Security Council Extends Mandate of United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq, Unanimously Adopting Resolution 2367 (2017)
The Security Council today extended the mandate of the United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI) until 31 July 2018, also calling upon that country’s Government to continue providing security and logistical support to the Organization’s presence on the ground.
Unanimously adopting resolution 2367 (2017), the Council also decided that the Special Representative of the Secretary-General and UNAMI would, at the request of the Government of Iraq, continue to pursue their mandate as outlined in resolution 2299 (2016). In so doing, the Council took into account a letter from Iraq’s Foreign Minister to the Secretary-General (document S/2017/518), reaffirming the Mission’s important role, particularly given that Iraqi security forces were about to “rid Iraq of the terrorist gangs of Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL/Da’esh) and to wipe them out once and for all”.
Against that backdrop, the Council expressed its intention to review the mandate in one year or sooner. It called upon the Secretary-General to conduct, by 15 October 2017, an independent external assessment of UNAMI’s structure and staffing, related resources, priorities, and areas in which it enjoyed comparative advantages, in order to ensure the most appropriate configuration of the Mission and the United Nations country team.
Michele J. Sison (United States) said the resolution marked a milestone period in Iraq’s fight against ISIL/Da’esh, noting that its security forces had dealt the group a devastating loss in Mosul. She encouraged UNAMI to reinvigorate its coordination with the Iraqi authorities in protecting internally displaced persons in transit and to hold accountable the perpetrators of atrocities against them. The resolution had a new dimension, she added — the first-ever external review by a third party. That dimension allowed the Secretary-General to consult third parties on how to improve UNAMI’s efficiency, which, she said, should set the gold standard for effectiveness in the field.
The meeting began at 4:46 p.m. and ended at 4:52 p.m.
Resolution
The full text of resolution 2367 (2017) reads as follows:
“The Security Council,
“Recalling all its previous relevant resolutions on Iraq, in particular 1500 (2003), 1546 (2004), 1557 (2004), 1619 (2005), 1700 (2006), 1770 (2007), 1830 (2008), 1883 (2009), 1936 (2010), 2001 (2011), 2061 (2012), 2110 (2013), 2169 (2014), 2233 (2015), and 2299 (2016), and resolution 2107 (2013) on the situation between Iraq and Kuwait,
“Reaffirming the independence, sovereignty, unity and territorial integrity of Iraq,
“Emphasizing the importance of the stability and security of Iraq for the people of Iraq, the region, and the international community,
“Reiterating its grave concern at the current security situation in Iraq as a result of the continuing presence of and threat by terrorist groups, in particular the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL, also known as Da’esh) and associated armed groups, involving violations of international humanitarian law, heavy civilian casualties, including women and children, the cumulative displacement of more than 5.3 million Iraqi civilians, the systematic use of sexual violence and sexual enslavement, persecution of individuals on the basis of their religion, belief or ethnicity, and the threat to the safety of journalists, media professionals, and associated personnel, condemning the attacks perpetrated by these terrorist groups and associated armed groups against the people of Iraq in an attempt to destabilize the country and region, expressing its sympathies to the families of all victims of terror attacks, and further reiterating its commitment to Iraq’s security and territorial integrity,
“Noting that the presence of ISIL (Da’esh) on Iraq’s sovereign territory is a major threat to Iraq’s future, underscoring that the only way to address this threat is for all Iraqis to work together by addressing needs in the security as well as the political realm, stressing the long-term solution to the instability will require the political leadership of Iraq to make decisions that will unite the country, and emphasizing the importance of the international community supporting Iraq in this regard,
“Calling on all political entities to intensify efforts to overcome divisions and work together in an inclusive and timely political process aimed at reaching consensus on a single vision for reconciliation and strengthening Iraq’s national unity, sovereignty and independence and for Iraq’s leaders to engage in dialogue that would contribute to finding a viable and sustainable solution to the country’s current challenges, welcoming the role of the United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI) in this regard, and reaffirming its belief that through its democratic institutions, in cooperation with Iraqi society, the Government of Iraq can work to address the challenges facing the country for the benefit of all Iraqis,
