United Nations Security Council Resolution 1941
Encyclopedia
United Nations
Security Council Resolution
1941, adopted unanimously on September 29, 2010, after recalling all previous resolutions on the situation in Sierra Leone
, particularly Resolution 1886
(2009), the Council extended the mandate of the United Nations Integrated Peacebuilding Office in Sierra Leone
(UNIPSIL) until September 15, 2011.
and praised the role of UNIPSIL in the country. It endorsed Ban Ki-moon's recommendation that the mandate
of UNIPSIL, outlined in resolutions 1829
(2008) and 1886 (2009), be extended for a further year to assist the Government of Sierra Leone with general elections
in 2012. In this regard, the Council noted that tensions could increase prior to the elections due to political, security, socio-economic and humanitarian challenges, and the international community
was called upon to create an environment to allow the conduct of free and fair elections.
The resolution noted continued political efforts undertaken by the government and other political parties. It stressed that the work of the Special Court for Sierra Leone
and the trial of former Liberia
n president Charles Taylor was important. Resolution 1940
(2010), which ended the arms embargo
and other sanctions against the country, was highlighted along with the importance of controlling the circulation of weapon
s within Sierra Leone and nearby states at a local level. The Economic Community of West African States
(ECOWAS), Mano River Union
and others were urged to continue dialogue to consolidate regional peace and security.
providing assistance for the 2012 elections; promoting conflict prevention and mitigation efforts, and dialogue among political parties; assisting the government and institutions in tackling youth unemployment; promoting good governance
, rule of law
and human rights
; combatting illegal drug trafficking, corruption
, organised crime and money laundering
; assisting with border control
.
The Sierra Leonean government was urged to combat corruption, promote accountability, good governance reform and development of the private sector
with assistance from UNIPSIL. Greater efforts were required to enhance the integration and effectiveness of United Nations efforts on the ground and the Secretary-General was requested to report on achievement of benchmarks including the transition of UNIPSIL into a country team. He was asked to report every six months on progress made.
The Council stressed that the government was responsible for peacebuilding, security and the long-term development of the country. Furthermore, it was called upon to promote national unity and reconciliation, while it was praised for recognising the role of women in the prevention of conflicts and peacebuilding.
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"....
1941, adopted unanimously on September 29, 2010, after recalling all previous resolutions on the situation in Sierra Leone
Sierra Leone
Sierra Leone , officially the Republic of Sierra Leone, is a country in West Africa. It is bordered by Guinea to the north and east, Liberia to the southeast, and the Atlantic Ocean to the west and southwest. Sierra Leone covers a total area of and has an estimated population between 5.4 and 6.4...
, particularly Resolution 1886
United Nations Security Council Resolution 1886
United Nations Security Council Resolution 1886 was unanimously adopted on 15 September 2009.- Resolution :The Security Council decided this morning to extend the mandate of the United Nations Integrated Peacebuilding Office in Sierra Leone for one year, until 30 September 2010.By its unanimous...
(2009), the Council extended the mandate of the United Nations Integrated Peacebuilding Office in Sierra Leone
United Nations Integrated Peacebuilding Office in Sierra Leone
The United Nations Integrated Peacebuilding Office in Sierra Leone was established by the United Nations Security Council in 2008 to provide support to the Government of Sierra Leone in identifying and resolving tensions and threats of potential conflict, monitoring and promoting human rights, and...
(UNIPSIL) until September 15, 2011.
Observations
The preamble of the resolution began by welcoming a visit to Sierra Leone by the Secretary-General Ban Ki-moonBan Ki-moon
Ban Ki-moon is the eighth and current Secretary-General of the United Nations, after succeeding Kofi Annan in 2007. Before going on to be Secretary-General, Ban was a career diplomat in South Korea's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and in the United Nations. He entered diplomatic service the year he...
and praised the role of UNIPSIL in the country. It endorsed Ban Ki-moon's recommendation that 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 UNIPSIL, outlined in resolutions 1829
United Nations Security Council Resolution 1829
United Nations Security Council Resolution 1829 was unanimously adopted on 4 August 2008.- Resolution :The Security Council today requested the Secretary-General to establish a Peacebuilding Office in Sierra Leone for a period of 12 months beginning on 1 October 2008, following the completion of...
(2008) and 1886 (2009), be extended for a further year to assist the Government of Sierra Leone with general elections
Sierra Leonean general election, 2012
Sometime in 2012, Sierra Leone will hold a general election. In April 2009, Ernest Bai Koroma was chosen by the ruling All People's Congress party as their candidate for the 2012 campaign for President. The Sierra Leone People's Party's candidate will be former general Julius Maada Bio....
in 2012. In this regard, the Council noted that tensions could increase prior to the elections due to political, security, socio-economic and humanitarian challenges, 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...
was called upon to create an environment to allow the conduct of free and fair elections.
