Secretary General’s recommendation for reconfiguring the Mission in line with the concepts outlined in paragraphs 28 and 29 of his report S/2007/503, taking into account the need to adjust MINUSTAH’s composition and realign its activities to reflect the changing circumstances and priorities on the ground and decides that MINUSTAH will consist of a military component of up to 7,060 troops of all ranks and of a police component of a total of 2,091 police;

“3.   Expresses its full support for the Special Representative of the Secretary General, notably in his efforts to improve the security situation in close cooperation with the Government of Haiti, and reaffirms his authority in the coordination and conduct of all activities of United Nations agencies, funds, and programmes in Haiti;

“4.   Recognizes the ownership and primary responsibility of the Government and the people of Haiti over all aspects of the country’s stabilization, recognizes the role of MINUSTAH in supporting the Government’s efforts in this regard, and encourages the Government of Haiti to continue to take full advantage of international support to enhance its capacity, which is indispensable for the sustainable success of MINUSTAH;

“5.   Reaffirms its call upon MINUSTAH to support the constitutional and political process under way in Haiti, including through its good offices and, in cooperation with the Government of Haiti, to promote all-inclusive political dialogue and national reconciliation, and to provide logistical and security assistance for the upcoming electoral process;

“6.   Welcomes the continuing contribution of MINUSTAH to the Government of Haiti’s efforts to build institutional capacity at all levels and calls upon MINUSTAH, consistent with its mandate, to expand such support to strengthen self-sustainable State institutions, especially outside Port-au-Prince, including through the provision of specialized expertise to key ministries and institutions, taking into account the ongoing efforts by the Haitian authorities to fight all forms of crime;

“7.   Requests that MINUSTAH continue its support of the HNP as deemed necessary to ensure security in Haiti, and encourages MINUSTAH and the Government of Haiti to continue to undertake coordinated deterrent actions to decrease the level of violence;

“8.   Welcomes progress in the implementation of the HNP Reform Plan and requests MINUSTAH to remain engaged in assisting the Government of Haiti to reform and restructure the HNP, consistent with its mandate, notably by supporting the monitoring, mentoring, training, vetting of police personnel and strengthening of institutional capacities, while working to recruit sufficient individual police officers to serve as instructors and mentors of the HNP, consistent with its overall strategy to progressively transfer geographic and functional responsibilities to its Haitian counterparts to facilitate HNP engagement in conventional law and order duties, in accordance with the HNP Reform Plan;

“9.   Invites Member States, including neighbouring and regional States, in coordination with MINUSTAH, to engage with the Government to address cross-border illicit trafficking of drugs, arms and other illegal activities, and to contribute to strengthening HNP capacity in these areas,

“10.  Requests MINUSTAH to provide technical expertise in support of the efforts of the Government to pursue a comprehensive border management approach, with emphasis on State capacity-building, and underlines the need for coordinated international support for Government efforts in this area;

“11.  Recognizes the need for MINUSTAH to establish patrols along maritime and land border areas in support of border security activities by the HNP, and encourages MINUSTAH to continue discussions with the Government of Haiti and Member States to assess the threats along Haiti’s land and maritime borders,

“12.  Requests the United Nations country team, and calls upon all relevant humanitarian and development actors, to complement security operations undertaken by the Government of Haiti with the support of MINUSTAH with activities aimed at effectively improving the living conditions of the concerned populations and requests MINUSTAH to continue to implement quick impact projects;

“13.  Condemns any attack against personnel from MINUSTAH and demands that no acts of intimidation or violence be directed against United Nations and associated personnel or other international and humanitarian organizations engaged in humanitarian, development or peacekeeping work;

“14.  Welcomes the steps taken towards the reform of rule of law institutions, requests MINUSTAH to continue to provide necessary support in this regard, and encourages the Haitian authorities to take full advantage of that support, notably in such areas as restructuring the Ministry of Justice and Public Security, certifying magistrates, providing legal aid to the most vulnerable, and modernizing key legislation;

“15.  Requests MINUSTAH to continue to pursue its community violence reduction approach, including through support to the National Commission on Disarmament, Dismantlement and Reintegration and concentrating its efforts on labour intensive projects, the development of a weapons registry, the revision of current laws on importation and possession of arms, and reform of the weapons permit system;

“16.  Reaffirms MINUSTAH’s human rights mandate and calls on the Haitian authorities to continue their efforts to promote and protect human rights, and calls on MINUSTAH to continue to provide human rights training to the Haitian National Police and other relevant institutions, including the correctional services;

