YouSaid · the spoken record

Landgren

lines on the record: 355
first: 2009-05-05
most recent: 2023-11-14
sittings or episodes: 20
sources: un-security-council

Every line below is reproduced as it was said and linked to the record it came from. Nothing here is summarised or generated. Directory · Search · Corrections

“The Liberia National Police (LNP), bearing the greatest burden of the security transition, has been hard pressed to cope. Complicated budgetary procedures and its own weak capacity for financial management have limited the ability of the police to administer even small allocations. I want to highlight some important commitments the Government made at the start of this year that are expected to give a boost to the security sector. The first is the personal engagement of the Minister of Finance. In February, the Minister took steps to ease the complicated requirements for disbursement of transition-related funds to the police, immigration service and other agencies. This will alleviate the paralysis at the police training academy, which has over 1,000 recruits waiting to start training.”
2014-03-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7145 (2014) · source
“The Liberia Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative has done important work in conducting post-contract award process audits and strengthening the sanctions regime for non-compliant companies and the Government. These developments are positive, and I cannot overstate the importance of greater accountability, transparency and consultation with communities in Liberia's valuable natural-resource sector. Since last month, the Armed Forces of Liberia have been led by a Liberian for the first time since the war. There was palpable jubilation in the streets and on the airwaves at the appointment of Brigadier General Daniel D. Ziankhan. As the Council is well aware, progress in Liberia's security sector is critical to UNMIL's steady military drawdown.”
2014-03-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7145 (2014) · source
“Let me turn now to two broad areas central to continued stability: issues of accountability and transparency, and issues of justice and security. There have been some recent efforts to secure greater public accountability. The Liberia Anti-Corruption Commission has begun investigating bribery allegations made against a former legislator and an official of the National Oil Company of Liberia. Also, last month six former senior officials of the Forestry Development Authority were indicted on charges of economic sabotage and criminal conspiracy related to the fraudulent issuance of timber private use permits for commercial logging on 2.5 million hectares of land. The Ministry of Lands, Mines and Energy also completed a draft mine and mineral act, calling for benefits-sharing with communities.”
2014-03-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7145 (2014) · source
“These reforms are fundamental for the country's future, more inclusive, character, which also links them to national reconciliation. With the National Reconciliation Road Map giving structure to the process, and with the Peacebuilding Fund having allocated $15 million to reconciliation initiatives, some progress has been made. The Palava Hut initiative was launched in October, but discussions around methodology continue, and actual implementation has not yet begun. A national history project and a review of national symbols have both been launched, although their implementation has been slow. The Government's contribution to the implementation of the Road Map has been limited, with most successes being in those areas receiving funds from the international community.”
2014-03-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7145 (2014) · source
“The Government also took further steps towards implementing its decentralization policy. Efforts towards deconcentrating 12 ministries and agencies continued, with greatest progress in critical service areas, such as health and education, where both ministries have established county boards and devolved some monetary resources and decision-making. The Governance Commission is attentive to UNMIL and donor partner concerns about weak coordination in the overall deconcentration process. A local Government act, calling for the election of local officials and other critical measures for effective decentralization, has been drafted and is now with the President, although the current version would require constitutional amendment for its implementation.”
2014-03-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7145 (2014) · source
“The United Nations Mission in Liberia (UNMIL) continues to advocate for broader agreement among major stakeholders, including the executive, on the scope and timeline of constitutional reform. The Committee's civic education activities faced severe delays, causing their public consultations to be conducted largely in parallel with civic education. A national conference to validate constitutional amendment proposals ahead of their submission to the President is planned for April. Should this also be delayed, the mid-2014 target for submitting these proposals may be difficult to meet. On the other hand, pushing the pace in order to meet these timelines could risk compromising the quality of public consultations and miss the opportunity to incorporate the public's views.”