The resolution noted continued political efforts undertaken by the government and other political parties. It stressed that the work of the Special Court for Sierra Leone
Special Court for Sierra Leone
The Special Court for Sierra Leone is an independent judicial body set up to "try those who bear greatest responsibility" for the war crimes and crimes against humanity committed in Sierra Leone after 30 November 1996 during the Sierra Leone Civil War...
and the trial of former 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...
n president Charles Taylor was important. Resolution 1940
United Nations Security Council Resolution 1940
United Nations Security Council Resolution 1940, adopted unanimously on September 29, 2010, after recalling all previous resolutions on the situation in Sierra Leone, including resolutions 1132 and the 1171 , the Council lifted an arms embargo and remaining sanctions against the country imposed in...
(2010), which ended 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...
and other sanctions against the country, was highlighted along with the importance of controlling the circulation of weapon
Weapon
A weapon, arm, or armament is a tool or instrument used with the aim of causing damage or harm to living beings or artificial structures or systems...
s within Sierra Leone and nearby states at a local level. 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), Mano River Union
Mano River Union
The Mano River Union is an international association established in 1973 between Liberia and Sierra Leone. In 1980, Guinea joined the union. The goal of the Union was to foster economic cooperation among the countries...
and others were urged to continue dialogue to consolidate regional peace and security.
Acts
Extending UNIPSIL's mandate for an additional twelve months, it was also tasked with focusing on:providing assistance for the 2012 elections; promoting conflict prevention and mitigation efforts, and dialogue among political parties; assisting the government and institutions in tackling youth unemployment; promoting good governance
Good governance
Good governance is an indeterminate term used in development literature to describe how public institutions conduct public affairs and manage public resources in order to guarantee the realization of human rights. Governance describes "the process of decision-making and the process by which...
, 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 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...
; combatting illegal drug trafficking, corruption
Political corruption
Political corruption is the use of legislated powers by government officials for illegitimate private gain. Misuse of government power for other purposes, such as repression of political opponents and general police brutality, is not considered political corruption. Neither are illegal acts by...
, organised crime and money laundering
Money laundering
Money laundering is the process of disguising illegal sources of money so that it looks like it came from legal sources. The methods by which money may be laundered are varied and can range in sophistication. Many regulatory and governmental authorities quote estimates each year for the amount...
; assisting with border control
Border control
Border controls are measures used by a country to monitor or regulate its borders.The control of the flow of many people, animals and goods across a border may be controlled by government Customs services. Security is enforced by various kinds of Border Guards and Coast Guards...
.
The Sierra Leonean government was urged to combat corruption, promote accountability, good governance reform and development of the private sector
Private sector
In economics, the private sector is that part of the economy, sometimes referred to as the citizen sector, which is run by private individuals or groups, usually as a means of enterprise for profit, and is not controlled by the state...
with assistance from UNIPSIL. Greater efforts were required to enhance the integration and effectiveness of United Nations efforts on the ground and the Secretary-General was requested to report on achievement of benchmarks including the transition of UNIPSIL into a country team. He was asked to report every six months on progress made.
The Council stressed that the government was responsible for peacebuilding, security and the long-term development of the country. Furthermore, it was called upon to promote national unity and reconciliation, while it was praised for recognising the role of women in the prevention of conflicts and peacebuilding.
See also
- List of United Nations Security Council Resolutions 1901 to 2000 (2009 – 2011)
- 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...
- Sierra Leone Civil WarSierra Leone Civil WarThe Sierra Leone Civil War began on 23 March 1991 when the Revolutionary United Front , with support from the special forces of Charles Taylor’s National Patriotic Front of Liberia , intervened in Sierra Leone in an attempt to overthrow the Joseph Momoh government...
- Special Court for Sierra LeoneSpecial Court for Sierra LeoneThe Special Court for Sierra Leone is an independent judicial body set up to "try those who bear greatest responsibility" for the war crimes and crimes against humanity committed in Sierra Leone after 30 November 1996 during the Sierra Leone Civil War...
External links
- Text of Resolution at ReliefWebReliefWebReliefWeb is an on-line gateway to information on humanitarian emergencies and disasters. An independent vehicle of information, designed specifically to assist the international humanitarian community in effective delivery of emergency assistance, it provides information as events unfold, while...