Security Council

6845^th Meeting (PM)

Adopting Unanimous Resolution, Security Council Approves One-year Extension

 

of Haiti Stabilization Mission, Reduces Levels of Uniformed Personnel

 

Affirming “considerable strides” in Haiti’s recovery from the 2010 earthquake, as well as noting continued concern over security and institutional reforms, the Security Council this afternoon extended until 15 October 2013 the mandate of the United Nations Stabilization Mission in the country, known as MINUSTAH, while reducing deployment levels of uniformed personnel.

Through the unanimous adoption of resolution 2070 (2012), the Council decided to adjust the size of infantry, engineering and police components in accordance with the recommendations of the Secretary-General’s most recent report (see Press Release SC/10780 of 3 October 2012), supporting further adjustments to focus the Mission’s activities on a core set of achievable tasks consistent with benchmarks agreed with the Government.

In his report, the Secretary-General recommends reducing authorized military strength from 7,340 to 6,270 troops through a balanced withdrawal of 1,070 infantry and engineering personnel by June 2013.  In addition, as the Mission further concentrated its efforts on national police development and phased out operational policing, he recommends a reduction in police strength from 3,241 to 2,601 personnel by June 2013.

Within that staffing framework, the Council requested MINUSTAH to continue to provide logistical and technical expertise to build capacity of rule of law institutions, as requested by the Haitian Government, reaffirming that strengthening the capacity of the Haitian Nations Police was “paramount” for the Government to be able to take full responsibility for security needs.

It also called on the MINUSTAH to work in coordination with the United Nations country team and other stakeholders to continue to promote and protect human rights, particularly of women and children, to implement quick-impact projects and to “proceed swiftly” on such activities as assistance with the Government’s resettlement strategy while the Mission still had the capability to do so.

It requested the Secretary-General to propose, as appropriate, options to reconfigure the size and composition of MINUSTAH and to further develop the consolidation plans presented in the last report.

The meeting began at 3:08 p.m. and ended at 3:10 p.m.

Resolution

The full text of resolution 2070 (2012) reads as follows:

“The Security Council,

“Reaffirming its previous resolutions on Haiti, in particular its resolutions 2012 (2011), 1944 (2010), 1927 (2010), 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 that Haiti continued to make considerable strides since the tragic earthquake of 12 January 2010 and achieved, over the past year, a number of political milestones indicative of progress in the process of stabilization, in particular the ratification by the parliament of a new Prime Minister, the installation of the Superior Council of the Judiciary, and the publication of the constitutional amendments,

“Noting the key importance of the realization of the partial legislative, municipal and local elections, and noting in this regard the importance of the installation of the country’s Permanent Electoral Council as established in the constitutional amendments,

“Recognizing that the overall security situation while fragile has improved since the adoption of its resolutions 1908, 1927 and 1944, and remained relatively stable since the adoption of its resolution 2012 (2011), allowing MINUSTAH to continue to drawdown its post-earthquake troop levels and to adapt its configuration without undermining the security and stability of Haiti, and recognizing the importance of condition-based security-related decisions about the future of MINUSTAH,

“Noting with concern an increase of homicides, particularly in major urban areas, and the continuing threat of criminal gangs,

“Recognizing the critical role of MINUSTAH in ensuring stability and security in Haiti, and commending MINUSTAH for continuing to assist the Government of Haiti to ensure a secure and stable environment, and expressing gratitude to the personnel of MINUSTAH and to their countries and paying tribute to those injured or killed in the line of duty,

“Welcoming the continued commitment by the Government of Haiti to strengthen the rule of law, and to make further progress in security sector reform,

“Welcoming the elaboration of the five-year 2012-2016 Haitian National Police Development Plan presented by MINUSTAH and the Haitian National Police; underscoring the need for the Government of Haiti with the assistance of the international community, as requested, to take steps to ensure that the Haitian National Police meets the benchmarks for its strengthening and reform contained in these plans; and encouraging the Government, with the support of MINUSTAH, to regularly inform the Haitian people and key stakeholders as appropriate on progress towards these benchmarks,

“Underlining, with the installation of the Superior Council of the Judiciary the need to further strengthen Haitian judicial and correctional systems, in order to support a more integrated and cohesive Haitian security sector, supported by UNDP, welcoming the capacity development assessment of the Ministry of Justice and Public Security, which resulted in an action plan for its institutional reform and acknowledging that attendant human rights concerns that still remain in the corrections system such as, prolonged pretrial detentions, prison overcrowding, sanitary conditions, and access to health-care services, including hygiene, are significant challenges to sustainable administrative reforms,

