United Nations Security Council Resolution 1509
Encyclopedia
United Nations
Security Council Resolution
1509, adopted unanimously on September 19, 2003, after recalling all previous resolutions on the situation in Liberia
, including Resolution 1497
(2003), the Council established the 15,000-strong United Nations Mission in Liberia
(UNMIL) to assist in implementing a ceasefire and peace agreement.
Prior to the resolution's adoption, the Council was told that a large number of peacekeepers
would be needed to end the "cycle of brutality, violence, corruption and instability." UNMIL was to replace a previous United Nationa authorised West Africa
n force in the country from October 1, 2003.
on the civilian population throughout Liberia and stressed the need for humanitarian assistance
. It deplored all violations of human rights
, including sexual violence
against women and children and the use of child soldiers
. At the same, it was concerned at the limited access of humanitarian workers to people in need and emphasised the need to safeguard their safety. Once established, the new transitional government had to ensure respect for human rights and the rule of law
and an independent judiciary
.
The efforts of the Economic Community of West African States
(ECOWAS), its mission in Liberia (ECOMIL) and African Union
in the country were praised. The Council noted that lasting stability in Liberia would depend on peace in the subregion, and supported the ceasefire
agreement signed on June 17, 2003 and Comprehensive Peace Agreement signed on August 18, 2003, further stating that the parties themselves would be responsible for their implementation.
The preamble of the resolution also welcomed the resignation and departure of former President Charles Taylor and the peaceful transfer of power. It recalled that a long-term framework was required to relieve the ECOMIL forces in Liberia, and determined that the situation in Liberia constituted a threat to international peace and security in the region and to West Africa
.
, the Council established UNMIL for an initial period of twelve months. It would consist of 15,000 military personnel including 250 military observers, 160 staff and 1,115 police. The operation was to be led by the Special Representative of the Secretary-General
to Liberia, Jacques Klein
. It was given a comprehensive mandate
in areas relating to supporting the ceasefire agreement, protecting United Nations personnel and facilities, supporting humanitarian assistance, supporting security reform and implementing the peace process which included elections
in 2005.
The resolution demanded the end of hostilities throughout Liberia, the fulfilment of obligations by all parties concerned and co-operation with UNMIL. The Liberian government was asked to conclude a Status of Forces Agreement
with the Secretary-General Kofi Annan
within 30 days and all Liberian parties had to ensure unimpeded access to the civilian population by humanitarian organisations. The Council recognised the importance of the protection of children in accordance with Resolution 1379
(2001) and related resolutions and further demanded an end to the use of child soldiers. A gender perspective was also highlighted, in accordance with Resolution 1325 (2000) concerning women and girls. Meanwhile, the arms embargo
against the country would not apply to UNMIL personnel.
All states were called upon to cease support for military groups in neighbouring countries, while the transitional government in Liberia was requested to restore diplomatic relations with nearby states and the international community
. The international community was asked to consider future assistance to Liberia concerning economic development. The Council stressed the need for the establishment of United Nations radio stations to inform the Liberian public on the role of UNMIL and the peace process. Referring to the disarmament
, demobilisation
, reintegration
and repatriation
programme, the resolution called upon the transitional government, the Liberians United for Reconciliation and Democracy
and Movement for Democracy in Liberia
to co-operate with UNMIL in the implementation of the process.
Finally, the Secretary-General was instructed to provide regular updates on the situation in Liberia, including a report every 90 days, to the Council.
United Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
Security Council Resolution
United Nations Security Council Resolution
A United Nations Security Council resolution is a UN resolution adopted by the fifteen members of the Security Council; the UN body charged with "primary responsibility for the maintenance of international peace and security"....
1509, adopted unanimously on September 19, 2003, after recalling all previous resolutions on the situation in Liberia
Liberia
Liberia , officially the Republic of Liberia, is a country in West Africa. It is bordered by Sierra Leone on the west, Guinea on the north and Côte d'Ivoire on the east. Liberia's coastline is composed of mostly mangrove forests while the more sparsely populated inland consists of forests that open...
, including Resolution 1497
United Nations Security Council Resolution 1497
United Nations Security Council Resolution 1497, adopted on August 1, 2003, after expressing concern at the situation in Liberia, the Council authorised a multinational force to intervene in the civil war to support the implementation of a ceasefire agreement using "all necessary measures".The...
(2003), the Council established the 15,000-strong United Nations Mission in Liberia
United Nations Mission in Liberia
The United Nations Mission in Liberia is a peace-keeping force established in September 2003 to monitor a ceasefire agreement in Liberia following the resignation of President Charles Taylor and the conclusion of the Second Liberian Civil War....
(UNMIL) to assist in implementing a ceasefire and peace agreement.
