Security Council

6330^th Meeting (AM)

Security Council Authorizes Deployment of Further 680 Police in Haiti,

 

Unanimously Adopting Resolution 1927 (2010)

 

Council Adds to Police Strength Increased in January, Says New

Boost ‘Temporary Surge Capacity’ with Focus on Training Haitian Police

Concerned by the “new challenges and threats” the Government and people of Haiti faced in the aftermath of the devastating 12 January earthquake, the Security Council today authorized deployment of further 680 police to the United Nations peacekeeping mission there, in addition to the boosted force levels provided in January chiefly to assist Haitian authorities throughout the coming electoral period and subsequent transfer of power early next year.

Stressing the importance of holding municipal, legislative and presidential elections in a timely manner, and welcoming the Haitian Government’s intention to do so, the Council, acting under Chapter VII of the Charter, unanimously adopted resolution 1927 (2010), adding more police as a “temporary surge capacity with clearly defined objectives, and a particular focus on building the capacity of the Haiti National Police”.

The Council’s move follows its adoption on 19 January, just days after the 7.0 magnitude quake struck Haiti, of a resolution that added several thousand more personnel to the United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH).  The earthquake levelled much of Haiti’s capital, Port-au-Prince, killed some 250,000 people and left more than 1.5 million homeless, and resolution 1908 (2010) increased MINUSTAH’s overall force levels “to support the immediate recovery, reconstruction and stability efforts”.

The forces added today boost the total number of international police in Haiti to 4,391, working alongside 8,940 military troops.  The Council’s new resolution recognized the need for MINUSTAH to help the Haitian Government provide adequate civilian protection, “in particular to internally displaced persons and other vulnerable groups, especially women and children, including through additional joint community policing in the camps, [and] strengthened mechanism to address sexual and gender-based violence”.

Immediately following the Council’s action, Haitian Ambassador Léo Mérorès welcomed the resolution, on behalf of his Government and people.  The fact that the text, crafted by the “Group of Friends” on Haiti and other concerned parties, had been adopted unanimously was an extremely important display of support to MINUSTAH and its mandated work in areas such as institution-building and police training, as well as post-disaster reconstruction and recovery duties.

Continuing, he said the Government was pressing ahead with preparations for national elections, and the additional police approved by the Council today would help ensure protection of the population during that process.   Haiti was working hard, with the help of the Organization of American States, Caribbean Community (CARICOM), and United Nations, to ensure that the ballot could go forward as planned, in November, with the subsequent transfer of power set for February.  He added that Haiti was also in the midst of its rainy season and the additional police would also help the Government provide assistance and protection to the people, especially those living in makeshift camps.

Today’s meeting began at 10:10 a.m. and ended at 10:14 a.m.

Resolution

The full text of resolution 1927 (2010) reads as follows:

The Security Council,

“Reaffirming its previous resolutions on Haiti, in particular its resolutions 1908 (2010), 1892 (2009), 1840 (2008), 1780 (2007), 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,

“Recognizing the significant devastation that has been suffered by the Government and people of Haiti, expressing concern regarding the new challenges and threats as a result of the earthquake of 12 January 2010, and stressing the need for MINUSTAH to continue to focus its work on ensuring Haiti’s security and stability as currently mandated by the Security Council,

“Sharing the Secretary-General’s assessment of the impact of the earthquake which has not destroyed the gains towards stabilization made in the past few years but has created new obstacles as well as new opportunities,

“Recognizing the need for expanded assistance by the international community to the Government of Haiti in order to allow State institutions to continue operations, provide basic services and build State capacity, and acknowledging the valuable supporting role MINUSTAH can play in this regard,

“Welcoming the establishment of priorities by the Government of Haiti in its Action Plan for National Recovery and Development presented at the Haiti International Donors’ Conference and encouraging the international community to align their activities with the Action Plan,

“Welcoming the significant contributions of the international community, particularly at the International Donors’ Conference “Towards a New Future for Haiti” held on 31 March 2010, and urging donors to fulfil their pledges in a timely manner,

“Commending the extraordinary efforts undertaken by the United Nations to respond to the earthquake, recognizing the critical role of MINUSTAH in ensuring stability and security in Haiti and also recognizing the complementary roles MINUSTAH and the United Nations Country Team have fulfilled to date in assisting Haiti in its recovery efforts, and reaffirming the authority of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General in the coordination and conduct of all activities of United Nations agencies, funds and programmes in Haiti,

“Stressing the leading role of the Government of Haiti in its post-disaster recovery and reconstruction process and underlining the necessity for increased coordination and complementary efforts among all United Nations actors and other relevant stakeholders in assisting the Government in this regard,

“Reaffirming the need for the Haitian authorities to continue their efforts to promote and protect human rights, including through strengthening national human rights institutions, as well as putting an end to impunity and ensuring the rule of law and security,

“Stressing the importance of holding municipal, legislative and presidential elections in a timely manner, welcoming the Haitian authorities’ intention to do so, and encouraging all political parties and relevant stakeholders to work together towards this end and to promote the participation of women in the electoral process,

“Welcoming the Secretary-General’s report (S/2010/200) of 22 April 2010, and its recommendations,

“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.   Authorizes the deployment of a further 680 police in addition to the police strength authorized by resolution 1908 (2010), as a temporary surge capacity with clearly defined objectives, and a particular focus on building the capacity of the Haitian National Police;

“2.   Decides, therefore, that MINUSTAH will consist of a military component of up to 8,940 troops of all ranks and of a police component of up to 4,391 police and that it will keep the new levels of troops and police in MINUSTAH under close and regular review, including through the electoral period and subsequent constitutional transfer of power, and requests the Secretary-General to include in his upcoming report to the Council an assessment of the implementation of resolution 1908 and the present resolution;

“3.   Reiterates that the ownership and primary responsibility for stabilization and development lies with the Government and people of Haiti, and recognizes the supporting role of MINUSTAH in this regard;

“4.   Recognizes the need for MINUSTAH to assist the Government of Haiti in providing adequate protection of the population, with particular attention to the needs of internally displaced persons and other vulnerable groups, especially women and children, including through additional joint community policing in the camps along with strengthened mechanisms to address sexual and gender-based violence; and to tackle the risk of a resurgence in gang violence, organized crime and trafficking of children;

“5.   Requests MINUSTAH to continue, within its current mandate, its collaboration with OCHA and the United Nations Country Team in supporting the humanitarian and recovery efforts and further encourages all actors to continue to engage in joint planning and coordination at the national and local level;

“6.   Underscores the importance that the planning documents for the military and police components, such as the concept of operations and rules of engagement, be regularly updated, as appropriate, and be in line with the provisions of all its relevant resolutions, and requests the Secretary-General to report on them to the Security Council and troop- and police-contributing countries;

“7.   Encourages MINUSTAH to provide logistical support and technical expertise, within available means, to assist the Government of Haiti, as requested, to continue operations to build the capacity of its rule of law institutions at the national and local level, and to speed up the implementation of the Government’s resettlement strategy for displaced persons, in the knowledge that such measures are temporary and will be phased out as Haitian national capacity grows;

“8.   Requests MINUSTAH to continue its support to the Haitian Government and to the Provisional Electoral Council, as requested, in the preparation and conduct of Haiti’s elections, and to coordinate international electoral assistance to Haiti in cooperation with other international stakeholders including the OAS;

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

* *** *

For information media • not an official record