United Nations Security Council Resolution 1562 – Sierra Leone
Resolution 1562 (2004)
The Security Council,
Recalling its previous resolutions and the statements of its President concerning the situation in Sierra Leone,
Affirming the commitment of all States to respect the sovereignty, political independence and territorial integrity of Sierra Leone,
Commending the efforts of the Economic Community of West African States towards building peace in the subregion, and encouraging the Mano River Union Member States to continue their dialogue aimed at building regional peace and security,
Encouraging the United Nations missions in the region to continue their effortstowards developing inter-mission cooperation, especially in the prevention ofmovements of arms and combatants across borders and in the implementation of disarmament, demobilization and reintegration programmes,
Having considered the report of the Secretary-General of 10 September 2004(S/2004/724),
Welcoming the further progress made towards the benchmarks for drawdown ofthe United Nations Mission in Sierra Leone (UNAMSIL), and commending UNAMSIL for the progress made to date in the adjustments to its size, compositionand deployment,
Underlining the importance of additional efforts to strengthen the capacity ofthe Sierra Leone Police and armed forces to maintain security and stabilityeffectively,
Underlining the importance of increasingly close collaboration between UNAMSIL and the United Nations country team in Sierra Leone, to ensure a smooth transition after the final departure of UNAMSIL,
Expressing its appreciation for the essential work of the Special Court For Sierra Leone, noting its vital contribution to the establishment of the rule of law in Sierra Leone, and encouraging all States to cooperate fully with the Court,
Determining that the situation in Sierra Leone continues to constitute a threatto international peace and security in the region,
Acting under Chapter VII of the Charter of the United Nations,
- Decides that the mandate of UNAMSIL shall be extended until 30 June2005;
2. Decides further that the tasks of the residual UNAMSIL presence, which shall remain in Sierra Leone for an initial period of six months from 1 January 2005,as set out in paragraph 5 of resolution 1537 (2004) of 30 March 2004, shall be thefollowing:Military and civilian police tasks
• To monitor, in conjunction with district and provincial security committees, the overall security situation, to support the Sierra Leone armed forces and police in patrolling the border and diamond-mining areas, including through joint planning and joint operations where appropriate, and to monitor the growing capacity of the Sierra Leone security sector;
• To support the Sierra Leone Police in maintaining internal security, including security for the Special Court for Sierra Leone while UNAMSIL remain deployed in Sierra Leone;
• To assist the Sierra Leone Police with its programme of recruitment, training and mentoring designed to strengthen further the capacity and resources of the Police;
• To protect United Nations personnel, installations and equipment and ensure the security and freedom of movement of United Nations personnel, within its capabilities and its areas of deployment;Civilian tasks
• To monitor the repatriation, reception, resettlement and reintegration of Sierra Leonean ex-combatants from abroad;
• To monitor, investigate, report and promote the observance of human rights;
• To disseminate information on the mission’s mandate and purpose and publicize the Government’s primary responsibility for national security,including through United Nations radio;
• To monitor progress towards consolidation of State authority throughout thecountry;
3. Authorizes the residual UNAMSIL presence to use all necessary means tocarry out its mandate, within its capabilities and its areas of deployment;
4. Expresses its intention to review regularly the residual UNAMSIL presence against the following benchmarks:
• Strengthening the capacity of the Sierra Leone armed forces and police tomaintain security and stability effectively throughout the country;
• Consolidating State authority throughout the country;
• Consolidating the deployment of UNMIL throughout Liberia;
5. Welcomes the Secretary-General’s assurance, as set out in paragraph 91of his report of 19 March 2004 (S/2004/228), that where military observers, civilaffairs officers, political affairs officers, human rights officers and civilian policepersonnel are co-deployed, they will function as integrated units and work in closecollaboration with the United Nations country team;
6. Urges the Government of Sierra Leone to intensify its efforts to developan effective and sustainable police force, armed forces, penal system and independent judiciary, so that the Government can take over from UNAMSIL assoon as possible full responsibility for maintaining law and order throughout Sierra Leone, including in the sensitive diamond-producing areas, and encourages donorsand UNAMSIL, in accordance with its mandate, to continue to assist the Government in this regard, as well as to assist the Government in restoring publicservices throughout the country;
7. Welcomes the Secretary-General’s intention to keep the security, political,humanitarian and human rights situation in Sierra Leone under close review and to report regularly to the Council, after due consultations with contributing countries and the Government of Sierra Leone;
8. Decides to remain actively seized of the matter.
Adopted by the Security Council at its 5037th meeting, on 17 September 2004.