Prior to the resolution's adoption, the Council was told that a large number of peacekeepers
Peacekeeping
Peacekeeping is an activity that aims to create the conditions for lasting peace. It is distinguished from both peacebuilding and peacemaking....
would be needed to end the "cycle of brutality, violence, corruption and instability." UNMIL was to replace a previous United Nationa authorised West Africa
West Africa
West Africa or Western Africa is the westernmost region of the African continent. Geopolitically, the UN definition of Western Africa includes the following 16 countries and an area of approximately 5 million square km:-Flags of West Africa:...
n force in the country from October 1, 2003.
Observations
In the preamble of the resolution, the Council expressed concern at the consequences of the prolonged civil warCivil war
A civil war is a war between organized groups within the same nation state or republic, or, less commonly, between two countries created from a formerly-united nation state....
on the civilian population throughout Liberia and stressed the need for humanitarian assistance
Humanitarian aid
Humanitarian aid is material or logistical assistance provided for humanitarian purposes, typically in response to humanitarian crises including natural disaster and man-made disaster. The primary objective of humanitarian aid is to save lives, alleviate suffering, and maintain human dignity...
. It deplored all violations of human rights
Human rights
Human rights are "commonly understood as inalienable fundamental rights to which a person is inherently entitled simply because she or he is a human being." Human rights are thus conceived as universal and egalitarian . These rights may exist as natural rights or as legal rights, in both national...
, including sexual violence
Sexual violence
Sexual violence occurs throughout the world, although in most countries there has been little research conducted on the problem. Due to the private nature of sexual violence, estimating the extent of the problem is difficult...
against women and children and the use of child soldiers
Military use of children
The military use of children takes three distinct forms: children can take direct part in hostilities , or they can be used in support roles such as porters, spies, messengers, look outs, and sexual slaves; or they can be used for political advantage either as human shields or in...
. At the same, it was concerned at the limited access of humanitarian workers to people in need and emphasised the need to safeguard their safety. Once established, the new transitional government had to ensure respect for human rights and the rule of law
Rule of law
The rule of law, sometimes called supremacy of law, is a legal maxim that says that governmental decisions should be made by applying known principles or laws with minimal discretion in their application...
and an independent judiciary
Judiciary
The judiciary is the system of courts that interprets and applies the law in the name of the state. The judiciary also provides a mechanism for the resolution of disputes...
.
The efforts of the Economic Community of West African States
Economic Community of West African States
The Economic Community of West African States is a regional group of fifteen West African countries. Founded on 28 May 1975, with the signing of the Treaty of Lagos, its mission is to promote economic integration across the region....
(ECOWAS), its mission in Liberia (ECOMIL) and African Union
African Union
The African Union is a union consisting of 54 African states. The only all-African state not in the AU is Morocco. Established on 9 July 2002, the AU was formed as a successor to the Organisation of African Unity...
in the country were praised. The Council noted that lasting stability in Liberia would depend on peace in the subregion, and supported the ceasefire
Ceasefire
A ceasefire is a temporary stoppage of a war in which each side agrees with the other to suspend aggressive actions. Ceasefires may be declared as part of a formal treaty, but they have also been called as part of an informal understanding between opposing forces...
agreement signed on June 17, 2003 and Comprehensive Peace Agreement signed on August 18, 2003, further stating that the parties themselves would be responsible for their implementation.
The preamble of the resolution also welcomed the resignation and departure of former President Charles Taylor and the peaceful transfer of power. It recalled that a long-term framework was required to relieve the ECOMIL forces in Liberia, and determined that the situation in Liberia constituted a threat to international peace and security in the region and to West Africa
West Africa
West Africa or Western Africa is the westernmost region of the African continent. Geopolitically, the UN definition of Western Africa includes the following 16 countries and an area of approximately 5 million square km:-Flags of West Africa:...
.
Acts
Acting under Chapter VII of the United Nations CharterChapter VII of the United Nations Charter
Chapter VII of the United Nations Charter sets out the UN Security Council's powers to maintain peace. It allows the Council to "determine the existence of any threat to the peace, breach of the peace, or act of aggression" and to take military and nonmilitary action to "restore international peace...
, the Council established UNMIL for an initial period of twelve months. It would consist of 15,000 military personnel including 250 military observers, 160 staff and 1,115 police. The operation was to be led by the Special Representative of the Secretary-General
Special Representative of the Secretary-General
A Special Representative of the Secretary-General is a highly respected expert who has been appointed by the Secretary-General of the United Nations to represent her/him in meetings with heads of state on critical human rights issues...
to Liberia, Jacques Klein
Jacques Klein
Jacques Klein was a Brazilian composer and pianist.Born to a Jewish family in Aracati, he grew up in the nearby city of Fortaleza, where he began to study piano at the Conservatório Alberto Nepomuceno, which had been founded by his father...