“Acknowledging that while important progress has been made, Haiti continues to face significant humanitarian challenges, with over 390,000 internally displaced persons still dependent on assistance for their basic survival, an ongoing cholera epidemic, and with living conditions in the camps that need to be further addressed,

“Commending the wide range of recovery efforts delivered in the aftermath of the January 2010 earthquake by the United Nations system in Haiti, especially the United Nations-supported housing and debris removal programmes and the successful use of MINUSTAH’s military engineering units,

“Acknowledging extreme vulnerability to natural disasters; and stressing the leading role of the Government of Haiti in the post-disaster recovery and reconstruction process, including risk reduction and preparedness efforts; 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, as well as in the overall support to Haiti’s post-earthquake recovery and social and economic development,

“Emphasizing that progress in the recovery and reconstruction of Haiti, as well as in Haiti’s social and economic development, including through effective international development assistance and increased Haitian institutional capacity to benefit from this assistance, are crucial to achieving lasting and sustainable stability, and reiterating the need for security to be accompanied by social and economic development,

“Welcoming the establishment of the Aid Coordination Mechanism, which succeeds the Interim Haiti Recovery Commission, and the continued support by the Haiti Reconstruction Fund,

“Welcoming the finalization by MINUSTAH and the United Nations country team in Haiti, in close consultations with the Government of Haiti, of the new Integrated Strategic Framework for the period 2013-2016, which identifies United Nations priorities and is aligned with the Government of Haiti’s Strategic Development Plan and with MINUSTAH’s future conditions-based consolidation plan,

“Noting the ongoing efforts by the Government of Haiti to control and eliminate the cholera epidemic, and urging the United Nations entities in coordination with other relevant actors to continue to support the Government of Haiti in addressing the structural weaknesses, in particular in the water and sanitation systems, and underscoring the importance of strengthening the Haitian national health institutions, and recognizing United Nations efforts to combat cholera,

“Urging donors to complete the pledges made at the 2010 New York Conference in order, inter alia, to help promote access to services and jobs for the most vulnerable, and underlining national responsibility to provide clear guidance on the priorities,

“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 international financial institutions, regional and subregional organizations, and other stakeholders, in particular the Organization of the American States (OAS), Union of South American Nations (UNASUR), and the Caribbean Community (CARICOM),

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

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

“Welcoming the efforts of the Haitian National Police (HNP) to increase patrolling and enhance its presence and engagement directly with the population, which may have contributed to an increase in the reporting of crimes,

“Acknowledging that sexual and gender-based violence remains a serious concern, particularly in marginalized districts of Port-au-Prince, internally displaced persons camps and remote areas of the country,

“Recognizing MINUSTAH’s continued community policing efforts, in close coordination with camp committees, in camps for internally displaced persons, and welcoming their engagement with the population aimed at increasing the reporting of crimes,

“Recognizing that strengthening national human rights institutions as well as respect for human rights and due process and combating criminality, sexual and gender-based violence and putting an end to impunity are essential to ensuring the rule of law and security in Haiti,

“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, and reaffirming also its support to the Special Representative of the Secretary-General’s role in ensuring optimal coordination and collaboration between MINUSTAH and the United Nations country team in connection with the aspects of their respective mandates that are correlated particularly as part of MINUSTAH’s condition-based consolidation plan under elaboration,

“Underscoring the importance of adequately funding the Haitian National Police to enhance its logistic and administrative capacities, and encouraging the Government of Haiti to take advantage of the support being provided by the international community to guarantee the provision of adequate security for the Haitian people and calling on all international partners to strengthen their coordination in this regard,

“Welcoming the institutional continuity represented by the nomination and ratification of a new Director General of the Haitian National Police,

“Welcoming the efforts of the former President of the United States of America, William J. Clinton, as United Nations Special Envoy for Haiti, to enhance the United Nations recovery response, in both humanitarian and development operations as well as tracking aid pledges and disbursement of funds, liaising with United Nations entities, the international financial institutions, working to ensure coherence across United Nations operations in Haiti, and noting the importance of regular reporting on these activities,

“Stressing the importance of a strong coordination among the Office of the United Nations Special Envoy for Haiti and other United Nations entities and Member States, and stressing the need for coordination among all international actors on the ground,

