S/RES/2137 (2014)
Security Council Distr.: General
13 February 2014
14-23558 (E)
*1423558*
Resolution 2137 (2014)
Adopted by the Security Council at its 7110thmeeting, on
13 February 2014
The Security Council,
Recalling its resolutions and the statements of its President on Burundi,
Reaffirming its strong commitment to the sovereignty, independence, territorial
integrity and unity of Burundi,
Welcoming the continued progress that Burundi has made towards peace,
stability and development and emphasizing the need for the United Nations system
and the international community, including the international financial institutions
and Burundi’s development partners, to maintain their support for peace
consolidation and long-term development in Burundi,
Commending the continued contribution of the United Nations Office in
Burundi (BNUB) and the United Nations system to the country’s peace, security and
development,
Welcoming the organization in 2013 by BNUB and the United Nations system,
in close coordination with the Government of Burundi, of several Electoral Lessons
Learned workshops and the adoption of an electoral roadmap in March 2013, and
calling upon the Government of Burundi and all political parties to fully implement
this roadmap and its recommendations,
Encouraging further efforts from the Government of Burundi to ensure a space
for all political parties, including from the extra-parliamentary opposition, and to
continue improving dialogue between all relevant actors, including civil society,
with a view to ensure a conducive, free and open environment for the run up to the
2015 elections,
Reiterating the need for inclusive and broad-based consultations in the spirit of
the 2000 Arusha Agreement, and welcoming in this regard the inclusive and
constructive consultations held on 19 and 20 December 2013 in Kigobe on issues
related to the Constitutional review process,
Expressing concern for limitations on the freedom of press, of expression, of
association and of assembly for opposition political parties, and for media and civil
society organizations, especially in the run up to the 2015 elections,
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Noting the efforts made by the Government of Burundi to improve the human
rights situation in Burundi, and remaining concerned by continued human rights
violations and abuses, in particular reported extrajudicial killings, mistreatment of
detainees and torture, and restrictions on civil liberties, notably acts of intimidation,
harassment and violence committed by youth groups, and recalling that there should
be no impunity for those responsible for these violations and abuses,
Underscoring the importance of transitional justice mechanisms in promoting
lasting reconciliation among all the people of Burundi, taking note that no
significant progress has been made towards the establishment of a Truth and
Reconciliation Commission since the draft law was submitted to Parliament in
December 2012 as stated in the Secretary-General’s report, and recalling in this
context the commitment of the Government of Burundi to establishing transitional
justice mechanisms consistent with the results of the 2009 national consultations,
Security Council resolution 1606 (2005) as well as the Arusha agreement of
28 August 2000,
Recalling that Burundi is a State Party to the Rome Statute of the International
Criminal Court since 2004, and has undertaken obligations to fight impunity for
crimes falling within the jurisdiction of the Court, and emphasizing that the
International Criminal Court is complementary to the national criminal jurisdictions,
Stressing the importance of land issues for a lasting peace and security in
Burundi, noting the commitment of the Government to addressing this complex
issue, and encouraging the Government of Burundi and the Commission Nationale
des Terres et autres Biens (CNTB) to handle land grievances and disputes in a
non-partisan manner and to also address land tenure in the broader context of
socioeconomic development, bearing in mind the need to foster reconciliation and
national cohesion, especially in the run up to the 2015 elections,
Supporting the renewed commitment of Burundi to “zero tolerance” for
corruption,
Welcoming the continued engagement of the Burundi Configuration of the
Peacebuilding Commission, encouraging the continued constructive cooperation
between the Government of Burundi and the Peacebuilding Commission, and
acknowledging the contribution that the Peacebuilding Fund has made to
peacebuilding efforts in Burundi,
Supporting the continued commitment of Burundi to regional integration and
cooperation with neighbours, notably through the Economic Community of Great
Lakes Countries (CEPGL), the East African Community (EAC), and the
International Conference on the Great Lakes Region (ICGLR),
Recalling its resolutions 1325 (2000), 1820 (2008), 1888 (2009), 1889 (2009),
1960 (2010), 2106 (2013) and 2122 (2013) on women and peace and security, its
resolutions 1674 (2006) and 1894 (2009) on the protection of civilians in armed
