United Nations Security Council Resolution 1608
Encyclopedia
United Nations
Security Council Resolution
1608, adopted unanimously on June 22, 2005, after recalling resolutions 1542
(2004) and 1576
(2004) on the situation in Haiti
, the Council extended the mandate of the United Nations Stabilisation Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH) until February 15, 2006 and increased its strength.
in 2005, with a government taking office on February 7, 2006. All violations of human rights
were condemned, and the transitional government called upon to end impunity
and ensure that the rule of law
was respected. The Council also noted the poverty
in Haiti and called for the strengthening of the economy
.
, the Council extended the mandate
of MINUSTAH and an increase in its strength. It supported the recommendations of the Secretary-General Kofi Annan
of the creation of a 750-strong rapid reaction force, 50 personnel for the headquarters in the capital Port-au-Prince
, 275 personnel for the police component in addition to troops already authorised and a review of the justice system. For a temporary period, MINUSTAH would consist of 7,500 military and 1,897 police personnel.
The remainder of the resolution called for further reforms, addressed international assistance, and co-operation between MINUSTAH and the Haitian transitional government. Continuous reports on the situation in Haiti by the Secretary-General were also requested by 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"....
1608, adopted unanimously on June 22, 2005, after recalling resolutions 1542
United Nations Security Council Resolution 1542
United Nations Security Council Resolution 1542, adopted unanimously on April 30, 2004, after receiving a report by the Secretary-General Kofi Annan, the Council deplored all violations of human rights in Haiti and urged the Government of Haiti to promote and protect human rights with a State based...
(2004) and 1576
United Nations Security Council Resolution 1576
United Nations Security Council Resolution 1576, adopted unanimously on November 29, 2004, after recalling resolutions 1529 and 1542 on the situation in Haiti, the Council extended the mandate of the United Nations Stabilisation Mission in Haiti until June 1, 2005.The preamble of the resolution...
(2004) on the situation in Haiti
Haiti
Haiti , officially the Republic of Haiti , is a Caribbean country. It occupies the western, smaller portion of the island of Hispaniola, in the Greater Antillean archipelago, which it shares with the Dominican Republic. Ayiti was the indigenous Taíno or Amerindian name for the island...
, the Council extended the mandate of the United Nations Stabilisation Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH) until February 15, 2006 and increased its strength.
Observations
In the preamble of the resolution, the Council stressed the importance of holding electionsElections in Haïti
Elections in Haiti gives information on election and election results in Haiti.The current president is René Préval, who received 51 percent of the votes in the 2005 elections...
in 2005, with a government taking office on February 7, 2006. 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...
were condemned, and the transitional government called upon to end impunity
Impunity
Impunity means "exemption from punishment or loss or escape from fines". In the international law of human rights, it refers to the failure to bring perpetrators of human rights violations to justice and, as such, itself constitutes a denial of the victims' right to justice and redress...
and ensure that 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...
was respected. The Council also noted the poverty
Poverty
Poverty is the lack of a certain amount of material possessions or money. Absolute poverty or destitution is inability to afford basic human needs, which commonly includes clean and fresh water, nutrition, health care, education, clothing and shelter. About 1.7 billion people are estimated to live...
in Haiti and called for the strengthening of the economy
Economy of Haiti
Haiti is the poorest country in the Americas. Two-thirds of all Haitians depend on the agriculture sector, mainly small-scale subsistence farming, and remain vulnerable to damage from frequent natural disasters, exacerbated by the country's widespread deforestation...
.
Acts
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 extended the 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....
of MINUSTAH and an increase in its strength. It supported the recommendations of 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...
of the creation of a 750-strong rapid reaction force, 50 personnel for the headquarters in the capital Port-au-Prince
Port-au-Prince
Port-au-Prince is the capital and largest city of the Caribbean nation of Haiti. The city's population was 704,776 as of the 2003 census, and was officially estimated to have reached 897,859 in 2009....
, 275 personnel for the police component in addition to troops already authorised and a review of the justice system. For a temporary period, MINUSTAH would consist of 7,500 military and 1,897 police personnel.
The remainder of the resolution called for further reforms, addressed international assistance, and co-operation between MINUSTAH and the Haitian transitional government. Continuous reports on the situation in Haiti by the Secretary-General were also requested by the Council.
See also
- 2004 Haitian rebellion
- List of United Nations Security Council Resolutions 1601 to 1700 (2005 – 2006)