2014-03-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7145 (2014) · source
“Approaching the end of the voter roll update, the National Elections Commission has registered some 60,000 people, far short of its initial goal of 400,000 - a goal later cut by half. About one-third of registrants are women. This month, the Senate approved an amendment to the election law that encourages parties to include at least 30 per cent women in their governing structures and candidate lists. Although this falls short of an obligation and still requires the concurrence of the House of Representatives, the measure represents a step forward in the public debate over women's political representation. Turning now to Liberia's reform processes, since January the Constitution Review Committee has had more structured and sustained engagement with the legislature.”
2014-03-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7145 (2014) · source
“Voices across a wide spectrum continued to express dissatisfaction with national authorities and policies. Motorcycle taxi unions, business owners and civil society have held demonstrations; health workers have gone on strike twice since December; and all operations at Liberia's main university were interrupted for three months due to student protests and violence. Eleven anti-government protestors were charged with sedition in October, bringing criticism that the Government was using the law in an instrumental manner to dampen opposition and dissent. Tensions between large concessions and communities continued. Legislative elections for half of the Senate's 30 seats are scheduled for October.”
2014-03-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7145 (2014) · source
“Ms. Landgren: I thank you, Sir, for this opportunity to update and complement the report before the Council on the situation in Liberia (8/2014/123). The political and security environment remains relatively stable. Progress continues in a number of areas, but as Liberia enters its second post-conflict decade, it also continues to face great challenges to institutionalizing reforms in critical sectors and building capacity for effective governance. These are complex and daunting processes, as even before the war Liberia had few well-functioning meritocratic institutions and effective accountability mechanisms. Seizing this window to get the fundamentals right will be critical to consolidating Liberia's hard-won peace and to charting the country's inclusive development.”
2014-03-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7145 (2014) · source
“Speaking at the recent launch of a high-level panel on fragile States, President Johnson-Sirleaf underlined the importance of going beyond conventional growth- driven poverty reduction and addressing the linkages between peacebuilding, State-building and governance. It is helpful that Liberia's development partners increasingly employ a fragility perspective in their work. Liberia will need to stay the course, now and for decades to come. The United Nations stands with the Government, partners, civil society and others in our shared dedication to preventing any return to the ways of the past.”
2013-09-10 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7029 (2013) · source
“Some new arrivals continue to be registered in Liberia, and continued efforts are needed to create conditions favourable for return to care d'Ivoire. The anniversary of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement has been an opportunity to celebrate just how far Liberia has come. The country should be proud of its significant achievements. And yet it remains fragile, with a sense ofa unified nationhood still a work in progress and small-scale outbreaks of violence still routine. Important underlying cleavages and tensions await resolution. Increased economic activity and growth bring with them new challenges of management, oversight, the judicious use of financial resources and a fair distribution of national wealth.”
2013-09-10 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7029 (2013) · source
“The four parties met in June in western Cote d'Ivoire and again last week in Monrovia to plan joint security operations along the border, which will take place this November and in January 2014. Preparations have also advanced for the first-ever cross-border meeting of chiefs and elders - another quadripartite meeting outcome - and the meeting is on track to be held next month. The April quadripartite meeting also agreed to revive a tripartite commission on humanitarian and refugee issues comprising the two Governments and the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. This year, over 11,000 Ivorian refugees have repatriated voluntarily, leaving fewer than 59,000 Ivorian refugees in Liberia, down from over 200,000 at the height of the crisis.”
2013-09-10 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7029 (2013) · source
“The situation along the border with Cote d'Ivoire has remained calm for the past six months and tensions have eased. Eight Ivorians suspected of alleged involvement in cross-border attacks from Liberia into Cote d'Ivoire, including the June 2012 attack that killed seven peacekeepers of the United Nations Operation in Cote d'Ivoire (UNOCI), still await a ruling on whether Liberia will accede to an Ivorian extradition request. Since the second quadripartite meeting in April among the Governments of Liberia and Cote d'Ivoire, UNMIL and UNOCI, the parties have worked to deliver on agreed commitments, including successful high- level strategic engagement and increased operational cooperation on the ground.”
