S/RES/1400 (2002)
Security Council Distr.: General
28 March 2002
02-30907 (E)
*0230907*
Resolution 1400 (2002)
Adopted by the Security Council at its 4500th meeting, on
28 March 2002
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,
Welcoming the meeting of the Mano River Union Presidents held in Rabat on
27 February 2002 at the invitation of His Majesty the King of Morocco,
Welcoming the further progress made in the peace process in Sierra Leone,
including the lifting of the state of emergency, commending the positive role of the
United Nations Mission in Sierra Leone (UNAMSIL) in advancing the peace
process, and calling for its further consolidation,
Encouraging the Mano River Union Women’s Peace Network and other civil
society initiatives to continue their contribution towards regional peace,
Determining that the situation in Sierra Leone continues to constitute a threat
to peace and security in this region,
Expressing its concern at the fragile situation in the Mano River region, the
substantial increase in refugees and the humanitarian consequences for the civilian,
refugee and internally displaced populations in the region,
Emphasizing the importance of free, fair, transparent and inclusive elections,
and welcoming the progress made by the Government of Sierra Leone and the
National Electoral Commission of Sierra Leone in preparing for elections,
particularly with voter registration,
Reiterating the importance of the effective extension of State authority
throughout the country, the reintegration of ex-combatants, voluntary and
unhindered return of refugees and internally displaced persons, full respect for
human rights and the rule of law, and effective action on impunity and
accountability, paying special attention to the protection of women and children, and
stressing continued United Nations support for the fulfilment of these objectives,
Welcoming the Agreement between the United Nations and the Government of
Sierra Leone on the Establishment of a Special Court for Sierra Leone, and the
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recommendations of the Planning Mission on the Establishment of the Special Court
for Sierra Leone (S/2002/246) and the report of the Secretary-General of 14 March
2002 (S/2002/267) that UNAMSIL should provide administrative and related
support to the Special Court,
Emphasizing the importance of the continuing support of UNAMSIL to the
Government of Sierra Leone in the consolidation of peace and stability after the
elections,
Having considered the report of the Secretary-General of 14 March 2002
(S/2002/267),
1. Decides that the mandate of UNAMSIL shall be extended for a period of
six months from 30 March 2002;
2. Expresses its appreciation to those Member States providing troops and
support elements to UNAMSIL and those who have made commitments to do so;
3. Welcomes the military concept of operations for UNAMSIL for 2002
outlined in paragraph 10 of the Secretary-General’s report of 14 March 2002
(S/2002/267), and requests the Secretary-General to inform the Council at regular
intervals on progress made by UNAMSIL in the implementation of its key aspects
and in the planning of its subsequent phases;
4. Encourages the Government of Sierra Leone and the Revolutionary
United Front (RUF) to strengthen their efforts towards full implementation of the
Ceasefire Agreement signed in Abuja on 10 November 2000 (S/2000/1091) between
the Government of Sierra Leone and the RUF and reaffirmed at the meeting of the
Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), the United Nations, the
Government of Sierra Leone and the RUF at Abuja on 2 May 2001;
5. Encourages the Government of Sierra Leone and the RUF to continue to
take steps towards furthering of dialogue and national reconciliation, and, in this
regard, stresses the importance of the reintegration of the RUF into Sierra Leone
society and the transformation of the RUF into a political party, and demands the
immediate and transparent dismantling of all non-government military structures;
6. Welcomes the formal completion of the disarmament process, expresses
concern at the serious financial shortfall in the multi-donor Trust Fund for the
disarmament, demobilization and reintegration programme, and urges the
Government of Sierra Leone to seek actively the urgently needed additional
resources for reintegration;
7. Emphasizes that the development of the administrative capacities of the
Government of Sierra Leone is essential to sustainable peace and development, and
to the holding of free and fair elections, and therefore urges the Government of
Sierra Leone, with the assistance of UNAMSIL, in accordance with its mandate, to
accelerate the restoration of civil authority and public services throughout the
country, in particular in the diamond mining areas, including the deployment of key
government personnel and police and the deployment of the Sierra Leone Army on
border security tasks, and calls on States, international organizations and nongovernmental
organizations to assist in the wide range of recovery efforts;
8. Welcomes the establishment of the electoral component of UNAMSIL
and the recruitment of 30 additional civilian police advisers to support the
Government of Sierra Leone and the Sierra Leone police in preparing for elections;
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9. Welcomes the signature on 16 January 2002 of the Agreement between
the Government of Sierra Leone and the United Nations on the Establishment of a
Special Court for Sierra Leone, as envisaged by resolution 1315 (2000) of 14
August 2000, urges donors urgently to disburse their pledges to the Trust Fund for
the Special Court, looks forward to the Court expeditiously beginning its operations
and endorses UNAMSIL’s providing, without prejudice to its capabilities to perform
its specified mandate, administrative and related support to the Special Court on a
cost-reimbursable basis;
10. Welcomes progress made by the Government of Sierra Leone, together
with the Secretary-General, the United Nations High Commissioner for Human
Rights and other relevant international actors, in establishing the Truth and
Reconciliation Commission, and urges donors urgently to commit funds to it;
11. Welcomes the summit meeting of the Mano River Union Presidents held
in Rabat on 27 February 2002, urges the Presidents to continue dialogue and to
implement their commitments to building regional peace and security, and
encourages the ongoing efforts of ECOWAS towards a lasting and final settlement
of the crisis in the Mano River Union region;
12. Expresses its serious concern at the violence, particularly sexual
violence, suffered by women and children during the conflict in Sierra Leone, and
emphasizes the importance of addressing these issues effectively;
13. Expresses its serious concern at the evidence UNAMSIL has found of
human rights abuses and breaches of humanitarian law set out in paragraphs 38 to
40 of the Secretary-General’s report of 14 March 2002 (S/2002/267), encourages
UNAMSIL to continue its work and in this context requests the Secretary-General to
provide a further assessment in his September report, particularly regarding the
situation of women and children who have suffered during the conflict;
14. Expresses its serious concern at allegations that some United Nations
personnel may have been involved in sexual abuse of women and children in camps
for refugees and internally displaced people in the region, supports the Secretary-
General’s policy of zero tolerance for such abuse, looks forward to the Secretary-
General’s report on the outcome of the investigation into these allegations, and
requests him to make recommendations on how to prevent any such crimes in future,
while calling on States concerned to take the necessary measures to bring to justice
their own nationals responsible for such crimes;
15. Encourages the continued support of UNAMSIL, within its capabilities
and areas of deployment, for returning refugees and displaced persons, and urges all
stakeholders to continue to cooperate to this end to fulfil their commitments under
the Abuja Ceasefire Agreement;
16. 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 to the Council, after due consultations with troop-contributing countries, with
any additional recommendations, and requests in particular the Secretary-General to
submit before 30 June 2002 an interim report assessing the post-electoral situation
and the prospects for peace consolidation;
17. Decides to remain actively seized of the matter.