“Underscoring the need for all segments of the Iraqi population to participate in the political process, in inclusive political dialogue, including through the equal participation of women, and in the economic and social life of Iraq, to refrain from statements and actions which could aggravate tensions, to reach a comprehensive solution on the fair distribution of resources, to promote stability, to develop a just and fair solution for the nation’s disputed internal boundaries, and to work to strengthen national unity, including through cooperation between the Government of Iraq and the Kurdistan Regional Government in the spirit of genuine partnership, and stressing the importance of a comprehensive and inclusive Iraqi-led political process to support dialogue for all those who renounce violence, have no links to international terrorist organizations, including ISIL (Da’esh), and respect the Constitution,
“Encouraging the Government of Iraq to continue strengthening governance, pursuing more substantive reforms, particularly economic and institutional reforms to improve the standard of living for all Iraqis, including by countering corruption, promoting human rights and the rule of law, improving the situation of women and girls, especially those impacted by ISIL (Da’esh), improving security and public order, including through security sector reform, and combating terrorism and sectarian violence, reiterating its support to the people and the Government of Iraq in their efforts to build a secure, stable, federal, united and democratic nation, based on the rule of law and respect for human rights, and strongly emphasizing the need for the Government of Iraq to conduct, in an independent manner, full, prompt, impartial and effective investigations and hold to account those responsible for violations or abuses of human rights and violations of international humanitarian law,
“Emphasizing the need to continue efforts to promote international and regional cooperation aimed at supporting Iraq both in its reconciliation and political dialogue and in its fight against ISIL (Da’esh), and to prevent ISIL (Da’esh), Al-Qaida, and associated individuals, groups, undertakings, and entities designated by the 1267/1989/2253 ISIL (Da’esh) and Al-Qaida Sanctions Committee, from using the territories of Iraq and neighbouring States to carry out violence or other illicit acts to destabilize Iraq and the region,
“Recognizing that terrorism poses a threat to international peace and security and that countering this threat requires collective efforts on national, regional and international levels on the basis of respect for international law, including the Charter of the United Nations, and in this context, welcoming the efforts of the Government of Iraq and its partners to counter ISIL (Da’esh), hold it accountable for its abuses, and return stability throughout the country, and also welcoming the Government of Iraq’s successes in liberating Sinjar, Bayji, Tikrit, Ramadi, Hit, Fallujah, and Mosul, marking major steps in the continuing international effort to defeat ISIL (Da’esh),
“Reaffirming that all parties, including armed groups and militias, must respect human rights and abide by all applicable obligations under international humanitarian law, including those to protect the civilian population, including civilians displaced from and returning to areas liberated from ISIL (Da’esh), by which both official Iraqi forces and Member States that assist them must also abide, and while acknowledging legitimate security measures to identify members of ISIL (Da’esh), calling on all parties to immediately release any arbitrarily or unlawfully detained persons, emphasizing that those responsible for violations of international humanitarian law and violations and abuses of human rights, including those involving detainees and sexual and gender-based violence, must be held accountable, welcoming the establishment by Prime Minister of Iraq Haider al‑Abadi of a committee to investigate reported violations and abuses, including reports of missing men and boys from Fallujah and other territories liberated from ISIS, and stressing the need for all such allegations, wherever they occur, to be immediately and comprehensively investigated and, as appropriate, prosecuted,
“Emphasizing that all parties should take all feasible steps to ensure the protection of affected civilians, including children, women and members of religious and ethnic minority groups, and should create conditions conducive to the voluntary, safe, dignified, and sustainable return of refugees and internally displaced persons or local integration of internally displaced persons, particularly in areas newly-liberated from ISIL (Da’esh), including over 820,000 persons estimated to be currently displaced from Mosul, stressing respect for the rights of internally displaced persons, without discrimination, including in the context of resettlement, returns or local integration, as well as for the freedom of movement, reiterating its gratitude to the host communities, underscoring that host communities should provide access to safe areas for internally displaced persons and that those who commit violations and abuses against them should be held accountable, welcoming commitments and encouraging continued efforts of the Government of Iraq for the relief of internally displaced persons, refugees and returnees, noting the important role of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, based on its mandate, in providing continued advice and support to the Government of Iraq, in coordination with UNAMI, on these issues, and encouraging the Government of Iraq to continue working with UNAMI and humanitarian agencies to ensure the delivery of humanitarian relief to all those in need,
