Security Council

6611^th Meeting (AM)

Security Council Extends Operation of United Nations Integrated Peacebuilding

Office in Sierra Leone until September 2012, by Resolution 2005 (2011)

Emphasis on Support for 2012 Elections, Youth Unemployment,

Implementation of Gender Programmes, Good Governance, Rule of Law, Human Rights

Emphasizing the importance of international support to Sierra Leone during the 2012 elections and its quest for long-term peace, security and development, the Security Council decided this morning to extend the mandate of the United Nations Integrated Peacebuilding Office in that country for one year, until 15 September 2012.

By its unanimous adoption of resolution 2005 (2011), the Council determined that the Office, known as UNIPSIL, should support the Government in achieving peaceful, credible and democratic elections and continue to assist its efforts in conflict prevention and mitigation, and tackling youth unemployment, as well as the implementation of gender programmes and promoting good governance, the rule of law and human rights.

Though the text, it also tasked the Office with assisting the Government in its fight against corruption, illicit drug trafficking and organized crime and in strengthening national capacity in law enforcement, forensics, border management and the building of criminal justice institutions. 

In all those efforts, the Council stressed that the Office should work within the Joint Vision of the United Nations country team and in coordination with the Peacebuilding Commission, which selected Sierra Leone as one of the first two countries to receive assistance in recovering from conflict. 

The Council, through the resolution, also urged the Government to step up its efforts to hold regular and inclusive dialogue on all major political, social and economic issues, calling on the Government, all political parties and other stakeholders to contribute to an atmosphere conducive to fair and peaceful elections. 

It further called on the Government, with the support of UNIPSIL and all other stakeholders, to fight corruption, improve accountability and promote the development of the private sector.  In that regard, it called for continued support for the efforts of the Ministry of Mines and Mineral Resources to increase the transparency and management of natural resources for the benefit of Sierra Leoneans, thereby mitigating the risk of resource-based conflict.

Following the vote, the representative of Sierra Leone expressed his gratitude for the mandate extension, which he said would ensure that the endeavour for long-term peace remained on track.  He reiterated his Government’s pledge to make all efforts to ensure that the upcoming elections were peaceful, free and fair.

For the Council’s consideration of the resolution, it had before it the Secretary-General’s latest report (document S/2011/554).  (For background, see Press Release SC/10379).

The meeting was called to order at 10:15 a.m. and adjourned at 10:18 a.m.

Resolution

The full text of resolution 2005 (2011) reads as follows:

“The Security Council,

“a.   Recalling its previous resolutions and the statements of its President concerning the situation in Sierra Leone, in particular resolution 1941 (2010),

“b.   Welcoming the report of the Secretary-General dated 2 September 2011 (S/2011/554) and taking note of his recommendation that the mandate of the United Nations Integrated Peacebuilding Office in Sierra Leone (UNIPSIL) be extended for a period of one year, with a view to providing continued peacebuilding assistance to the Government of Sierra Leone, including preparations for the elections in 2012,

“c.   Welcoming the preparations currently under way for the national and local elections to be held in 2012, and underlining the importance of the Government and the international community in continuing efforts to foster an environment that is conducive to the holding of peaceful, transparent, free and fair elections by strengthening the national electoral and democratic institutions, providing security, ensuring political access by the contestants to all regions of the country, making available forums for mediation and dialogue and assuring the credibility of the electoral process, and in doing so, contribute to the institutional development and continued stability of the country,

“d.   Mindful of the United Nations efforts in assisting the Government to address the capacity challenges of the national electoral institutions, and noting the potential for an increase in tensions during the preparation for, and the period leading up to, the 2012 elections in Sierra Leone, due to political, security, socio‑economic and humanitarian challenges,

“e.   Welcoming the ongoing implementation of the 2 April 2009 Joint Communiqué by the political parties, including efforts to prevent political violence among the youth and to enhance greater political participation of women, and underlining the need for political parties to hasten the full implementation of its provisions and to ensure that their supporters abide by the code of conduct for political parties and remain committed to sustained cessation of the political violence in Sierra Leone,

“f.   Welcoming the steady progress the Government has made in implementing the Agenda for Change, in particular steps taken with regard to strengthening the Government’s control over natural resources and to combat corruption, and noting the challenges that remain to be addressed in the Government’s national peacebuilding strategy and the efforts being made to address them,

“g.   Recognizing the challenges posed by illicit drug trafficking, corruption and youth unemployment, welcoming the progress made under the West Africa Coast Initiative, in particular the establishment of the Transnational Organized Crime Unit to address the growing problem of illicit drug trafficking, organized crime and drug abuse in Sierra Leone, and appreciating the coordinated efforts by the international development partners to address the challenge of youth unemployment,

“h.   Emphasizing the importance of the continued integrated support of the United Nations system and the international community for the long-term peace, security and development of Sierra Leone,

“i.   Commending the valuable contribution that UNIPSIL has made to peacebuilding efforts in Sierra Leone, and its continued progress with the United Nations country team, in achieving the integration of the political, development and humanitarian mandates as set out in the United Nations Joint Vision, encouraging all United Nations entities in Sierra Leone to continue the implementation of the Joint Vision, and calling on Sierra Leone’s bilateral and multilateral partners to provide the necessary resources to implement the Joint Vision,

