United Nations Security Council Resolution 1521

UN Security Council ; Resolution 1521
	Liberian rainforest near a logging area
Date	22 December 2003
Meeting no.	4,890
Code	S/RES/1521 (Document)
Subject	The situation in Liberia
Voting summary	15 voted for; None voted against; None abstained;
Result	Adopted
Security Council composition
Permanent members	China ; France ; Russia ; United Kingdom ; United States ;
Non-permanent members	Angola ; Bulgaria ; Chile ; Cameroon ; Germany ; Guinea ; Mexico ; Pakistan ; Spain ; Syria ;

Last updated February 01, 2020

United Nations Security Council resolution 1521, adopted unanimously on 22 December 2003, after recalling all previous resolutions on the situation in Liberia and West Africa, the Council established a monitoring body to oversee international sanctions against Liberia.^[1] It was the final Security Council resolution adopted in 2003.

Resolution

Observations

In the preamble of the resolution, the Council expressed concern at the findings of an expert panel that violations of sanctions imposed by Resolution 1343 (2001) continue to occur. It welcomed a peace agreement signed by the Liberian government, Liberians United for Reconciliation and Democracy (LURD) and the Movement for Democracy in Liberia (MODEL) on 18 August 2003 and that the National Transitional Government of Liberia under Chairman Gyude Bryant took office on 14 October 2003. States in the region were called upon to build lasting peace through the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), International Contact Group on Liberia, Mano River Union and Rabat Process.

Furthermore, there was concern that the peace agreement was not being implemented throughout the entirety of Liberia, especially in areas where the United Nations Mission in Liberia (UNMIL) had not been deployed. The Council recognised the connection between the illegal exploitation and trade of natural resources and the proliferation of arms trafficking fuelling conflicts in West Africa. It determined that the situation, proliferation of arms and armed non-state actors including mercenaries in the region continued to constitute a threat to international peace and security.

Acts

The resolution was divided into two sections, both enacted under Chapter VII of the United Nations Charter thus making its provisions legally enforceable.

A

The Security Council recalled resolutions 1343, 1408 (2002), 1478 (2003), 1497 (2003) and 1509 (2003), and noted changed circumstances including the departure of former President Charles Taylor and progress with the peace process in Sierra Leone.^[2] In this regard, the previous Committee was dissolved and prohibitions on the sale or supply of arms, diamonds, timber and travel were terminated.

B

At the same time, the restrictions were reimposed for a period of twelve months and relevant exemptions were made relating to the United Nations.^[3] The measures would end once the Council determined that the Liberian ceasefire was fully respected; disarmament, demobilisation, reintegration, repatriation and restructuring of the security sector have been completed; the peace agreement implemented; a diamond certificate of origin regime established and stability maintained in Liberia and the subregion. The transitional government was also urged to join the Kimberley Process and establish its authority over the timber producing areas, including through oversight mechanisms, as soon as possible.^[2] The international community was urged to provide assistance to the transitional government during these processes.^[4] The measures would be reviewed by 17 June 2004.

The resolution established a new Committee of the Security Council to monitor the implementation of the sanctions, update a list of sanctioned individuals and entities and make recommendations. Meanwhile, the Secretary-General Kofi Annan was requested to establish a panel of five experts to conduct a follow-up mission to Liberia and neighbouring states concerning the implementation and violations of the restrictions against Liberia, including rebel movements; it had to report by 30 May 2004. It welcomed UNMIL's readiness to co-operate with the Committee and requested the United Nations Mission in Sierra Leone and United Nations Mission in Côte d'Ivoire to assist the Committee and expert panel. The Secretary-General was directed to report by 30 May 2004 on progress made with regard to the implementation of the measures.

Finally, the transitional government was urged to inform the Liberian population as to the contents of the current resolution, including the criteria for the removal of sanctions.

