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 the mandate of the United Nations Integrated Office in Sierra Leone (UNIOSIL) on 30 September.

As requested by the Council in resolution 1829 (2008), which it adopted unanimously today, the new body would be formally known as the United Nations Integrated Peacebuilding Office in Sierra Leone (UNIPSIL) and would focus on, and support Government efforts in, identifying and resolving tensions and threats of potential conflict; monitoring and promoting human rights, democratic institutions and the rule of law; consolidating good governance reforms; and supporting efforts towards decentralization, review of the 1991 Constitution and enactment of relevant legislation.

The Council was acting on recommendations contained in the Secretary-General's April report (document S/2008/281), which states that the sustained commitment of the United Nations will continue to be required in Sierra Leone following the withdrawal of UNIOSIL in September. The establishment of a United Nations peacebuilding office to holistically address the political, economic and peacebuilding challenges facing the country will be a significant channel of continuing international support for peace consolidation.

By the terms of the resolution adopted today, the Council encouraged close coordination with the Peacebuilding Commission and specified the need to support implementation of the Peacebuilding Cooperation Framework and projects supported through the Peacebuilding Fund.

[Adopted on 12 December 2007, the Cooperation Framework between the Peacebuilding Commission and the Government of Sierra Leone focuses on priority areas for post-conflict development, including the development of the energy sector strategy; implementation of the recommendations of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission; consultations on the report of the Constitutional Review Commission; regional cooperation within the framework of the Mano River Union; finalization of the Government's decisions on the aid coordination architecture; and domestic revenue generation.]

Underlining the importance of establishing a fully integrated office with effective coordination of strategy and programmes among the United Nations agencies, funds and programmes in Sierra Leone, the Council stressed the need for close cooperation between UNIPSIL, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), the Mano River Union, international partners and other United Nations missions in the West African subregion.

Emphasizing the Government's primary responsibility for peacebuilding, security and long-term development, the Council encouraged it to continue its close engagement with the Peacebuilding Commission, calling on all stakeholders in the country to increase their efforts to promote good governance, effective functioning of local government, anti-corruption measures and improved accountability.

Among other measures in that regard, the resolution lists the need to promote the development of the private sector to generate wealth and employment opportunities, particularly for young people; strengthen the judiciary; and advance human rights, including through implementation of the recommendations of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission. It further encourages international partners to continue to provide support to the Government and to cooperate with the Peacebuilding Commission.

After adoption, the representative of Sierra Leone said the resolution marked another ‘significant phase in the United Nations experiment in post-conflict peacebuilding', with Sierra Leone as the ‘laboratory'. Since the end of the armed conflict in 2002, the country had made gains in establishing democracy and reviving the economy. The international community deserved thanks for its investment in efforts to achieve lasting peace, pursue the ideals of democracy and human rights, and to lift Sierra Leone from the bottom of the human development index.

He said Sierra Leone needed sustained support to achieve the goals set forth in the Sierra Leone Peacebuilding Cooperation Framework in the areas of energy, justice and security sector development, youth employment, governance and capacity-building. However, the current food and oil crises posed potential risks for peace and security. ‘We need more help,' he emphasized.

Resolution

The full text of resolution 1829 (2008) reads as follows:

‘The Security Council,

‘Recalling its previous resolutions and the statements of its President concerning the situation in Sierra Leone,

‘Commending the valuable contribution that the United Nations Integrated Office in Sierra Leone (UNIOSIL) has made to the recovery of Sierra Leone from conflict and to the country's peace, security and development,

‘Welcoming the report of the Secretary-General dated 29 April 2008 (S/2008/281) and his Recommendations on the United Nations Integrated Peacebuilding Office in Sierra Leone,

‘Welcoming the holding of peaceful and democratic local elections in July 2008 as another important milestone in consolidating a sustainable peace in Sierra Leone,

‘Emphasizing the importance of the continued support of the United Nations system and the international community for the long-term peace, security and development of Sierra Leone, particularly through strengthening the capacity of the Government of Sierra Leone,

‘Stressing the importance of a smooth transition between UNIOSIL and the new United Nations Integrated Peacebuilding Office, and of the effective and efficient operation of that Office,