“j.   Stressing that the 2012 elections and the wide acceptance of the outcome will be a major milestone indicating the consolidation of peace and security in Sierra Leone, which should help to define the transition of UNIPSIL into a United Nations country team,

“k.   Acknowledging the role that the Peacebuilding Commission and the Peacebuilding Fund play in support of the peacebuilding efforts in Sierra Leone,

“l.   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, welcoming the completion of all the other cases, as well as effective outreach on the trials at the local level, reiterating its expectation that the Court will finish its work as soon as possible, including any contempt cases, and calling upon Member States to contribute generously to the Court and the Residual Special Court,

“m.   Recalling that the responsibility for controlling the circulation of small arms and light weapons within the territory of Sierra Leone and between Sierra Leone and neighbouring States rests with the relevant governmental authorities in accordance with the Economic Community of West African States Convention on Small Arms and Light Weapons of 2006, and welcoming the launch of the national action plan on Small Arms,

“n.   Welcoming the role played by the African Union and ECOWAS and encouraging the Member States of the Mano River Union and other regional organizations to continue their dialogue aimed at consolidating regional peace and security,

“1.   Decides to extend the mandate of UNIPSIL, as set out in resolution 1941 (2010), until 15 September 2012;

“2.   Emphasizes the importance of UNIPSIL achieving jointly with the United Nations country team, the objectives outlined in the Joint Vision within their respective mandates, including focusing on:

i.    Providing support to the Government of Sierra Leone and its electoral and democratic institutions in the preparation for the 2012 elections as requested, and providing technical assistance to all relevant stakeholders to play a meaningful role, in accordance with relevant national legislation, in achieving peaceful, credible and democratic elections;

ii.   Providing assistance to conflict prevention and mitigation efforts, and promoting dialogue among political parties, the Government and all relevant stakeholders;

iii.  Assisting the Government and national institutions in tackling youth unemployment, including through supporting training, education and skills provision;

iv.   Assisting the Government and national institutions in implementing the Sierra Leone National Action Plan on Women, Peace and Security; including through advancing the four-pronged approach to addressing gender matters adopted by UNIPSIL and the United Nations country team;

v.    Providing assistance to the Government in promoting good governance, the rule of law and human rights, including institutional reform; combating illicit drug trafficking and organized crime; combating corruption; providing support to the Human Rights Commission; and assisting in strengthening national capacity-building in the areas of law enforcement, forensics, border management, money-laundering and the strengthening of criminal justice institutions;

“3.   Calls on the Government of Sierra Leone, all political parties, as well as all other stakeholders, in particular the civil society in Sierra Leone to contribute to an atmosphere of political tolerance and peaceful coexistence and to demonstrate their full commitment to the democratic process, so as to ensure that the 2012 elections are peaceful, transparent, free and fair;

“4.   Calling upon the Sierra Leone authorities to resolve any outstanding issues regarding the electoral legal framework;

“5.   Urges the Government to step up its efforts to hold regular, inclusive and constructive party political dialogue on all major national, political, social and economic issues, which are clearly focused on identifying the priorities and milestones necessary for the future peace and development of Sierra Leone;

“6.   Encourages the Executive Representative of the Secretary-General to continue with the progress already made 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 the recovery and development priorities of the Government and people of Sierra Leone;

“7.   Calls upon the Secretary-General to continue to report on progress achieved towards meeting the benchmarks, including in supporting the capacity of key national institutions to be able to adequately address the causes of conflict and manage political disputes by themselves, as agreed upon by the Government and the United Nations in the Joint Vision for Sierra Leone for the transition of UNIPSIL into a United Nations country team;

“8.   Emphasizes that the Government of Sierra Leone bears the primary responsibility for peacebuilding, security and long-term development in the country, and encourages the Government of Sierra Leone to continue its implementation of the Agenda for Change, and international partners to continue to provide support to the Government;

“9.   Calls upon the Government of Sierra Leone, with the support of UNIPSIL, development partners and all other stakeholders in the country to increase their efforts to combat corruption, improve accountability, and promote the development of the private sector in order to generate wealth and employment opportunities; to continue good governance reform by supporting the Anti‑Corruption Commission and the Ministry of Mines and Mineral Resources to increase the transparency and management of Sierra Leone’s natural and mineral resources for the benefit of all Sierra Leoneans and mitigating the risk of resource-based conflict; to intensify efforts against illicit drug trafficking through strengthening the Transnational Organized Crime Unit; and to promote human rights, including through implementation of the recommendations of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission and Sierra Leone’s Universal Periodic Review;

“10.  Encourages the Peacebuilding Commission to provide support to the Government of Sierra Leone and UNIPSIL in preparation for the 2012 elections, including the potential to mobilize support from international partners, and in the implementation of the Government’s Agenda for Change and the United Nations Joint Vision Strategy and in that regard to advise and keep the Council updated, including on progress made in meeting core peacebuilding objectives, as necessary;

“11.  Commends the Government for recognizing the important role of women in the prevention and resolution of conflicts and in peacebuilding, reaffirms the importance of appropriate gender expertise and training in missions mandated by the Security Council in accordance with resolutions 1325 (2000) and 1889 (2009), underscores that the Government should continue its effort in addressing sexual and gender-based violence, in accordance with resolutions 1820 (2008), 1888 (2009) and 1960 (2010) and encourages UNIPSIL to continue to work with the Government of Sierra Leone in this area;

“12.  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;

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

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For information media • not an official record