conflicts and its resolutions 1612 (2005), 1882 (2009), 1998 (2011) and 2068 (2012)
on children and armed conflict,
Having considered the latest report of the Secretary-General on BNUB
(S/2014/36) and, in particular, the conclusions of the Strategic Assessment Mission
and the analysis it contains of progress and remaining challenges in relation to the
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benchmarks transmitted to the Security Council by the Secretary-General pursuant
to resolutions 1959 (2010), 2027 (2011) and 2090 (2013),
Having also considered the request of the Government of Burundi, in
particular the statement of its Minister of Foreign Affairs and International
Cooperation to the Security Council on 28 January 2014 regarding the transition of
BNUB to a regular United Nations Country Team by 31 December 2014 and further
noting its request for a United Nations electoral observer mission before, during and
after the 2015 elections in Burundi,
1. Extends until 31 December 2014 the mandate of BNUB, requesting it,
consistent with paragraphs 3 (a) to (d) of the resolution 1959 (2010) and 2 (a) and
(b) of the resolution 2027 (2011), to focus on and support the Government of
Burundi in the areas (a) to (e) of paragraph 1 of resolution 2090 (2013);
2. Requests the Secretary-General to prepare BNUB’s transition and the
transfer of appropriate responsibilities to the United Nations Country Team by
31 December 2014 and to provide an update on this process in his written interim
report to the Security Council;
3. Encourages BNUB, the Government of Burundi, the Peacebuilding
Commission and bilateral and multilateral partners to form a transition steering
group to map the international community’s support to Burundi, in particular the
transfer of functions currently provided by BNUB which may be needed after the
Mission’s planned drawdown, and requests the Special Representative of the
Secretary-General to finalize a transition plan by the 15 May 2014;
4. Encourages the Government of Burundi to engage in discussions on the
nature, activities and scope of the United Nations role post-BNUB in coordination
with BNUB, the United Nations Country Team, multilateral and bilateral partners,
the Peacebuilding Commission, and other relevant stakeholders;
5. Encourages the United Nations Country Team and its component United
Nations agencies to scale up their activities and programming during BNUB’s
transition and after the termination of its mandate and factor such activities into the
United Nations Development Assistance Framework, and urges the Secretary-
General to ensure there is a seamless transition to the Resident Coordinator and
United Nations Country Team management model as BNUB departs;
6. Takes note of the request of the Government of Burundi for a United
Nations electoral observer mission before, during and after the 2015 elections in
Burundi and requests the Secretary-General to establish such a mission to follow
and report on the electoral process in Burundi immediately at the end of BNUB’s
mandate, and further requests this mission to report to the Secretary-General and the
Secretary-General to the Security Council before, during and after the 2015
elections;
7. Encourages the Government of Burundi to cooperate fully with the
United Nations Country Team and with the United Nations electoral mission that is
to be established;
8. Recognizes the primary responsibility of the Government of Burundi for
peacebuilding, security, protection of its population and long-term development in
the country, and encourages the Government of Burundi to continue its efforts
regarding peace consolidation challenges, in particular democratic governance, the
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fight against corruption, security sector reform, civilian protection, justice and the
promotion and protection of human rights, with a special focus on the rights of
women and children as well as people belonging to ethnic minorities;
9. Encourages the Government of Burundi with the support of BNUB and
other international partners to redouble its efforts to pursue structural reforms aimed
at improving political, economic and administrative governance and tackling
corruption, with a view to setting up strong drivers for sustained and equitable
social and economic growth;
10. Further encourages the Government of Burundi, with the support of
BNUB and other international partners, and while recognizing Burundi’s
prerogatives to adapt its organic law, to ensure that any constitutional review is
undertaken in a constructive atmosphere and in a broad-based and inclusive manner,
with the participation of political parties and relevant stakeholders, according to the
letter and the spirit of the Arusha agreement of 28 August 2000;
11. Calls upon the Government of Burundi to foster inclusive elections in
2015 by continuing to improve dialogue between all national actors, including civil
society, and to guarantee a space for all political parties, including from the extraparliamentary