‘Welcoming the progress in the implementation of the Peacebuilding Cooperation Framework (PBC/2/SLE/1), and encouraging the Government of Sierra Leone to continue its close engagement with the Peacebuilding Commission by implementing the recommendations of the first biannual review of the Framework,

‘Welcoming the progress made in reforming the security sector in Sierra Leone and, in particular, the developing professionalism of the Republic of Sierra Leone Armed Forces (RSLAF) and the Sierra Leone Police (SLP), and underlining the importance of the planned further strengthening and rationalizing of the security architecture so that the RSLAF and SLP are sustainable in the long term and able to carry out their tasks effectively,

‘Reiterating its appreciation for the work of the Special Court for Sierra Leone and its vital contribution to reconciliation, peacebuilding and the rule of law in Sierra Leone, reiterating its expectation that the Court will finish its work expeditiously, and recognizing that further arrangements will be needed to address residual matters after trials and appeals are completed,

‘Welcoming the role played by the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and encouraging the member States of the Mano River Union and other organizations to continue their efforts aimed at building regional and subregional peace and security,

‘1. Requests the Secretary-General to establish the United Nations Integrated Peacebuilding Office in Sierra Leone (UNIPSIL), as recommended in his report (S/2008/281) for a period of 12 months beginning on 1 October 2008, with the key tasks as specified in paragraphs 3, 4, 5 and 8 below;

‘2. Welcomes the Secretary-General's recommendation in his report (S/2008/281) that UNIPSIL should be headed by an Executive Representative of the Secretary-General who would also serve as the Resident Representative of the United Nations Development Programme and United Nations Resident Coordinator; and underlines the need for appropriate expertise and adequate material resources, in order that the Office can effectively and efficiently implement its mandate;

‘3. Requests that UNIPSIL focus on and support the Government of Sierra Leone in the following areas:

‘(a) Providing political support to national and local efforts for identifying and resolving tensions and threats of potential conflict, whatever the source;

‘(b) Monitoring and promoting human rights, democratic institutions and the rule of law, including efforts to counter transnational organized crime and drug trafficking;

‘(c) Consolidating good governance reforms, with a special focus on anti-corruption instruments such as the Anti-Corruption Commission;

‘(d) Supporting decentralization, reviewing the 1991 Constitution and the enactment of relevant legislation;

‘(e) Closely coordinating with and supporting the work of the Peacebuilding Commission, as well as the implementation of the Peacebuilding Cooperation Framework and projects supported through the Peacebuilding Fund;

‘4. Underlines the importance of establishing a fully integrated office with effective coordination of strategy and programmes among the United Nations agencies, funds and programmes in Sierra Leone, and emphasizes the need for the United Nations system to support and cooperate fully with UNIPSIL, in accordance with the Executive Representative's function as Resident Representative and Resident Coordinator;

‘5. Stresses the need for close cooperation between UNIPSIL, ECOWAS, the Mano River Union, international partners and other United Nations missions in the region;

‘6. Emphasizes that the Government of Sierra Leone bears the primary responsibility for peacebuilding, security and long-term development in the country, and encourages the Government of Sierra Leone to continue its close engagement with the Peacebuilding Commission in this regard, including through the regular monitoring of progress in the implementation of the Sierra Leone Peacebuilding Cooperation Framework, and further encourages international partners to continue to provide support to the Government of Sierra Leone and to cooperate with the Peacebuilding Commission;

‘7. Calls upon the Government of Sierra Leone and all other stakeholders in the country to increase their efforts to promote good governance, including through the effective functioning of local government and continued measures to combat corruption and improve accountability; promote the development of the private sector to generate wealth and employment opportunities, in particular for young people; strengthen the judiciary; and advance human rights, including through implementation of the recommendations of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission;

‘8. Emphasizes the important role of women in the prevention and resolution of conflicts and in peacebuilding, as recognized in resolutions 1325 (2000) and 1820 (2008), underlines that a gender perspective should be taken into account in implementing all aspects of the mandate of UNIPSIL, and encourages UNIPSIL to work with the Government of Sierra Leone in this regard;

‘9. Requests that the Secretary-General keeps the Council informed every four months on the implementation of the mandate of UNIPSIL and this resolution, with the first report due by 31 January 2009;

‘10. Decides to remain actively seized of the matter.'