“Emphasizing the importance of continuing efforts to support stabilization and long-term sustainable development, particularly in areas liberated from ISIL (Da’esh), urging the Government of Iraq and its partners to accelerate such efforts in order to create the conditions for the voluntary, safe, dignified, and sustainable return of refugees and internally displaced persons, welcoming efforts of Member States to support the Government of Iraq and its partners as they work to stabilize these areas, encouraging Member States to continue to support stabilization and development, including through the United Nations, recognizing the threat of hazardous explosive devices, welcoming efforts by member states to support the Government of Iraq and its partners in addressing the need to provide risk education, appropriate threat assessments, and conduct clearance of areas of such devices, and encouraging Member States to increase their support for ongoing stabilization efforts,
“Strongly emphasizing the urgency of addressing humanitarian challenges confronting the Iraqi people, stressing the need to intensify planning and implementation of a coordinated response and to provide adequate resources to address these challenges, calling for an intensification of these efforts by all parties, urging all Member States to continue to fund United Nations and other humanitarian appeals, encouraging Member States to support the United Nations’ humanitarian response in Iraq, working with the Government of Iraq, to assist all Iraqi individuals affected by the ongoing conflict, and commending the efforts of Member States that have contributed to the humanitarian effort,
“Urging all those concerned to allow full, unimpeded access for humanitarian personnel to all people in need, to make available, as far as possible, all necessary facilities for their operations, to allow the delivery of humanitarian assistance, to promote the safety, security, and freedom of movement of humanitarian personnel and United Nations staff, its associated personnel and their assets, and also to respect and protect medical personnel and medical transport and facilities,
“Urging the Government of Iraq to continue to promote and protect human rights and also to consider additional steps to support the Independent High Commission for Human Rights in carrying out its mandate, encouraging the Government of Iraq to reinvigorate its efforts to promote and protect the rights of women and reaffirming its resolutions 1325 (2000), 1820 (2008), 1888 (2009), 1889 (2009), 1960 (2010), 2106 (2013), 2122 (2013) and 2242 (2015) on women, peace, and security and reiterating the need for the full, equal, and effective participation of women, reaffirming the key role women can play in re-establishing the fabric of society, stressing the need for their full political participation, including in upcoming elections and the Independent High Electoral Commission, stabilization planning, political decision making, local and national reconciliation and peace processes, and expressing concern about the lack of implementation, including funding, of Iraq’s National Action Plan of 2014 in accordance with resolution 1325 (2000) as well as the lack of a national entity responsible for its implementation,
“Expressing strong concern at continuing violations and abuses committed against children, including those involving the recruitment and use of children, killing and maiming, rape and other forms of sexual violence, unlawful detention, abductions, and attacks against schools and hospitals, and urging all parties to conflict to take all necessary measures to end and prevent such violations and abuses, recalling in this regard its resolutions 1379 (2001), 1612 (2005), 1882 (2009), 1998 (2011) and 2225 (2015), and taking note of the report of the Secretary-General on children and armed conflict in Iraq (S/2015/852) and welcoming parties’ continued implementation of the conclusions of the Security Council Working Group on Children and Armed Conflict in S/AC.51/2016/2,
“Expressing grave concern that the violent extremism and terrorism perpetrated by ISIL (Da’esh) in Iraq has systematically targeted women and children, especially those from minority communities, and that ISIL (Da’esh) has committed serious human rights abuses, and violations of international humanitarian law against all people, particularly women and children, including those involving murder, kidnapping, hostage-taking, suicide bombings, enslavement, sale into or otherwise forced marriage, human trafficking, rape, sexual slavery and other forms of sexual violence, recalling in this regard resolution 2331 (2016) and the Joint Communiqué between the United Nations and the Government of Iraq on Prevention and Response to Conflict-Related Sexual Violence (2016) and further expressing grave concern at the recruitment and use of children by ISIL (Da’esh) and other armed groups in violation of international law,