2013-09-10 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7029 (2013) · source
“That and regular dialogue between the executive and the legislature are particularly important for the role of the legislature in policy development and oversight, as well as in representing the interests of its constituents. In July, UNMIL and the legislature initiated a periodic direct dialogue on a range ofissues central to Liberia's reform agenda. Looking ahead, Liberia's next presidential elections in 2017 will be a political watershed moment. A foretaste of the tenor of those elections may come in October 2014, when 15 senatorial seats, or one per county, will be contested. As well, Liberia's security remains intertwined with that of its neighbours. Strengthening regional approaches remains imperative to security as well as to development.”
2013-09-10 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7029 (2013) · source
“To that end, a high-level retreat on the security sector will be held next week, co-organized by the Government, the United Nations and the Government of Sweden. The retreat will bring together a wide range of national and international actors involved in security sector development, including Ambassador Tillander of the Peacebuilding Commission. The retreat will consider recommendations of several joint studies, including a baseline capacity assessment of the Liberia National Police, a review of management and accountability mechanisms within the police, judiciary and prosecution, and a United Nations mapping of gaps in Liberia's security sector. The legislature has begun following up on the very many audit reports it has received from the general auditing commission over the years.”
2013-09-10 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7029 (2013) · source
“Even though the National Police Training Academy has been physically expanded to train 600 recruits a year, only 99 officers have graduated in the past 12 months. The graduation of another 148 has been delayed since May, in part due to budget constraints, while the current class of 293, which is in field training, is due to graduate next February. The immediate challenges posed by the UNMIL drawdown and the long-term importance of the rule of law for a stable Liberia make it essential that the Government and its partners redouble their efforts to develop capable and accountable justice and security sectors. A more focused, prioritized approach to institutional development is needed.”
2013-09-10 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7029 (2013) · source
“However, the Liberian security forces have not been able to scale up their presence and operational effectiveness in order to assume the increased security responsibilities, and they remain severely constrained by weak mobility, resources and administration. Demands on the Government will become more acute as this transition progresses. The UNMIL military contingent expects to vacate a further three counties by April 2014. That will require the Government to sustain an effective security presence in more of the country and across a broader range of vital duties, including static guarding and cash escorts. However, the 2013-2014 national budget reduces allocations for the police, and limited transition-specific funding has been set aside.”
2013-09-10 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7029 (2013) · source
“That police presence remains essential, both to enable the Mission to serve as a needed backup to national authorities and to maintain public confidence in Liberia's security during the transition. The Mission has also retained its civilian and United Nations Police advisory presence in all counties in order to continue supporting local Government and police structures, which remain weak. This phased approach to drawdown has permitted the Government and UNMIL to develop close, routine and effective joint transition planning mechanisms. UNMIL has now closed 11 locations and handed over eight to Government entities.”
2013-09-10 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7029 (2013) · source
“One year ago, the United Nations Mission in Liberia (UNMIL) initiated a calibrated, three-phase military drawdown process endorsed by the Council. The Mission has focused on executing a steady, well-planned and responsible military drawdown. It completed the first phase on 30 June, with all designated personnel and equipment repatriated in good order and on schedule. UNMIL no longer has a fixed military presence in four of Liberia's counties, and has deployed formed police unit personnel to areas considered potential hotspots for insecurity and to serve as backup to specialized units of the Liberia National Police. The first of the Mission's three newly appointed formed police units, from Nepal, has been on the ground for six months; the second, from China, is due to deploy in October.”
2013-09-10 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7029 (2013) · source
“It will be important to institutionalize mechanisms allowing consistent dialogue between concessions and communities. The report notes the good progress made by the five land coordination centres, whose staff are being trained in alternative dispute resolution and mediation skills. Corruption in general remains a very significant handicap, affecting the functioning of national institutions, public confidence in those institutions and the pace of economic development. The President's recent dismissals of senior Government officials are described in the report. Since then, 18 officers have been dismissed from the Liberia National Police for extortion and excessive absenteeism; numerous others have been suspended. It is hoped that such resolute steps will send a strong message to those carrying the public's trust at all levels.”