“Welcoming the Secretary-General’s report S/2012/678 of 31 August 2012,

“Mindful of its primary responsibility for the maintenance of international peace and security under the Charter of the United Nations,

“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), 1743 (2007), 1780 (2007), 1840 (2008), 1892 (2009), 1908 (2010), 1927 (2010), 1944 (2010) and 2012 (2011) until 15 October 2013, with the intention of further renewal;

“2.   Decides that MINUSTAH’s overall force levels will consist of up to 6,270 troops of all ranks through a balanced withdrawal of infantry and engineering personnel and of a police component of up to 2,601 personnel, consistent with paragraph 50 of the Secretary-General’s report;

“3.   Affirms that future adjustments to the force configuration should be based on the security situation on the ground, taking into account the impact of social and political realities on Haiti’s stability and security; the increasing development of Haitian State capabilities, in particular the ongoing strengthening of the Haitian National Police; and the national authorities’ increasing exercise of the Haitian State’s responsibility for the maintenance of stability and security in the country;

“4.   Takes note of the conditions-based consolidation plan of MINUSTAH, currently being developed under the leadership of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General in collaboration with the United Nations country team, and in consultation with the Government of Haiti and international partners; acknowledges, pursuant to paragraphs 47 and 48 of the Secretary-General’s report, the value of its important objective of focusing the Mission’s activities on a core set of mandated tasks achievable within a reasonable time frame and concluding with the Government of Haiti a transition compact that will set out a concentrated number of benchmarks that will serve as key indicators of progress in the stabilization process, while recalling the integrated nature of stability challenges in Haiti reflected in the Mission’s mandate;

“5.   Recognizes the ownership and primary responsibility of the Government and the people of Haiti over all aspects of the country’s stabilization, welcomes the steps taken by MINUSTAH to provide logistical 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 levels, 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 capacity grows, and calls on the Mission to proceed swiftly with activities in this regard as recommended by the Secretary-General, coordinating as appropriate with the United Nations country team and other active in the stabilization efforts;

“6.   Encourages MINUSTAH to continue assisting the Government of Haiti in providing adequate protection to the civilian population, with particular attention to the needs of internally displaced persons and other vulnerable groups, especially women and children, including through joint community policing in the camps, in line with Security Council resolution 1894 (2009);

“7.   Welcomes the Government of Haiti’s efforts to build institutional capacity in security and rule of law at all levels, including through decentralization efforts, and calls upon MINUSTAH, consistent with its mandate, and other relevant actors, to continue to provide support to the Government’s decentralization priorities at the central and departmental levels and to strengthen self-sustaining security sector State institutions, especially outside Port-au-Prince, with a view to further enhance the Government of Haiti’s ability to extend State authority throughout Haiti, ensure greater countrywide presence of the State, and promote good governance at local levels;

“8.   Recognizes that a stable political and institutional environment is crucial for stability and the progress of recovery and reconstruction efforts, reaffirms its call upon MINUSTAH to support the political process under way in Haiti, including through the offices of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General; calls on all the relevant political actors in Haiti to work cooperatively for the installation of the country’s Permanent Electoral Council as established in the constitutional amendments and for the realization of the partial legislative, municipal and local elections that are now overdue and encourages MINUSTAH to continue its support in this regard, and to coordinate international electoral assistance to Haiti in cooperation with other international stakeholders including the OAS, UNASUR, and CARICOM as appropriate;

“9.   Reaffirms that, in the framework of the improvement of the rule of law in Haiti, strengthening the capacity of the Haitian National Police is paramount for the Government of Haiti to take timely and full responsibility for the country’s security needs, which is central to Haiti’s overall stability and future development;

“10. Recognizes the Haitian National Police’s capacity building as a most critical task for MINUSTAH and calls on Haiti’s international and regional partners to intensify their assistance to the Government of Haiti to that end, in accordance to its priorities including by providing skilled trainers and technical advisers, while stressing the need for close coordination between donors and the government of Haiti to enhance the sustainability of these efforts; further encourage MINUSTAH to locate these experts in the most efficient manner consistent with their skills and areas of expertise; 

“11. Encourages the Haitian authorities to continue to implement the justice reform plan by taking the necessary steps, including the ongoing support to the Superior Council of the Judiciary, that will aim to ensure the independence and effectiveness of the judicial institutions, and to address the issue of prolonged pretrial detentions and prison conditions and overcrowding, with special regard to women and children held in detention;