“17.  Strongly condemns the grave violations against children affected by armed violence, as well as widespread rape and other sexual abuse of girls, and requests MINUSTAH to continue to promote and protect the rights of women and children as set out in Security Council resolutions 1325 (2000) and 1612 (2005);

“18.  Encourages MINUSTAH and the United Nations country team to enhance their coordination, as well as with the various development actors in Haiti, in order to ensure greater efficiency in development efforts and to address urgent development problems;

“19.  Calls on the United Nations system and the international community, in particular donor countries and institutions, in cooperation with the Haitian authorities, to devise and support a renewed aid coordination system, based on mutual responsibility, which would focus on immediate needs, as well as on long-term reconstruction and poverty reduction, and encourages donors to accelerate the disbursement of their pledges as a contribution to development and stability in Haiti;

“20.  Welcomes progress made by MINUSTAH in communications and public outreach strategy and requests it to continue these activities;

“21.  Requests the Secretary-General to continue to take the necessary measures to ensure full compliance of all MINUSTAH personnel with the United Nations zero-tolerance policy on sexual exploitation and abuse, and to keep the Council informed, and urges troop-contributing countries to ensure that acts involving their personnel are properly investigated and punished;

“22.  Requests the Secretary-General to report to the Council on the implementation of MINUSTAH’s mandate semi-annually and not later than 45 days prior to its expiration, taking into account a review of the activities and composition of MINUSTAH, its coordination with the United Nations country team and other development actors, a comprehensive assessment of threats to security in Haiti, and the development during this mandate period of a consolidation plan with appropriate benchmarks to measure and track progress, in consultation with the Haitian Government;

“23.  Decides to remain seized of the matter.”

Background

The Security Council had before it the report of the Secretary-General on the United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH) (document S/2007/503), in which he recommends that the Mission’s mandate be extended 12 months, until 15 October 2008, and that the Mission retain the responsibilities established in its prior resolutions with adjustments in its deployment.

According to the report, the multiparty Government established by President René Préval in May 2006 continued to benefit from broad public support.  The Government’s economic achievements included the stabilization of the currency and a noteworthy reduction in inflation.  During the Secretary-General’s visit on 1 and 2 August, the President urged continued United Nations support and requested that MINUSTAH reorient itself with a greater focus on judicial reform, institutional support and the provision of basic services and that it assume additional tasks, such as border management.

The Secretary-General states that the responsibility for Haiti’s continued stabilization continues to rest first and foremost with its leadership and people.  All actors must set aside divisive approaches and embrace the dialogue and collaboration promoted by the President.  Recent progress towards the adoption of key legislation related to judicial reform is an encouraging development.  Equally important are decisions to strengthen institutions of governance and to establish a permanent electoral council, as well as the President’s initiatives to end impunity and corruption.  Consolidation of recent achievements will require sustained and substantial international support, including through the continued deployment of MINUSTAH.

Although the Secretary-General does not see the need for a change in MINUSTAH’S current mandate, he believes that the Mission should progressively reorient and reconfigure itself to reflect changing circumstances on the ground.  New areas where MINUSTAH may need to provide technical expertise will include border management, security strategies and anti-corruption.  The Mission will also need to help local authorities to attain a minimum level of capacity to serve their constituents.  The provision of quick-impact projects continues to make a crucial difference.

The Secretary-General observes that, although substantial gains have been made in restoring gang-controlled urban areas to State authority, the situation still remains fragile, and the root causes of instability are still present. International peacekeepers will continue to assume the bulk of security-related responsibilities, pending the gradual development of the Haitian National Police.  The current force, however, needs to be adjusted to support the priorities outlined by President Préval.

The Secretary-General recommends that the Mission’s military force level be reduced by one company (some 140 troops) and that certain heavy equipment be repatriated.  The Mission will reduce its military presence in calmer rural and urban areas and will redeploy military personnel to establish patrols within maritime and land border areas.  Up to some 16 small craft will be required for that activity.  He further recommends that the police component be increased with one additional formed police unit of up to 140 officers, which will enhance the Mission’s ability to support the Haitian National Police in undertaking key basic policing functions, consolidating progress made in urban areas and limiting the risk of reversal.  The military component will then consist of 7060 personnel, while the police component will be increased up to 2,091 police.

During the coming mandate period, MINUSTAH will develop a consolidation plan, with clear benchmarks for progress, according to the Secretary-General.  However, the efforts of the Mission can only be successful if they are complemented by robust bilateral assistance in priority areas, including elections.  Above all, bilateral actors and the private sector must assist with the economic recovery of the country and promote the generation of employment.

* *** *

For information media • not an official record