2013-09-10 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7029 (2013) · source
“The Government and many development partners acknowledge the need for transparent, responsible management and regulation of concession agreements and the resources they yield, including those intended for local development. This remains an important area for the country that requires priority attention. In August, the Government issued a directive that 10 counties are to be audited, including those administering social development funds provided by concessions. And in June, the Forestry Development Authority issued letters of intent to terminate almost half of the 62 irregular private-use permits issued in the forestry sector. The lack of adequate consultation with affected communities remains an issue, and a study is under way on citizens' engagement in natural resource management, at the Government's request.”
2013-09-10 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7029 (2013) · source
“Recent discussions on a national history project have opened the door to preparing a national history curriculum for Liberia's schools. And a technical team of Government, civil society and United Nations representatives is assessing how best to partner with peace committees, traditional leaders and civil society in order to make the Palava Hut initiative a reality, as also recommended by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission. As the Secretary-General's report notes, land reform has advanced, with a new land rights policy to be followed by draft legislation. Land and the exploitation of Liberia's abundant natural resources remain cornerstones of the country's economic development, as well as powerful sources of potential conflict.”
2013-09-10 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7029 (2013) · source
“The board consists of Government ministries and international partners, including the United Nations family. Decentralization is expected to promote more inclusive and accountable governance. It will also take time for it to begin functioning fully, both legislatively and in the light of the country's limited human and institutional capacity. Decentralized governance structures also feature in the National Reconciliation Road Map. President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf launched the implementation of that 18-year framework in June, placing it under the leadership of the Ministry of Internal Affairs. Continued clear leadership of the Road Map will be important. It is comprised of some 12 different initiatives, including those aimed at shaping a common narrative on national identity.”
2013-09-10 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7029 (2013) · source
“The Constitution Review Committee has been working, with the support of the United Nations, to prepare the ground for the necessary national consultation. In the coming weeks, civic educators will begin working to inform and educate the public. The Committee still faces serious financial and capacity constraints, in addition to the broad buy-in that it needs to forge, which could affect its ability to adhere to the timeline, which is tight, despite the one-year extension of the mandate through 2015. The United Nations will continue to support the Committee and the broader constitutional review process. In July, the Government established a decentralization support programme board for the overall coordination of the financial and human capital being invested to make decentralization a reality in Liberia.”
2013-09-10 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7029 (2013) · source
“Recent months have seen an increasingly vigorous public discourse among civil society, youth groups and political parties about how far the country has come and how best to meet its current challenges. This was partly driven by contemplation of the tenth anniversary of peace and partly coalesced around current events, such as the recent court-ordered incarceration of a prominent newspaper editor. Liberia's stability is sufficient to provide an environment conducive to the reforms being undertaken by the Government. The importance of those reforms to consolidating peace has been recognized by the Council, notably in the security and justice sectors and in the areas of decentralization and more transparent and accountable Government. I will say a few words about where these stand.”
2013-09-10 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7029 (2013) · source
“Ms. Landgren: Ten years ago, on 18 August 2003, the last in a long series of Liberian peace agreements was signed in Accra. Liberia is celebrating 10 years of uninterrupted peace, and commitment remains steady, as described in the report of the Secretary-General now before the Council (8/2013/479). Liberia deserves praise and, more importantly, continued support. A decade is a long time to keep the peace, but a decade is a short time to reverse the effects of a war that left the country shattered or to overturn over a century of social and political exclusion and poor governance. Many potential drivers of conflict remain to be addressed through long-term reforms coupled with inclusive development.”
2013-09-10 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7029 (2013) · source
“It is more important than ever, as UNMIL draws down, to move swiftly to address the historic and current cleavages that are so widely acknowledged. The United Nations and all of Liberia's partners continue to stand by in support of the legitimate and democratic aspirations of Liberians, who also tell us repeatedly that they have no wish to return to war.”