Related Research Articles

The United Nations Mission in Liberia (UNMIL) was a peacekeeping force established in September 2003 to monitor a ceasefire agreement in Liberia following the resignation of President Charles Taylor and the conclusion of the Second Liberian Civil War. The peacekeeping mission formally withdrew on 30 March 2018. At its peak it consisted of up to 15,000 United Nations military personnel and 1,115 police officers, along with a civilian component. It superseded the United Nations Observer Mission in Liberia (UNOMIL). As of July 2016, 1,240 U.N. military and 606 police personnel remained on the ground, but were there only in case of emergency.

United Nations Security Council resolution 1343, adopted unanimously on 7 March 2001, after recalling resolutions on Sierra Leone and the region, including resolutions 1132 (1997), 1171 (1998) and 1306 (2000), the Council demanded that Liberia end its support for rebels in Sierra Leone and threatened the imposition of wide-ranging sanctions unless the country complied with the Security Council.

United Nations Security Council Resolution 1395 United Nations Security Council resolution

United Nations Security Council resolution 1395, adopted unanimously on 27 February 2002, after reaffirming Resolution 1343 (2001) which imposed sanctions on Liberia for support of rebels during the civil war in Sierra Leone, the Council re-established an expert panel to monitor compliance with the restrictions relating to embargoes on arms and unofficial rough diamonds from Sierra Leone.

United Nations Security Council resolution 1408, adopted unanimously on 6 May 2002, after recalling resolutions 1132 (1997), 1171 (1998), 1306 (2000), 1343 (2001), 1385 (2001), 1395 (2002) and 1400 (2002) on the situation in Sierra Leone, the Council extended sanctions against Liberia for its support of rebels in the civil war in Sierra Leone.

United Nations Security Council Resolution 1458 United Nations Security Council resolution

United Nations Security Council resolution 1458, adopted unanimously on 28 January 2003, after reaffirming Resolution 1408 (2002) on the situation in Liberia, and recognising the importance of implementing Resolution 1343 (2001), the Council re-established an expert panel to monitor the implementation of sanctions against the Liberian government including an arms embargo, travel ban for officials, and prohibitions on the import of its rough diamonds.

United Nations Security Council resolution 1478, adopted unanimously on 6 May 2003, after recalling resolutions 1132 (1997), 1171 (1998), 1306 (2000), 1343 (2001), 1385 (2001), 1395 (2002), 1400 (2002), 1408 (2002), 1458 (2003), 1467 (2003) and others on the situation in Liberia, the Council extended sanctions against the Liberian government for an additional period of twelve months until 7 May 2004 and imposed a ban on imports of its timber for ten months.

United Nations Security Council resolution 1509, adopted unanimously on 19 September 2003, after recalling all previous resolutions on the situation in Liberia, including Resolution 1497 (2003), the Council established the 15,000-strong United Nations Mission in Liberia (UNMIL) to assist in implementing a ceasefire and peace agreement.

United Nations Security Council Resolution 1549 United Nations Security Council resolution

United Nations Security Council resolution 1549, adopted unanimously on 17 June 2004, after recalling all previous resolutions on the situation in Liberia, particularly resolutions 1521 (2003) and 1532 (2004), the Council re-established an expert panel to oversee international sanctions against Liberia.

United Nations Security Council Resolution 1579 United Nations Security Council resolution

United Nations Security Council resolution 1579, adopted unanimously on 21 December 2004, after recalling all previous resolutions on the situation in Liberia, the Council extended arms, timber and travel sanctions against the country for twelve months and a diamond ban for six months.

United Nations Security Council Resolution 1961, adopted unanimously on December 17, 2010, after recalling previous resolutions on the situation in Liberia, the Council renewed an arms embargo against the country and travel sanctions for persons that threatened the peace process for a further twelve months.

United Nations Security Council Resolution 1607, adopted unanimously on 21 June 2005, after recalling all previous resolutions on the situation in Liberia, the Council extended the embargo on Liberian diamonds for a further six months.

