United Nations Security Council Resolution 1123 – Haiti

Resolution 1123 (1997)

The Security Council,

Recalling all its relevant resolutions and those adopted by the GeneralAssembly,

Taking note of the request of 13 November 1996 from the President of the Republic of Haiti to the Secretary-General of the United Nations (S/1996/956),and the letter of 20 July 1997 from the Permanent Representative of Haiti to the United Nations to the Secretary-General (S/1997/568),

Taking note of the report of the Secretary-General of 19 July 1997(S/1997/564 and Add.1), and the recommendations contained therein,

Commending the role of the United Nations Support Mission in Haiti (UNSMIH) in assisting the Government of Haiti in the professionalization of the policeand in the maintenance of a secure and stable environment conducive to the success of the current efforts to establish and train an effective national police force, and expressing its appreciation to all Member States which havecontributed to UNSMIH,

Noting the termination in accordance with resolution 1086 (1996) of the mandate of UNSMIH as of 31 July 1997,

Supporting the role of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General in the coordination of activities by the United Nations system to promote institution-building, national reconciliation and economic rehabilitation in Haiti,

Noting the key role played to date by the United Nations Civilian Police,supported by United Nations military personnel, in helping to establish a fully functioning Haitian National Police Force of adequate size and structure as an integral element of the consolidation of democracy and the revitalization of Haiti’s system of justice and, in this context, welcoming continued progress towards professionalizing the Haitian National Police,

Affirming the link between peace and development, noting that significant international assistance is indispensable for sustainable development in Haiti,and stressing that a sustained commitment by the international community and the international financial institutions to assist and support the economic, social and institutional development in Haiti is indispensable for long-term peace and security in the country,

Recognizing that the people of Haiti bear the ultimate responsibility for national reconciliation, the maintenance of a secure and stable environment, the administration of justice, and the reconstruction of their country,

1. Affirms the importance of a professional, self-sustaining, fully functioning national police force of adequate size and structure, able to conduct the full spectrum of police functions, to the consolidation of democracyand the revitalization of Haiti’s system of justice;

2. Decides further to paragraph 1 above, and at the request of the President of the Republic of Haiti, to establish the United Nations Transition Mission in Haiti (UNTMIH) with a mandate limited to a single four-month period ending on 30 November 1997 in order to assist the Government of Haiti by supporting and contributing to the professionalization of the Haitian National Police, as set out in paragraphs 32 to 39 of the Secretary-General’s report of 19 July 1997;

3. Further decides that UNTMIH be composed of up to 250 civilian police,and 50 military personnel to form the headquarters of a security element;

4. Decides that the security element of UNTMIH, under the authority of the Force Commander, will ensure the safety and freedom of movement of those United Nations personnel implementing the mandate set out in paragraph 2 above;

5. Further decides that UNTMIH will assume responsibility for allelements and assets of UNSMIH remaining in Haiti to deploy as appropriate untilthey are withdrawn;

6. Requests all States to provide appropriate support for the actions undertaken by the United Nations and by Member States pursuant to this and otherrelevant resolutions in order to carry out the provisions of the mandate as setout in paragraph 2 above;

7. Requests the Secretary-General to report to the Security Council on the implementation of this resolution no later than 30 September 1997;

8. Recognizes that economic rehabilitation and reconstruction constitute major tasks facing the Haitian Government and people and that significant international assistance is indispensable for sustainable development in Haiti,and stresses the commitment of the international community to a long-term programme of support for Haiti;

9. Requests all States to make voluntary contributions to the trust fundestablished in resolution 975 (1995) for the Haitian National Police, in particular for the recruitment and deployment of police advisers to assist the Inspector General, Directorate General and department headquarters of theHaitian National Police;

10. Further requests the Secretary-General to include in his report to be submitted no later than 30 September 1997 recommendations on the modalities ofsubsequent peace-building international assistance to Haiti;

11. Decides to remain seized of the matter.

Adopted by the Security Council at its 3806th meeting,on 30 July 1997.