Security Council resolution 2018 (2011) [on acts of piracy and armed robbery at sea off the coast of the States of the Gulf of Guinea]
Symbol: S/RES/2018(2011)
Date: 2011-10-31
Status: adopted
Agenda: S/66 [100] AFRICA--REGIONAL SECURITY
Subjects: Economic Community of West African States|Communauté économique des Etats de l'Afrique centrale|Commission of the Gulf of Guinea|IMO|MARITIME SECURITY|PIRACY|TERRITORIAL SEA|GULF OF GUINEA|ROBBERY|REGIONAL COOPERATION|MARITIME SAFETY|MARITIME TRANSPORT|CRIMINAL LAW|CRIMINAL JURISDICTION
Votes in favour: 15
Votes against: 0
Abstentions: 0
Voting record:
country: BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA
vote: yes
country: BRAZIL
vote: yes
country: CHINA
vote: yes
country: COLOMBIA
vote: yes
country: FRANCE
vote: yes
country: GABON
vote: yes
country: GERMANY
vote: yes
country: INDIA
vote: yes
country: LEBANON
vote: yes
country: NIGERIA
vote: yes
country: PORTUGAL
vote: yes
country: RUSSIAN FEDERATION
vote: yes
country: SOUTH AFRICA
vote: yes
country: UNITED KINGDOM
vote: yes
country: UNITED STATES
vote: yes

               United Nations                                                                     S/RES/2018 (2011)
               Security Council                                                  Distr.: General
                                                                                 31 October 2011




               Resolution 2018 (2011)
               Adopted by the Security Council at its 6645th meeting,
               on 31 October 2011

                    The Security Council,
                    Expressing its deep concern about the threat that piracy and armed robbery at
               sea in the Gulf of Guinea pose to international navigation, security and the
               economic development of states in the region,
                     Recalling its statement of 30 August 2011 on piracy and armed robbery at sea
               in the Gulf of Guinea,
                    Expressing its concern over the threat that piracy and armed robbery at sea
               pose to the safety of seafarers and other persons, including through their being taken
               as hostages, and deeply concerned by the violence employed by pirates and persons
               involved in piracy and armed robbery at sea in the Gulf of Guinea,
                    Affirming its respect for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the States of
               the Gulf of Guinea and their neighbours,
                     Further affirming that the provisions of this resolution apply only with respect
               to the situation in the Gulf of Guinea,
                     Affirming that international law, as reflected in the United Nations Convention
               on the Law of the Sea of 10 December 1982, in particular its articles 100, 101 and
               105, sets out the legal framework applicable to countering piracy and armed robbery
               at sea, as well as other ocean activities,
                     Noting that applicable international legal instruments provide for parties to
               create criminal offences, establish jurisdiction, and prosecute or extradite for
               prosecution, persons responsible for or suspected of seizing or exercising control
               over a ship or fixed platform by force or threat thereof or any other form of
               intimidation,
                    Emphasizing the importance of finding a comprehensive solution to the
               problem of piracy and armed robbery at sea in the Gulf of Guinea,
                    Noting the efforts of the States of the Gulf of Guinea to address this problem,
               including joint patrols at sea and the activities of the Federal Republic of Nigeria
               and Benin Republic off the coast of Benin,



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                     Also noting the need for international assistance as part of a comprehensive
               strategy to support national and regional efforts to assist States in the region with
               their efforts to address piracy and armed robbery at sea in the Gulf of Guinea,
                    Welcoming the contributions made by some Member States and international
               organizations in support of the maritime sector, including security, capacity-building
               and the joint operations of the States of the Gulf of Guinea,
                    Stressing that the coordination of efforts at the regional level is necessary for
               the development of a comprehensive strategy to counter the threat of piracy and
               armed robbery at sea in the Gulf of Guinea,
                    Noting that States in the region have a leadership role to play in this regard,
               supported by organizations in the region,
                     1.    Condemns all acts of piracy and armed robbery at sea committed off the
               coast of the States of the Gulf of Guinea;
                     2.   Welcomes the intention to convene a summit of Gulf of Guinea Heads of
               State in order to consider a comprehensive response in the region and encourages
               the States of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), the
               Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS) and the Gulf of Guinea
               Commission (GGC) to develop a comprehensive strategy, including through:
                    (a) the development of domestic laws and regulations, where these are not in
               place, criminalizing piracy and armed robbery at sea;
                    (b) the development of a regional framework to counter piracy and armed
               robbery at sea, including information-sharing and operational coordination
               mechanisms in the region;
                    (c) the development and strengthening of domestic laws and regulations, as
               appropriate, to implement relevant international agreements addressing the safety
               and security of navigation, in accordance with international law;
                     3.    Encourages States of ECOWAS, ECCAS and the GGC, through
               concerted action, to counter piracy and armed robbery at sea in the Gulf of Guinea
               through the conduct of bilateral or regional maritime patrols consistent with relevant
               international law; and requests the States concerned to take appropriate steps to
               ensure that the activities they undertake pursuant to this resolution, do not have a
               practical effect of denying or impairing freedom of navigation on the high seas or
               the right of innocent passage in the territorial sea to vessels of third States;
                     4.    Calls upon States, in cooperation with the shipping industry, the
               insurance industry and the International Maritime Organization (IMO) to issue to
               ships entitled to fly their flag, appropriate advice and guidance within context of the
               Gulf of Guinea, on avoidance, evasion and defensive techniques and measures to
               take, if under the threat of attack, or attack when sailing in the waters of the Gulf of
               Guinea;
                    5.    Further calls upon States of ECOWAS, ECCAS and GGC, in conjunction
               with flag States and States of nationality of victims or of perpetrators of acts of
               piracy or armed robbery at sea, to cooperate in the prosecution of alleged
               perpetrators, including facilitators and financiers of acts of piracy and armed
               robbery at sea committed off the coast of the Gulf of Guinea, in accordance with
               applicable international law, including human rights law;


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                 6.   Encourages the international community to assist, upon request, the
           States concerned in the region, ECOWAS, ECCAS, GGC and other relevant
           organizations and agencies in strengthening their efforts to counter piracy and armed
           robbery at sea, in the Gulf of Guinea;
                7.   Welcomes the intention of the Secretary-General of the United Nations to
           deploy a United Nations assessment mission to examine the threat of piracy and
           armed robbery at sea, in the Gulf of Guinea and explore options on how best to
           address the problem, and looks forward to receiving the mission’s report with
           recommendations on the matter;
                8.    Decides to remain seized of the matter.




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