. It was given a comprehensive mandate
Mandate (international law)
In international law, a mandate is a binding obligation issued from an inter-governmental organization like the United Nations to a country which is bound to follow the instructions of the organization....
in areas relating to supporting the ceasefire agreement, protecting United Nations personnel and facilities, supporting humanitarian assistance, supporting security reform and implementing the peace process which included elections
Elections in Liberia
Liberia elects on national level a head of state - the president - and a legislature. The president is elected for a six-year term by the people. The Legislature has two chambers. The House of Representatives has 64 members, elected for a six-year term. The Senate has 30 members...
in 2005.
The resolution demanded the end of hostilities throughout Liberia, the fulfilment of obligations by all parties concerned and co-operation with UNMIL. The Liberian government was asked to conclude a Status of Forces Agreement
Status of Forces Agreement
A status of forces agreement is an agreement between a host country and a foreign nation stationing forces in that country. SOFAs are often included, along with other types of military agreements, as part of a comprehensive security arrangement...
with the Secretary-General Kofi Annan
Kofi Annan
Kofi Atta Annan is a Ghanaian diplomat who served as the seventh Secretary-General of the UN from 1 January 1997 to 31 December 2006...
within 30 days and all Liberian parties had to ensure unimpeded access to the civilian population by humanitarian organisations. The Council recognised the importance of the protection of children in accordance with Resolution 1379
United Nations Security Council Resolution 1379
United Nations Security Council Resolution 1379, adopted unanimously on November 20, 2001, after recalling resolutions 1261 , 1265 , 1296 , 1306 , 1308 , 1314 and 1325 , the Council considered provisions to protect children during peacekeeping operations and requested the Secretary-General to...
(2001) and related resolutions and further demanded an end to the use of child soldiers. A gender perspective was also highlighted, in accordance with Resolution 1325 (2000) concerning women and girls. Meanwhile, the arms embargo
Arms embargo
An arms embargo is an embargo that applies to weaponry. It may also include "dual use" items. An arms embargo may serve one or more purposes:# to signal disapproval of behavior by a certain actor,# to maintain neutral standing in an ongoing conflict, or...
against the country would not apply to UNMIL personnel.
All states were called upon to cease support for military groups in neighbouring countries, while the transitional government in Liberia was requested to restore diplomatic relations with nearby states and the international community
International community
The international community is a term used in international relations to refer to all peoples, cultures and governments of the world or to a group of them. The term is used to imply the existence of common duties and obligations between them...
. The international community was asked to consider future assistance to Liberia concerning economic development. The Council stressed the need for the establishment of United Nations radio stations to inform the Liberian public on the role of UNMIL and the peace process. Referring to the disarmament
Disarmament
Disarmament is the act of reducing, limiting, or abolishing weapons. Disarmament generally refers to a country's military or specific type of weaponry. Disarmament is often taken to mean total elimination of weapons of mass destruction, such as nuclear arms...
, demobilisation
Demobilization
Demobilization is the process of standing down a nation's armed forces from combat-ready status. This may be as a result of victory in war, or because a crisis has been peacefully resolved and military force will not be necessary...
, reintegration
Social integration
Social integration, in sociology and other social sciences, is the movement of minority groups such as ethnic minorities, refugees and underprivileged sections of a society into the mainstream of societies...
and repatriation
Repatriation
Repatriation is the process of returning a person back to one's place of origin or citizenship. This includes the process of returning refugees or soldiers to their place of origin following a war...
programme, the resolution called upon the transitional government, the Liberians United for Reconciliation and Democracy
Liberians United for Reconciliation and Democracy
The Liberians United for Reconciliation and Democracy was a rebel group in Liberia that was active from 1999 until after the peace accords that ended the Second Liberian Civil War in 2003...
and Movement for Democracy in Liberia
Movement for Democracy in Liberia
The Movement for Democracy in Liberia was a rebel group in Liberia that became active in March 2003, launching attacks from Côte d'Ivoire...
to co-operate with UNMIL in the implementation of the process.
Finally, the Secretary-General was instructed to provide regular updates on the situation in Liberia, including a report every 90 days, to the Council.
See also
- List of United Nations Security Council Resolutions 1501 to 1600 (2003 – 2005)
- Second Liberian Civil WarSecond Liberian Civil WarThe Second Liberian Civil War began in 1999 when a rebel group backed by the government of neighbouring Guinea, the Liberians United for Reconciliation and Democracy , emerged in northern Liberia. In early 2003, a second rebel group, the Movement for Democracy in Liberia, emerged in the south, and...