United Nations Security Council Resolution 1620
Encyclopedia
United Nations
Security Council Resolution
1620, adopted unanimously on August 31, 2005, after recalling all previous resolutions on the situation in Sierra Leone
, the Council established the United Nations Integrated Office in Sierra Leone
(UNIOSIL) for an initial period of twelve months beginning on January 1, 2006, to replace the United Nations Mission in Sierra Leone
(UNAMSIL).
to establish an integrated office as a follow-on to UNAMSIL from the end of 2005. It emphasised the importance of a smooth transition between UNAMSIL and the integrated office, and of continued support from the international community
for the long-term development of Sierra Leone. Meanwhile, the work of the Special Court for Sierra Leone
and the Truth and Reconciliation Commission was praised.
to assist the Sierra Leonean government in capacity building, human rights
, the electoral process
, enhancing good governance
, strengthening the rule of law
, promoting peace and dialogue, strengthening the security sector and the well-being of the population. The integrated office would also assist with the security situation, co-ordinate with other United Nations missions in West Africa
and with the Special Court. Meanwhile, the government was reminded that it had to consolidate peace and security in the country.
The resolution emphasised the importance of co-ordination between the integrated office and other international organisations and agencies. UNIOSOL would be headed by an Executive Representative of the Secretary-General, while Kofi Annan was asked to continue planning for the protection of the Special Court.
United Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
Security Council Resolution
United Nations Security Council Resolution
A United Nations Security Council resolution is a UN resolution adopted by the fifteen members of the Security Council; the UN body charged with "primary responsibility for the maintenance of international peace and security"....
1620, adopted unanimously on August 31, 2005, after recalling all previous resolutions on the situation in Sierra Leone
Sierra Leone
Sierra Leone , officially the Republic of Sierra Leone, is a country in West Africa. It is bordered by Guinea to the north and east, Liberia to the southeast, and the Atlantic Ocean to the west and southwest. Sierra Leone covers a total area of and has an estimated population between 5.4 and 6.4...
, the Council established the United Nations Integrated Office in Sierra Leone
United Nations Integrated Office in Sierra Leone
The United Nations Integrated Office in Sierra Leone was established by Resolution 1620 of the United Nations Security Council in 2005 to begin operations in 2006 as a follow up to United Nations Mission in Sierra Leone which helped end the Sierra Leone Civil War.It was extended twice and ended...
(UNIOSIL) for an initial period of twelve months beginning on January 1, 2006, to replace the United Nations Mission in Sierra Leone
United Nations Mission in Sierra Leone
The United Nations Mission in Sierra Leone was a United Nations peacekeeping operation in Sierra Leone from 1999 to 2005. It was created by the United Nations Security Council in October 1999 to help with the implementation of the Lomé Peace Accord, an agreement intended to end the Sierra Leonean...
(UNAMSIL).
Observations
In the preamble of the resolution, the Council began by welcoming the recommendation of the Secretary-General Kofi AnnanKofi Annan
Kofi Atta Annan is a Ghanaian diplomat who served as the seventh Secretary-General of the UN from 1 January 1997 to 31 December 2006...
to establish an integrated office as a follow-on to UNAMSIL from the end of 2005. It emphasised the importance of a smooth transition between UNAMSIL and the integrated office, and of continued support from the international community
International community
The international community is a term used in international relations to refer to all peoples, cultures and governments of the world or to a group of them. The term is used to imply the existence of common duties and obligations between them...
for the long-term development of Sierra Leone. Meanwhile, the work of the Special Court for Sierra Leone
Special Court for Sierra Leone
The Special Court for Sierra Leone is an independent judicial body set up to "try those who bear greatest responsibility" for the war crimes and crimes against humanity committed in Sierra Leone after 30 November 1996 during the Sierra Leone Civil War...
and the Truth and Reconciliation Commission was praised.
Acts
The Security Council established UNIOSIL with a mandateMandate (international law)
In international law, a mandate is a binding obligation issued from an inter-governmental organization like the United Nations to a country which is bound to follow the instructions of the organization....
to assist the Sierra Leonean government in capacity building, human rights
Human rights
Human rights are "commonly understood as inalienable fundamental rights to which a person is inherently entitled simply because she or he is a human being." Human rights are thus conceived as universal and egalitarian . These rights may exist as natural rights or as legal rights, in both national...
, the electoral process
Elections in Sierra Leone
Elections in Sierra Leone gives information on election and election results in Sierra Leone.Sierra Leone elects on national level a head of state - the president - and a legislature. The president is elected for a five year term by the people...
, enhancing good governance
Good governance
Good governance is an indeterminate term used in development literature to describe how public institutions conduct public affairs and manage public resources in order to guarantee the realization of human rights. Governance describes "the process of decision-making and the process by which...
, strengthening the rule of law
Rule of law
The rule of law, sometimes called supremacy of law, is a legal maxim that says that governmental decisions should be made by applying known principles or laws with minimal discretion in their application...
, promoting peace and dialogue, strengthening the security sector and the well-being of the population. The integrated office would also assist with the security situation, co-ordinate with other United Nations missions in West Africa
West Africa
West Africa or Western Africa is the westernmost region of the African continent. Geopolitically, the UN definition of Western Africa includes the following 16 countries and an area of approximately 5 million square km:-Flags of West Africa:...
and with the Special Court. Meanwhile, the government was reminded that it had to consolidate peace and security in the country.
The resolution emphasised the importance of co-ordination between the integrated office and other international organisations and agencies. UNIOSOL would be headed by an Executive Representative of the Secretary-General, while Kofi Annan was asked to continue planning for the protection of the Special Court.
See also
- List of United Nations Security Council Resolutions 1601 to 1700 (2005 – 2006)
- Sierra Leone Civil WarSierra Leone Civil WarThe Sierra Leone Civil War began on 23 March 1991 when the Revolutionary United Front , with support from the special forces of Charles Taylor’s National Patriotic Front of Liberia , intervened in Sierra Leone in an attempt to overthrow the Joseph Momoh government...