opposition, to exercise their freedom to organize and prepare
themselves for the 2015 elections, and further calls upon the Government to ensure
full and effective participation of women at all stages of the electoral process;
12. Calls upon the Government of Burundi to pursue its efforts to ensure the
promotion and protection of human rights and, together with its international
partners, to support and strengthen the capacities of the National Independent
Human Rights Commission and the Office of the Ombudsman in accordance with
General Assembly resolution A/RES/48/134 on national institutions for the
promotion and protection of human rights, and further calls upon the Government to
continue its fight against impunity and to take the necessary measures to ensure the
full enjoyment of civil, political, social, economic and cultural rights as enshrined in
the Constitution of Burundi and in accordance with its obligations under
international law;
13. Calls upon the Government of Burundi to take further necessary steps to
prevent human rights violations, in particular reported extrajudicial killings,
mistreatment of detainees and torture, and restrictions on civil liberties, as well as
acts of harassment, intimidation and violence committed by youth groups,
limitations on the freedom of press, of expression, of association and of assembly of
opposition political parties, media and civil society organizations, and to ensure that
such human rights violations and restrictions of civil liberties are put to an end;
14. Calls upon the Government of Burundi to take measures to fight
impunity and support thorough, credible, impartial and transparent investigations,
including by reinforcing the protection of victims, of their relatives and of
witnesses, and to intensify efforts to ensure that those responsible for human rights
violations and abuses as well as restrictions on civil liberties are held accountable;
15. Calls upon the Government of Burundi to work with international
partners and BNUB for the establishment of transitional justice mechanisms,
including a credible and consensual Truth and Reconciliation Commission to help
foster an effective reconciliation of all Burundians and durable peace in Burundi, in
accordance with the results of the work of the Technical Committee, the 2009
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national consultations, Security Council resolution 1606 (2005) as well as the
Arusha agreement of 28 August 2000;
16. Encourages the Government of Burundi to pursue its efforts of peace
consolidation and reconstruction in a regional perspective, especially through
projects fostering peace, reconciliation and exchanges within the East African
Community, the Economic Community of the Great Lakes Countries and the
International Conference on the Great Lakes Region;
17. Further encourages the Government of Burundi, with the support of
international partners as appropriate, to ensure the voluntary, safe and orderly return
and sustainable reintegration of refugees to Burundi;
18. Underscores the importance of security sector reform, welcomes
Burundi’s contribution and active participation to United Nations and African Union
peacekeeping operations, and urges all international partners, together with BNUB,
to continue supporting Burundi’s efforts to professionalize and enhance the capacity
of the national security services and the police, in particular through vetting for
human rights violations, training on human rights and sexual and gender-based
violence and promoting strong civilian oversight and monitoring, with the view to
consolidating security sector governance;
19. Calls upon the Government of Burundi, with the support of the
Peacebuilding Commission and international partners, to honour its commitments on
peacebuilding priorities as defined in the Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper
(PRSP-II), and underscores the importance that international partners, in
collaboration with the Government of Burundi, and with the support of BNUB, the
United Nations system in Burundi and the Peacebuilding Commission, continue to
support Burundi’s development efforts and ensure effective follow-up of mutual
commitments taken at the Geneva Conference of Development Partners and at
subsequent follow-up conferences to allow implementation of the PRSP-II and
support the implementation of the new United Nations Development Assistance
Framework (UNDAF);
20. Requests the Secretary-General to keep the Council informed on the
benchmarks, the implementation of the mandate of BNUB and this resolution, and
the conditions that affect such implementation, as well as on BNUB’s transition to
the United Nations Country Team, every 90 days, with a written interim report by
the end of July 2014 and a final report by 16 January 2015, and further requests the
Secretary-General to report every six months to the Security Council until after the
2015 elections;
21. Decides to remain actively seized of the matter.