2013-03-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6941 (2013) · source
“As Liberia grapples with those issues, I would like to congratulate Liberia's Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Marjon Kamara, for the landmark resolution reached by the Commission on the Status of Women under her chairmanship, in which members commit to the prevention and elimination of violence against women and girls. Addressing the Legislative Assembly in January, President Johnson-Sirleaf spoke robustly of the need for economic justice and the spread of opportunity for all, saying that Liberia would never develop unless Liberians worked together as a team. When Liberians tell me what reconciliation means to them, most of them talk about employment and better services. Lasting peace will require fairness and inclusion for all Liberians in their country's progress.”
2013-03-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6941 (2013) · source
“The Peacebuilding Commission's (PBC) active engagement, including last month's joint visit by the Liberia and Sierra Leone country configurations, has generated sustained attention and discussion on these criticaljustice and security issues. The PBC is a valued partner in bringing Liberia's peacebuilding issues to the fore, and Ambassador Tillander's continued efforts in mobilizing the required resources have been vital. Women and girls in Liberia continue to face a high incidence of sexual and gender-based violence, including rape, often of young children.”
2013-03-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6941 (2013) · source
“To gauge progress and inform strategic planning, several studies are under way, including a review, funded by the Peacebuilding Fund, of management and accountability mechanisms within the police, judiciary and prosecution, and a baseline capacity assessment of the Liberia National Police. Over the coming months, UNMIL and national partners will also be part of a security sector reform mapping exercise to identify gaps, and tomorrow a national criminal justice conference, supported by UNMIL, is opening, to review and make recommendations for the improved functioning of all components ofthe criminal justice system.”
2013-03-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6941 (2013) · source
“This first phase of transition has been relatively successful, but, from a security perspective, also relatively undemanding. Even so, the Government of Liberia has been stretched to deploy sufficient resources, equipment and personnel to make good use of the vacated sites and to cover the recurrent costs of maintaining them. UNMIL and the Government will soon hold a retreat to cost out transition needs through mid-2015 and for the Government to plan how to make those resources available. As the Mission hands over locations and security functions, the United Nations and partners continue to invest in the development of Liberia's justice and security sectors.”
2013-03-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6941 (2013) · source
“During the rainy-season hiatus, the Government and UNMIL will continue detailed planning and preparations for the next phase. The drawdown and reconfiguration have been possible through the hard work of the joint Government-UNMIL transition working group, which primes all national security actors to assume their added responsibilities and to make effective use of the former UNMIL facilities. In October, UNMIL handed over the first of its facilities to national authorities at Robertsport, in Grand Cape Mount County, and a second facility, in Foya, near the Guinean and Sierra Leonean borders in Lofa County, was handed over in January. Between October and April, UNMIL's military will have withdrawn from seven sites, of which the Government has taken over four.”
2013-03-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6941 (2013) · source
“The Government is conscious of those dangers and has taken some steps to mitigate the risks, but much more remains to be done. At this point, let me read into the record a correction to paragraph 9 of the report of the Secretary-General, namely, that one deputy to the Auditor-General resigned, not two. Since my last briefing (see S/PV.6830), planning for the security transition has moved to implementation. UNMIL has begun its next military drawdown under resolution 2066 (2012), and now, for the first time since 2005, UNMIL's military is not permanently deployed in every one of Liberia's 15 counties. So far, military personnel have vacated two counties and will leave another two next month. Meanwhile, the Nepali formed police unit (FPU), the first of three new FPUs, deployed in full today.”
2013-03-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6941 (2013) · source
“For the first five years of the realization of the Vision, the Government has presented a development plan - successor to the first poverty reduction strategy - called the Agenda for Transformation, as well as a National Reconciliation Road Map, to sequence Liberia's enormous range of competing priorities. The Agenda and the Road Map outline Liberia's path towards equitable growth and institutional development, and reflect the close links between reconciliation and development. The challenges are considerable, and I would draw particular attention to the need to achieve responsible and accountable exploitation and management in the race for resource extraction, where concessions, abuse and allegations of corruption, already a source of significant tension, have the potential to act as a catalyst for conflict.”