“12. Supports the objectives and commitments reflected in the joint drafting of 2012-2016 HNP Development Plan and its implementation, and underlines the need to ensure adequate budgetary support from the Government of Haiti and donors in order to achieve a minimum of 15,000 fully operational serving police officers by 2016, adequate logistic and administrative capacity, accountability and respect for human rights and rule of law, robust vetting process, enhanced recruitment procedures and training, with an emphasis on specialized units, and strengthened border control and deter transnational organized crime;

“13. Requests MINUSTAH to continue its efforts to strengthen the institutional and operational capacities of the Haitian National Police, in particular by renewed efforts to mentor and train police and corrections personnel; calls on MINUSTAH to align skills of UNPOL personnel to support these objectives; requests also MINUSTAH to facilitate coordination between bilateral and multilateral efforts and to continue to provide technical guidance to donor-funded projects as requested for the rehabilitation and construction of police and corrections facilities as well as for other projects aiming to support HNP’s institutional capacity as appropriate;

“14. Encourages also MINUSTAH, in cooperation with the appropriate international actors to assist the Government in effectively tackling gang violence, organized crime, drug trafficking and trafficking of children;

“15. Calls on all donors and partners, including international and non‑governmental organizations, to better coordinate their efforts and work closely with the Haitian Government through the Aid Coordination Mechanism, which is intended to help the Government ensure increased transparency, national ownership and coordination in foreign assistance and to strengthen Government capacity to manage external assistance;

“16. Requests the United Nations country team, and calls upon all actors, to complement security and development 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, in particular women and children; 

“17. Requests MINUSTAH, working in coordination with the United Nations country team, to continue to implement quick-impact projects that contribute to a secure and stable environment and enhance the trust of the Haitian population towards MINUSTAH, particularly in the priority areas identified by the Mission’s leadership and consistent with the Government of Haiti’s priorities as appropriate; 

“18. Strongly condemns the grave violations against children affected particularly by criminal gang violence, as well as widespread rape and other sexual abuse of women and girls, and calls upon the Government of Haiti, with the support of MINUSTAH and the United Nations country team, to continue to promote and protect the rights of women and children as set out in Security Council resolutions 1325 (2000), 1612 (2005), 1820 (2008), 1882 (2009), 1888 (2009), and 1889 (2009), and encourages all actors in the Haitian Government, the international community and civil society to renew their efforts to eliminate sexual and gender based violence in Haiti; as well as to improve response to rape complaints and access to justice for the victims of rape and other sexual crimes;

“19. 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- and police-contributing countries to ensure that acts involving their personnel are properly investigated and punished;

“20. Reaffirms MINUSTAH’s human rights mandate as an essential component of the Mission and recognizes that respect for human rights is an essential element for Haiti’s stability, in particular attention to individual accountability for grave violations under past governments, urges the Government to ensure with the support of the international community, as appropriate, the respect and protection of human rights by the Haitian National Police and the judiciary, and calls on MINUSTAH to provide monitoring and support in this regard; 

“21. Encourages MINUSTAH, within its mandate, to continue to use existing means and capabilities, including its engineers, with a view to enhancing stability in Haiti while fostering greater Haitian ownership in the context of its condition-based consolidation plan;

“22. Requests MINUSTAH to continue to pursue its community violence reduction approach, in close collaboration with the Haitian Government, adapting the programme to the changing requirements of the post-earthquake Haitian context with a particular focus on at-risk youth, women, the displaced and those living in violence-affected neighbourhoods and to ensure that this activity is coordinated with, and supports the work of, the United Nations country team to build local capacity in this area;

“23. Requests MINUSTAH to continue to support the Haitian authorities in their efforts to control the flow of small arms, the development of a weapons registry, the revision of current laws on importation and possession of arms, reform of the weapons permit system and the development and implementation of a national community policing doctrine;

“24. Underscores the importance that planning documents for MINUSTAH’s 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;

“25. Requests the Secretary-General to keep it regularly informed, and to report to the Council on the implementation of MINUSTAH’s mandate, semi-annually and not later than forty-five days prior to its expiration;

“26. Requests the Secretary-General to include in his reports a comprehensive assessment of threats to security in Haiti, and to propose, as appropriate, options to reconfigure the size and composition of MINUSTAH and to further develop, evaluate, and submit as an annex to his next report, the consolidation plan presented in Section VI of the Report S/2012/678;

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

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For information media • not an official record