“Condemning the destruction of cultural heritage in Iraq particularly by ISIL (Da’esh), including targeted destruction of religious sites and objects and noting with concern that ISIL (Da’esh) and other individuals, groups, undertakings and entities associated with Al-Qaida, are generating income from engaging directly or indirectly in the looting and smuggling of cultural heritage items from archaeological sites, museums, libraries, archives, and other sites in Iraq, which is being used to support their recruitment efforts and strengthen their operational capability to organize and carry out terrorist attacks, and recalling in this regard the measures set out in resolution 2347 (2017),
“Expressing its readiness to sanction further individuals, groups, undertakings, and entities who are supporting ISIL (Da’esh), strongly condemning any engagement in direct or indirect trade in oil and refined oil products, modular refineries and related material, other natural resources, and antiquities from Iraq involving these terrorist groups, as well as drug trafficking, consistent with resolution 2199 (2015) and 2253 (2015), as well as human trafficking, sale of women and girls, and forced marriage, and emphasizing that such engagement constitutes financial support for such terrorists and may lead to further sanctions listings by the Committee,
“Reaffirming that all States shall ensure that any person who participates in the financing, planning, preparation, or perpetration of terrorist acts or in supporting terrorist acts is brought to justice,
“Recognizing that the situation that now exists in Iraq is significantly different from that which existed at the time of the adoption of resolution 661 (1990), and further recognizing the importance of Iraq achieving international standing equal to that which it held prior to the adoption of resolution 661 (1990),
“Welcoming the political, military and financial assistance to the Government of Iraq from Member States, and encouraging such assistance to continue and expand,
“Stressing the importance of the United Nations, in particular UNAMI, in advising, supporting and assisting the Iraqi people, including civil society, and the Government of Iraq to strengthen democratic institutions, advance inclusive political dialogue and national reconciliation according to the Constitution, ensure reconciliation efforts are coordinated, facilitate regional dialogue, develop processes acceptable to the Government of Iraq to resolve disputed internal boundaries, aid youth and vulnerable groups, monitor and encourage the protection of civilians, particularly refugees and internally displaced persons, including those in transit, and promote the full participation of women in political and peace processes and institutions, gender equality and the protection of human rights, children and youth, and vulnerable groups, highlighting the need for specific information and practical recommendations related to the gender dimensions of the conflict and on the implementation of women, peace and security agenda in Iraq, and the continued provision of dedicated expertise to facilitate coordinated implementation of monitoring, analysis and reporting arrangements on sexual violence in conflict and post-conflict situations, and emphasizing the importance of the United Nations, in particular UNAMI, in prioritizing advice, support, and assistance to the Iraqi people, including civil society, and the Government of Iraq to achieve these goals,
“Encouraging UNAMI to continue to revise and prioritize its tasks in full consultation with the Government of Iraq and in response to its needs and the evolving situation in the country,
“Expressing deep gratitude to all the United Nations staff in Iraq for their courageous and tireless efforts, and commending the leadership and good offices role of the Secretary-General’s Special Representative for Iraq, Ján Kubiš,
“1. Decides to extend the mandate of the United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI) until 31 July 2018;
“2. Decides further that the Special Representative of the Secretary-General and UNAMI, at the request of the Government of Iraq, and taking into account the letter from the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Iraq to the Secretary-General (S/2017/518), shall continue to pursue their mandate as stipulated in resolution 2299 (2016); and recalls the provisions of resolution 2107 (2013);
“3. Recognizes that security of United Nations personnel is essential for UNAMI to carry out its work for the benefit of the people of Iraq and calls upon the Government of Iraq to continue to provide security and logistical support to the United Nations presence in Iraq;
“4. Welcomes the contributions of Member States in providing UNAMI with the financial, logistical, and security resources and support that it needs to fulfil its mission and calls upon Member States to continue to provide UNAMI with sufficient resources and support;
“5. Expresses its intention to review the mandate of UNAMI in 12 months or sooner, if requested by the Government of Iraq;
“6. Requests the Secretary-General to report to the Council every three months on the progress made towards the fulfilment of all UNAMI’s responsibilities;
“7. Calls upon the Secretary-General to conduct, by 15 October 2017, an independent, external assessment of the structure and staffing of the Mission, related resources, priorities, and areas in which it has comparative advantages and synergies with other United Nations entities, in order to ensure that the Mission and United Nations Country Team are configured to most appropriately and efficiently fulfil mandated tasks;
“8. Decides to remain seized of the matter.”