2013-03-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6941 (2013) · source
“In January, President Johnson-Sirleaf noted in her annual message that "the cleavages that led to decades of war still run deep". Efforts over the past decade have helped the country recover from conflict and set the stage for a transformed nation. But to realize that potential, those deep cleavages will need commensurate attention to institutionalize the foundations for Liberia's long-term stability. As part of working towards those long-term solutions, in December the President held a national conference to launch the national Vision 2030 - a long-term political and economic agenda, including a fair political system, security, the rule of law and national reconciliation.”
2013-03-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6941 (2013) · source
“There has been no sign of any new refugee influx, and the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees has also reported growing numbers of Ivorians returning home, with more than 5,200 so far in 2013. UNMIL and the United Nations Operation in Cote d'Ivoire continue our inter-mission cooperation at all levels and are working actively with both Governments to encourage the development of a common border strategy that takes cooperation beyond immediate security measures. Ultimately, problems with political, economic and social roots require solutions of broad scope. We expect a follow-up quadripartite discussion, between the two countries and the two missions, next month to move this dialogue forward. I have just been informed that this is confirmed for 5 April.”
2013-03-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6941 (2013) · source
“Despite a number of challenges, the operation has proved a credible and responsive presence along the border. Following cross- border attacks last August, the border was largely calm for seven months, although clashes on the Ivorian side in January and March led to several deaths. In the past week, with reports of armed attacks in some Ivorian villages close to the border, increased attention is being given in Liberia to avoiding any cross-border activity that could be linked to such attacks. National security agencies, the UNMIL force and the United Nations police have carried out robust patrols, some jointly, in strategic areas of Grand Gedeh, River Gee and Nimba counties.”
2013-03-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6941 (2013) · source
“The legislature then accused the acting Mayor of Monrovia of thwarting the detention and proceeded to a vote of no confidence against both women, who subsequently resigned. That incident has contributed to the undercurrent of mutual distrust among Liberia's primary political actors, a climate that can colour the country's ability to take forward processes critical to democratic governance and long- term stability, including constitutional reform and the fair and transparent management of natural resources. Liberia's border with Cote d'Ivoire remains a significant focus for the Government and for UNMIL. Operation Restore Hope, conducted jointly by the Liberia National Police, the Bureau of Immigration and Naturalization and the Armed Forces of Liberia, has continued since June 2012.”
2013-03-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6941 (2013) · source
“The Supreme Court upheld five decisions of a judicial inquiry commission that had issued significant penalties, including the suspension of two judges, for corruption. In addition, the first case prosecuted by the Liberia Anti-Corruption Commission resulted in a conviction against a former Inspector- General of the Liberia National Police (LNP) and four other defendants for embezzlement of funds intended for the LNP. However, issues of corruption and tensions between branches of Government have remained at the forefront of political life. In February, the legislature ordered the Montserrado county superintendent detained in connection with allegations related to the misuse of development funds.”
2013-03-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6941 (2013) · source
“Liberia's first justice and security hub, supported by the Peacebuilding Fund as part of Liberia's peacebuilding plan, was launched on 12 February in Gbarnga, Bong County. Justice and security hubs have the potential to bring Liberians significantly better access to justice and security services, and the Gbarnga hub will continue to need close attention even as the focus turns towards the development of hubs two and three, in Grand Gedeh and Maryland counties. Later this year, a review will be conducted of the impact of the first six months of hub one, but, so far, a major lesson is that services should be rolled out in tandem with the infrastructure. The plans for hubs two and three are being adjusted to provide an earlier focus on services. There has been some progress in the area of accountability.”
2013-03-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6941 (2013) · source
“The National Elections Commission has held regional consultations on a draft electoral law and is discussing it with the legislature. The draft law features measures to ensure the independence of the Commission, which was a major call of the opposition during the 2011 elections. The Land Commission has been conducting public consultations on a historic draft land rights policy that covers private, customary, Government and public land tenure. The policy will be considered at a national validation conference next month, with the involvement of the United Nations Human Settlements Programme and UNMIL, and will form the basis of a new land rights law. That creates an opportunity for Liberia to move a step closer to addressing one of its principal sources of instability and conflict.”
