Security Council

6189^th Meeting (AM)

Security Council Authorizes One-Year Mandate Extension for United Nations

Integrated Political Office in Sierra Leone

 

The Security Council decided this morning to extend the mandate of the United Nations Integrated Peacebuilding Office in Sierra Leone (UNIPSIL) for one year, until 30 September 2010.

By its unanimous adoption of resolution 1886 (2009), the Council also determined that UNIPSIL, which was created a year ago under resolution 1829 (2008), should focus its efforts on supporting the Government of Sierra Leone in the areas of constitutional reform and police force improvement, as well as helping it tackle corruption, illicit drug trafficking and organized crime.

The Council emphasized the importance of UNIPSIL’s assistance with youth unemployment, support in preparing for the 2012 elections, in conjunction with the Peacebuilding Fund and the Peacebuilding Commission, which selected Sierra Leone as one of the first two countries to receive assistance in recovering from conflict.  In all those efforts, the Council stressed that the Office should work within the Joint Vision of the United Nations country team.

Through the resolution, the Council called on the Secretary-General to develop a series of benchmarks towards the goal of a transition from UNIPSIL to a programme directed by the country team itself.  It requested two progress reports from the Secretary-General next year, down from the quarterly reports of the previous year.

Recommending the mandate extension in his latest report on UNIPSIL (document S/2009/438), the Secretary-General noted that, while Sierra Leone continued to make steady progress in consolidating peace, complex challenges remained.   The report was presented to the Council in a previous meeting.  (See Press Release SC/9740 of 14 September.)

The meeting began at 10:15 a.m. and ended at 10:20 a.m.

Resolution

The full text of resolution 1886 (2009) reads as follows:

“The Security Council,

“Recalling its previous resolutions and the Statements of its President concerning the situation in Sierra Leone, in particular resolution 1829 (2008),

“Commending the valuable contribution that the United Nations Integrated Peacebuilding Office in Sierra Leone (UNIPSIL) has made to peacebuilding efforts and to the country’s peace, security and development,

“Welcoming the report of the Secretary-General dated 1 September 2009 (S/2009/438) and his recommendation that the mandate of UNIPSIL be extended for a period of one year until 30 September 2010, with a view to providing continued peacebuilding assistance to the Government of Sierra Leone,

“Emphasizing the importance of continued integrated support of the United Nations system and the international community for the long-term peace, security and development of Sierra Leone, particularly through strengthening the capacity of the Government of Sierra Leone,

“Welcoming the Government’s Agenda for Change as the core strategic document for the country for the period until the end of 2012, and calling upon all international partners to align their assistance with the priorities outlined in the Agenda for Change,

“Commending UNIPSIL and the United Nations country team for articulating a new and innovative approach to peacebuilding in the United Nations Joint Vision document, welcoming the integration of the political mandate of UNIPSIL with the development and humanitarian mandates of the United Nations country team, and encouraging all United Nations entities in Sierra Leone to continue to implement the Joint Vision strategy,

“Welcoming the political parties’ Joint Communiqué of 2 April 2009 and its contribution towards the immediate cessation of the political violence in Sierra Leone, and calling upon all political parties and other relevant actors to adhere to its provisions and ensure its implementation,

“Reiterating its appreciation for the work of the Peacebuilding Commission and welcoming the outcome of its Special High-Level Session on Sierra Leone on 10 June 2009, which articulated a roadmap for the Commission’s continued engagement with Sierra Leone in alignment with the Government’s Agenda for Change,

“Reiterating its appreciation for the work of the Special Court for Sierra Leone, stressing the importance of the trial of former Liberian President Charles Taylor by the Court, as well as effective outreach on the trial at local level, welcoming the progress made in other trials, reiterating its expectation that the Court will finish its work as soon as possible, and calling upon Member States to contribute to the Court,

“Welcoming the role played by the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), and encouraging the Member States of the Mano River Union and other regional organisations to continue promoting regional peace and security,

“1.   Decides to extend the mandate of UNIPSIL, as set out in resolution 1829 (2008), until 30 September 2010;

“2.   Emphasizes the importance for UNIPSIL of achieving jointly with the United Nations country team the objectives of the Joint Vision within their respective mandates and, in particular, focusing on providing support to the Government of Sierra Leone in its efforts regarding constitutional reform, building police capacity, tackling corruption, illicit drug trafficking and organized crime, as well as addressing youth unemployment, supporting the preparations for the 2012 elections, and assisting the work of the Peacebuilding Commission and the Peacebuilding Fund;

“3.   Encourages the Executive Representative of the Secretary-General to pursue his action to enhance the integration and effectiveness of United Nations efforts on the ground in support of the implementation of the Joint Vision in Sierra Leone and of the recovery and development priorities of the Government and people of Sierra Leone;

“4.   Calls upon the Secretary-General to develop a set of benchmarks for the transition of UNIPSIL into a United Nations country team presence, taking into account those already agreed upon by the Government and the United Nations in the Joint Vision for Sierra Leone, and the particular challenges involved in preparing for the 2012 elections, to keep these under active review, and regularly report on progress to the Security Council;

“5.   Emphasizes that the Government of Sierra Leone bears primary responsibility for peacebuilding, security and long-term development in the country, and encourages the Government of Sierra Leone to continue the implementation of the Agenda for Change, the Peacebuilding Commission to follow actively developments and mobilize international support as needed, and existing as well as potential new international donors to provide support to the Government;

“6.   Calls upon the Government of Sierra Leone, UNIPSIL and all other stakeholders in the country to increase their efforts to promote good governance, including through continued measures to combat corruption, improve accountability, promote the development of the private sector to generate wealth and employment opportunities, intensify efforts against drug trafficking and strengthen the judiciary and promote human rights, including through implementation of the recommendations of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission and sustaining support to the National Human Rights Commission;

“7.   Emphasizes the important role of women in the prevention and resolution of conflicts and in peacebuilding, as recognized in resolutions 1325 (2000) and 1820 (2008), underlines that a gender perspective should be taken into account in implementing all aspects of the mandate of UNIPSIL, and encourages UNIPSIL to work with the Government of Sierra Leone in this regard;

“8.   Requests that the Secretary-General keep the Council informed every six months of progress made in the implementation of the mandate of UNIPSIL and this resolution;

“9.   Decides to remain actively seized of the matter.”

* *** *

For information media • not an official record