United Nations Security Council Resolution 1793

by the United Nations

Adopted by the Security Council at its 5813th meeting, on 21 December 2007

The Security Council,

Reaffirming its previous resolutions and the statements of its President concerning the situation in Sierra Leone, in particular resolutions 1734 (2006), 1688 (2006) and 1620 (2005),

Commending the valuable contribution that the United Nations Integrated Office in Sierra Leone (UNIOSIL) has made to the recovery of Sierra Leone from conflict and to the country’s peace, security and development,

Welcoming the report of the Secretary-General dated 4 December and the recommendation that the mandate of UNIOSIL is extended for a further nine months until 30 September 2008 with a view to providing continued peacebuilding assistance to the Government of Sierra Leone and preparing for the local elections in June 2008,

Noting the letter of 22 October 2007 from the President of Sierra Leone to the Secretary-General requesting the extension of the mandate of UNIOSIL,

Welcoming the holding of peaceful and democratic parliamentary and presidential elections in August and September 2007, and stressing that the wide acceptance of the local elections in June 2008 will be another important milestone in consolidating a sustainable peace in Sierra Leone,

Emphasizing the importance of the continued 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 adoption on 12 December 2007 of the Peacebuilding Cooperation Framework highlighting inter alia five priority areas in the peace consolidation process to be addressed by the Government of Sierra Leone with the support of the Peacebuilding Commission (PBC), the United Nations system and bilateral and multinational partners,

Welcoming the progress made in reforming the security sector in Sierra Leone and, in particular, the developing professionalism of the Sierra Leone Armed Forces and police, and urging further strengthening and rationalizing of the security architecture so that the police and Armed Forces are sustainable in the long term and able to carry out their tasks effectively,

Reiterating its appreciation for the work of the Special Court for Sierra Leone and its vital contribution to reconciliation and the rule of law in Sierra Leone and the subregion, reiterating its expectation that the Court will finish its work expeditiously, and calling upon Member States to contribute generously to the Court,

Welcoming the role played by ECOWAS and encouraging the Member States of the Mano River Union and other organizations to continue their efforts aimed at building regional and subregional peace and security,

1. Decides to extend the mandate of UNIOSIL, as outlined in resolution 1620 (2005), until 30 September 2008;

2. Requests the Secretary-General to submit by 31 January 2008, and for the Council’s consideration, a completion strategy for UNIOSIL including:

– at least a 20 per cent reduction in staff numbers by 31 March 2008;

– a continued mission at 80 per cent of the current strength until 30 June 2008; and

– the termination of UNIOSIL’s mandate by 30 September 2008;

3. Emphasizes the importance of UNIOSIL focusing, in particular, on providing assistance to the local elections scheduled for 21 June 2008, and to national commissions and institutions for the promotion of good governance and human rights, and actively supporting the work of the Peacebuilding Commission and the Peacebuilding Fund; and, in this regard, requests the Secretary-General to ensure there is adequate capacity, expertise and resources within UNIOSIL;

4. Expresses its intention that, on the expiration of its mandate, UNIOSIL should be replaced by a United Nations integrated political office to focus on carrying forward the peacebuilding process, mobilizing international donor support, supporting the work of the Peacebuilding Commission and Fund, and completing any residual tasks left over from UNIOSIL’s mandate, in particular promoting national reconciliation and supporting the constitutional reform process; and requests the Secretary-General to submit specific proposals on the mandate, structure and strength of the successor office in his next report to the Council in April 2008;

5. Calls upon all parties in Sierra Leone to ensure that the 2008 local elections are peaceful, transparent, free and fair; further calls upon the Government of Sierra Leone to provide the necessary support for the electoral institutions; and urges Member States and relevant international and regional organizations to provide technical and material support;

6. 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 close engagement with the Peacebuilding Commission, including through the regular monitoring of progress in the implementation of the Sierra Leone Peacebuilding Cooperation Framework, and international donors to continue to provide support to the Government;

7. Calls upon the Government of Sierra Leone, UNIOSIL 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, strengthen the judiciary and promote human rights;

8. Acting under Chapter VII of the Charter of the United Nations, decides to exempt from the measures imposed by paragraph 5 of resolution 1171 (1998) the travel of any witnesses whose presence at trial before the Special Court for Sierra Leone is required;

9. Emphasizes the important role of women in the prevention and resolution of conflicts and in peacebuilding, as recognized in resolution 1325 (2000), underlines that a gender perspective should be taken into account in implementing all aspects of the mandate of UNIOSIL, encourages UNIOSIL to work with the Government of Sierra Leone in this area, and requests the Secretary-General to ensure there is adequate capacity, expertise and resources within UNIOSIL to carry out this work and, where appropriate, to include in his reporting to the Council progress on gender mainstreaming throughout UNIOSIL and all other aspects relating to the situation of women and girls, especially in relation to the need to protect them from gender-based violence;

10. Welcomes the efforts undertaken by UNIOSIL to implement the Secretary-General’s zero-tolerance policy on sexual exploitation and abuse to ensure full compliance of its personnel with the United Nations code of conduct;

11. Requests that the Secretary-General keep the Council regularly informed of progress made in the implementation of the mandate of UNIOSIL and this resolution;

12. Decides to remain actively seized of the matter.

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* Reissued for technical reasons.