Security Council resolution 1562 (2004) [on extension of the mandate of the UN Mission in Sierra Leone (UNAMSIL)]
Symbol: S/RES/1562(2004)
Date: 2004-09-17
Status: adopted
Agenda: S/59 [171] SIERRA LEONE--POLITICAL CONDITIONS
S/59 [172] UN MISSION IN SIERRA LEONE
Subjects: UN Mission in Sierra Leone|UN Mission in Sierra Leone > Terms of reference|Charter of the United Nations (1945). Chapter VII|PEACEKEEPING OPERATIONS|POLICE|JUDICIAL SYSTEM|PRISONS|JUDICIAL INDEPENDENCE|SIERRA LEONE|MILITARY PERSONNEL|CIVILIAN PERSONS|ARMED FORCES|RULE OF LAW|DIAMOND MINES|CONFLICT DIAMONDS|PUBLIC SERVICES|REPORT PREPARATION|PERIODIC REPORTS|CONSULTATIONS|TROOP-CONTRIBUTING STATES
Votes in favour: 15
Votes against: 0
Abstentions: 0
Voting record:
country: ALGERIA
vote: yes
country: ANGOLA
vote: yes
country: BENIN
vote: yes
country: BRAZIL
vote: yes
country: CHILE
vote: yes
country: CHINA
vote: yes
country: FRANCE
vote: yes
country: GERMANY
vote: yes
country: PAKISTAN
vote: yes
country: PHILIPPINES
vote: yes
country: ROMANIA
vote: yes
country: RUSSIAN FEDERATION
vote: yes
country: SPAIN
vote: yes
country: UNITED KINGDOM
vote: yes
country: UNITED STATES
vote: yes

               United Nations                                                                  S/RES/1562 (2004)
               Security Council                                                Distr.: General
                                                                               17 September 2004




               Resolution 1562 (2004)
               Adopted by the Security Council at its 5037th meeting, on
               17 September 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 efforts
               towards developing inter-mission cooperation, especially in the prevention of
               movements 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 of
               the United Nations Mission in Sierra Leone (UNAMSIL), and commending
               UNAMSIL for the progress made to date in the adjustments to its size, composition
               and deployment,
                     Underlining the importance of additional efforts to strengthen the capacity of
               the Sierra Leone Police and armed forces to maintain security and stability
               effectively,
                     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,



04-51437 (E)
*0451437*

S/RES/1562 (2004)


                     Determining that the situation in Sierra Leone continues to constitute a threat
               to international peace and security in the region,
                     Acting under Chapter VII of the Charter of the United Nations,
                    1.     Decides that the mandate of UNAMSIL shall be extended until 30 June
               2005;
                     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 the
               following:

               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 remains
                      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 the
                      country;
                     3.    Authorizes the residual UNAMSIL presence to use all necessary means to
               carry 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 to
                      maintain security and stability effectively throughout the country;
                    • Consolidating State authority throughout the country;
                    • Consolidating the deployment of UNMIL throughout Liberia;


2

                                                                                      S/RES/1562 (2004)


      5.    Welcomes the Secretary-General’s assurance, as set out in paragraph 91
of his report of 19 March 2004 (S/2004/228), that where military observers, civil
affairs officers, political affairs officers, human rights officers and civilian police
personnel are co-deployed, they will function as integrated units and work in close
collaboration with the United Nations country team;
      6.   Urges the Government of Sierra Leone to intensify its efforts to develop
an effective and sustainable police force, armed forces, penal system and
independent judiciary, so that the Government can take over from UNAMSIL as
soon as possible full responsibility for maintaining law and order throughout Sierra
Leone, including in the sensitive diamond-producing areas, and encourages donors
and UNAMSIL, in accordance with its mandate, to continue to assist the
Government in this regard, as well as to assist the Government in restoring public
services 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 troop-contributing
countries and the Government of Sierra Leone;
     8.    Decides to remain actively seized of the matter.




                                                                                                     3