United Nations Security Council Resolution 1626 United Nations Security Council resolution

United Nations Security Council resolution 1626, adopted unanimously on 19 September 2005, after recalling all previous resolutions on the situations in Liberia and Sierra Leone, particularly resolutions 1509 (2003), 1610 (2005) and 1620 (2005), the Council extended the mandate of the United Nations Mission in Liberia (UNMIL) until 31 March 2006 and authorised the deployment of 250 troops to Sierra Leone to protect the Special Court.

United Nations Security Council Resolution 1647, adopted unanimously on 20 December 2005, after recalling all previous resolutions on the situations in Liberia and West Africa, the Council extended sanctions including an arms embargo, bans on the sale of diamonds and timber and restrictions on travel for certain officials.

United Nations Security Council Resolution 1683, adopted unanimously on June 13, 2006, after recalling all previous resolutions on the situation in Liberia and West Africa, the Council adjusted the arms embargo against the country so that weapons and ammunition could be used for training purposes by the government, police and security forces.

United Nations Security Council Resolution 1689, adopted unanimously on June 20, 2006, after recalling all previous resolutions on the situation in Liberia and West Africa, the Council decided to continue sanctions against the import of diamonds from the country for six months, though similar restrictions relating to timber imports were lifted.

United Nations Security Council Resolution 1713, adopted unanimously on September 29, 2006, after recalling previous resolutions on the situation in Sudan, particularly resolutions 1556 (2004), 1591 (2005), 1651 (2005) and 1665 (2006), the Council extended the mandate of an expert panel monitoring sanctions against and violations of human rights in the Darfur region until September 29, 2007 and requested the Secretary-General to add another expert to the team.

United Nations Security Council Resolution 1731, adopted unanimously on December 20, 2006, after recalling all previous resolutions on the situations in Liberia and West Africa, the Council extended arms and travel embargoes on the country for one year and a ban on the sale of diamonds for a period of six months.

United Nations Security Council Resolution 1760 was unanimously adopted on 20 June 2007.

United Nations Security Council Resolution 1854 was unanimously adopted on 19 December 2008.

United Nations Security Council Resolution 2025 was unanimously adopted on 14 December 2011.

References

↑ "Security Council resolution dissolves Committee overseeing bans on Liberia, sets up new body to oversee embargoes". United Nations. 22 December 2003.
1 2 McCormack, T.; McDonald, Avril (2006). Yearbook of International Humanitarian Law – 2003, Volume 6; Volume 2003. Cambridge University Press. p. 279. ISBN 978-90-6704-203-1.
↑ "U.N. council extends Liberia sanctions another year". CNN. 23 December 2003.
↑ McCandless, Erin; Christie, W. Tyler (2006). "Moving Beyond Sanctions: Evolving Integrated Strategies to Address Post-conflict Natural Resource-based Challenges in Liberia". Journal of Peacebuilding & Development. 3 (1): 20–35. ISSN 1542-3166.

External links

Works related to United Nations Security Council Resolution 1521 at Wikisource
Text of the Resolution at undocs.org

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[un-1] "Security Council resolution dissolves Committee overseeing bans on Liberia, sets up new body to oversee embargoes". United Nations. 22 December 2003.

[mt-2] 1 2 McCormack, T.; McDonald, Avril (2006). Yearbook of International Humanitarian Law – 2003, Volume 6; Volume 2003. Cambridge University Press. p. 279. ISBN 978-90-6704-203-1.

[3] "U.N. council extends Liberia sanctions another year". CNN. 23 December 2003.

[4] McCandless, Erin; Christie, W. Tyler (2006). "Moving Beyond Sanctions: Evolving Integrated Strategies to Address Post-conflict Natural Resource-based Challenges in Liberia". Journal of Peacebuilding & Development. 3 (1): 20–35. ISSN 1542-3166.