Liberia - UNMIL - Mandate
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The United Nations Mission in Liberia (UNMIL) was established by Security Council resolution 1509 (2003) of 19 September 2003 with the following mandate:

Support for Implementation of the Ceasefire Agreement

  • to observe and monitor the implementation of the ceasefire agreement and investigate violations of the ceasefire;
  • to establish and maintain continuous liaison with the field headquarters of all the parties’ military forces;
  • to assist in the development of cantonment sites and to provide security at these sites;
  • to observe and monitor disengagement and cantonment of military forces of all the parties;
  • to support the work of the Joint Monitoring Committee (JMC);
  • to develop, as soon as possible, preferably within 30 days of the adoption of this resolution, in cooperation with the JMC, relevant international financial institutions, international development organizations, and donor nations, an action plan for the overall implementation of a disarmament, demobilization, reintegration, and repatriation (DDRR) programme for all armed parties; with particular attention to the special needs of child combatants and women; and addressing the inclusion of non-Liberian combatants;
  • to carry out voluntary disarmament and to collect and destroy weapons and ammunition as part of an organized DDRR programme;
  • to liase with the JMC and to advise on the implementation of its functions under the Comprehensive Peace Agreement and the ceasefire agreement;
  • to provide security at key government installations, in particular ports, airports, and other vital infrastructure;

Protection of United Nations Staff, Facilities and Civilians

  • to protect United Nations personnel, facilities, installations and equipment, ensure the security and freedom of movement of its personnel and, without prejudice to the efforts of the government, to protect civilians under imminent threat of physical violence, within its capabilities;

Support for Humanitarian and Human Rights Assistance

  • to facilitate the provision of humanitarian assistance, including by helping to establish the necessary security conditions;
  • to contribute towards international efforts to protect and promote human rights in Liberia, with particular attention to vulnerable groups including refugees, returning refugees and internally displaced persons, women, children, and demobilized child soldiers, within UNMIL’s capabilities and under acceptable security conditions, in close cooperation with other United Nations agencies, related organizations, governmental organizations, and non-governmental organizations;
  • to ensure an adequate human rights presence, capacity and expertise within UNMIL to carry out human rights promotion, protection, and monitoring activities;

Support for Security Reform

  • to assist the transitional government of Liberia in monitoring and restructuring the police force of Liberia, consistent with democratic policing, to develop a police training programme, and to otherwise assist in the training of police, in cooperation with the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), international organizations, and interested States;
  • to assist the transitional government in the formation of a new and restructured Liberian military in cooperation with ECOWAS, international organizations and interested States;

Support for Implementation of the Peace Process

  • to assist the transitional Government, in conjunction with ECOWAS and other international partners, in reestablishment of national authority throughout the country, including the establishment of a functioning administrative structure at both the national and local levels;
  • to assist the transitional government in conjunction with ECOWAS and other international partners in developing a strategy to consolidate governmental institutions, including a national legal framework and judicial and correctional institutions;
  • to assist the transitional government in restoring proper administration of natural resources;
  • to assist the transitional government, in conjunction with ECOWAS and other international partners, in preparing for national elections scheduled for no later than the end of 2005.

On 11 November 2005, the Security Council, by its resolution 1638 and acting under Chapter VII of the Charter of the United Nations, decided that the mandate of UNMIL shall include the following additional element: “to apprehend and detain former President Charles Taylor in the event of a return to Liberia and to transfer him or facilitate his transfer to Sierra Leone for prosecution before the Special Court for Sierra Leone and to keep the Liberian Government, the Sierra Leonean Government and the Council fully informed”.


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