Security Council resolution 2237 (2015) [on renewal of measures on arms and travel imposed by Security Council resolution 1521 (2003) and on extension of the mandate of the Panel of Experts on Liberia]
Symbol: S/RES/2237 (2015)
Date: 2015-09-02
Status: adopted
Agenda: S/70 [89] LIBERIA SITUATION
Subjects: UN. Panel of Experts Established pursuant to Security Council Resolution 1961 (2010)|Charter of the United Nations (1945). Chapter VII|SANCTIONS|ARMS EMBARGO|TRAVEL RESTRICTIONS|LIBERIA|LIBERIA SITUATION|LAWS AND REGULATIONS|AMMUNITION|ILLICIT ARMS TRAFFICKING
Votes in favour: 15
Votes against: 0
Abstentions: 0
Voting record:
country: ANGOLA
vote: yes
country: CHAD
vote: yes
country: CHILE
vote: yes
country: CHINA
vote: yes
country: FRANCE
vote: yes
country: JORDAN
vote: yes
country: LITHUANIA
vote: yes
country: MALAYSIA
vote: yes
country: NEW ZEALAND
vote: yes
country: NIGERIA
vote: yes
country: RUSSIAN FEDERATION
vote: yes
country: SPAIN
vote: yes
country: UNITED KINGDOM
vote: yes
country: UNITED STATES
vote: yes
country: VENEZUELA (BOLIVARIAN REPUBLIC OF)
vote: yes

               United Nations                                                                   S/RES/2237 (2015)
               Security Council                                                 Distr.: General
                                                                                2 September 2015




               Resolution 2237 (2015)
               Adopted by the Security Council at its 7517th meeting, on
               2 September 2015
                    The Security Council,
                     Recalling its previous resolutions and statements by its President on the
               situation in Liberia,
                     Welcoming the sustained progress made by the Government of Liberia, in
               rebuilding Liberia for the benefit of all Liberians, with the support of the
               international community,
                    Taking note of the report of the United Nations Panel of Experts on Liberia
               (S/2015/558),
                     Further noting the Secretary-General’s letter, dated 31 July 2015
               (S/2015/590), updating the Security Council on progress made by the Government
               of Liberia to implement the recommendations on the proper management of arms
               and ammunition, including enacting the necessary laws, and on facilitating the
               effective monitoring and management of the border regions between Liberia and
               Côte d’Ivoire,
                    Commending the Government of Liberia for responding effectively to the
               Ebola outbreak in Liberia and recognizing, in this regard, the resilience of the
               people and Government of Liberia, and its security institutions, especially the
               Armed Forces of Liberia and the Liberia National Police,
                    Welcoming the efforts of Member States, bilateral partners and multilateral
               organizations, including the United Nations, African Union (AU) and Economic
               Community of West African States (ECOWAS), to support the Government of
               Liberia in its response to the Ebola outbreak, further welcoming the contributions of
               the international community, including the Peacebuilding Commission, to assist
               Liberia in its comprehensive development commitment in the post-Ebola recovery
               period particularly through capacity-building of its security institutions and strongly
               encouraging further steps forward in this regard,
                     Affirming that the Government of Liberia bears primary responsibility for
               protecting all populations within its territory from atrocities, and stressing that
               lasting stability in Liberia will require the Government of Liberia to sustain
               effective and accountable government institutions, particularl y in the rule of law and
               security sectors,

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                     Stressing the need for increased progress on security sector reform in Liberia
               in particular to ensure that Liberia’s military, police, and border security forces are
               self-sufficient, capable, and adequately prepared to protect the Liberian people,
                    Underlining that the transparent and effective management of natural
               resources is critical for Liberia’s sustainable peace and security,
                     Recalling the Council’s readiness to terminate the measures imposed by
               paragraphs 2 (a) and (b) and 4 (a) of Resolution 1521 (2003) upon its determination
               that the ceasefire in Liberia is being fully respected and maintained, disarmament,
               demobilization, reintegration, repatriation and restructuring of the security sector
               have been completed, the provisions of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement are
               being fully implemented, and significant progress has been made in establishing and
               maintaining stability in Liberia and the subregion,
                     Further recalling the Council’s intention to consider modifying the measure
               imposed by paragraph 1 of resolution 1532 (2004) once the Government of Liberia
               established transparent accounting and auditing mechanisms to ensure the
               responsible use of government revenue to benefit directly the people of Liberia ,
                    Determining that, despite significant progress, the situation in Liberia
               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 to renew the measures on arms, previously imposed by
               paragraph 2 of resolution 1521 (2003) and modified by paragraphs 1 and 2 of
               resolution 1683 (2006), by paragraph 1 (b) of resolution 1731 (2006), by paragraphs
               3, 4, 5 and 6 of resolution 1903 (2009), by paragraph 3 of reso lution 1961 (2010),
               and by paragraph 2 (b) of resolution 2128 (2013) for a period of 9 months from the
               date of adoption of this resolution;
                    2.   Decides to terminate the travel and financial measures set forth in
               paragraph 4 of resolution 1521 (2003) and paragraph 1 of resolution 1532 (2004);
                     3.   Decides to extend the mandate of the Panel of Experts appointed
               pursuant to paragraph 9 of resolution 1903 (2009) for a period of 10 months from
               the date of adoption of this resolution to undertake the following tasks in close
               collaboration with the Government of Liberia and the Côte d’Ivoire Group of
               Experts:
                     (a) To investigate and compile a final report on the implementation, and any
               violations, of the measures on arms as renewed by paragraph 1 above, including the
               various sources of financing for the illicit trade of arms, and on progress in the
               security and legal sectors with respect to the Government of Libe ria’s ability to
               effectively monitor and control arms and border issues;
                    (b) To provide to the Council, after discussion with the Committee, a final
               report no later than 1 May 2016 on all the issues listed in this paragraph, and to
               provide informal updates to the Committee as appropriate before that date;
                     (c) To cooperate actively with other relevant panels of experts, in particular
               that on Côte d’Ivoire re-established by paragraph 24 of resolution 2153 (2014);
                   4.    Requests the Secretary-General to take the necessary administrative
               measures as expeditiously as possible to re-establish the Panel of Experts, having



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           due regard for its reduced mandate, to consist of 1 member, for a period of
           10 months from the date of adoption of this resolution;
                5.    Calls upon all States, including Liberia, to cooperate fully with the Panel
           of Experts in all aspects of its mandate;
                6.    Recalls that responsibility for controlling the circulation of small arms
           within the territory of Liberia and between Liberia and neighbouring States rests
           with the relevant governmental authorities in accordance with the Economic
           Community of West African States Convention on Small Arms and Light Weapons
           of 2006;
                7.    Urges the Government of Liberia to prioritize and expedite the adoption
           and implementation of appropriate arms and ammunition management legislation
           and take other necessary and appropriate steps to establish the necessary legal and
           administrative framework to combat the illicit trafficking of arms and ammunition;
                 8.    Affirms that it will be prepared to adjust the measures contained in this
           resolution, including by re-imposing or strengthening measures, as well as
           modifying, suspending or lifting measures, as may be needed at any time in light of
           the stability of Liberia and the subregion;
                9.    Decides to remain actively seized of the matter.




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