2013-03-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6941 (2013) · source
“As the Secretary-General noted in his April 2012 special report (S/2012/230), many of Liberia's underlying tensions are perpetuated by the provisions of the Constitution. That makes it especially important to conduct an inclusive and participatory reform process. UNMIL is an active partner in that process, which, on the United Nations side, also includes the Department of Political Affairs and the United Nations Development Programme. Even with the extension, the timeline is brisk. The Constitution Review Committee is expected to present its recommended revisions to the legislature by mid- 2014. By law, at least 12 months must pass between the legislature's action on the recommendations and a popular referendum, which would now be held by late 2015. Electoral reform is also moving ahead.”
2013-03-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6941 (2013) · source
“As he said, that is indisputably a remarkable achievement. The report before the Council describes the security transition that began last October and in which the Government will progressively take over responsibilities from the United Nations Mission in Liberia (UNMIL). I will say more about that, but let me begin by updating the Council on the other critical processes that UNMIL is mandated to support and which will need to advance in tandem with the Mission's drawdown or, preferably, somewhat ahead of it. The Constitution Review Committee, appointed last September, has been preparing options for that defining reform process. Only last week, President Johnson-Sirleaf agreed to add a year to the Committee's original short timeline.”
2013-03-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6941 (2013) · source
“Ms. Landgren: As members have seen in the report of the Secretary-General before the Council (S/20l3/l24), Liberia continues to make significant progress as it approaches the 10-year anniversary of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement. Since that August in Accra in 2003, Liberia has shown the world its commitment to lasting peace, and the world has shown its commitment to peace in Liberia. The resilience that Liberians have demonstrated and their commitment to moving the country forward are inspiring and bode well for the hard work that still lies ahead. Two months ago, Liberia hosted the High-level Panel on the Post-2015 Development Agenda in a meeting that illustrated how far the country has come. In the words of Foreign Minister Augustine Ngafuan, it has moved from pariah to partner, from problem child to problem-solver.”
2013-03-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6941 (2013) · source
“Liberia is becoming a nation at peace with itself and with its past, a nation able to channel its vast economic potential into the better lives its people have waited for. In the context of a carefully managed transition, the Council's own calls for a coherent approach to peacekeeping and peacebuilding are particularly important. As UNMIL works with the Government and partners to chart a critical path towards an exit strategy, Liberia's stability must remain the top priority. I look forward to working closely with all Liberians and with the Council in support of Liberia's continued peaceful advancement. I would like to thank all of UNMIL'S Liberian partners for having welcomed me so warmly.”
2012-09-11 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6830 (2012) · source
“UNMIL and UNOCI have secured the approval of their host Governments to conduct cross-border air operations and aerial reconnaissance missions, which may also have a deterrent effect when employed in response to known threats. We are also setting up hotlines between sector commanders to share information as quickly as possible at the field level UNMIL is able to begin the transition because of the progress that Liberia has made since 2003. The Mission represents nearly a decade of major investment by the international community. That investment has paid handsome dividends, supporting Liberians with a time and space free of war. That has made possible two democratic elections and steps towards national reform on a large scale.”
2012-09-11 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6830 (2012) · source
“UNMIL and the United Nations Operation in Cote d'Ivoire (UNOCI) have strengthened our inter-mission cooperation on border issues. The missions remain ready to work with both Governments on a shared border strategy, as the Council has called for in resolution 2062 (2012), including not only security measures but also longer-term elements of reconciliation, justice and employment. Since June, the missions have conducted mirrored patrols, and have held five meetings under a revitalized Operation Mayo, which includes civilian participation in joint border meetings to build confidence and draw on the strong community ties on both sides of the border.”
2012-09-11 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6830 (2012) · source
“The Mission and the Government have long received reporting of alleged training and recruitment of armed groups on Liberian soil, including in reports of the Panel of Experts, some of these alleging the involvement of Ivorians residing in refugee camps in Liberia. A comprehensive national strategy to address the issue of mercenaries and foreign combatants is still needed. When I visited the FTP refugee camp in Grand Gedeh county last month, refugee leaders and local authorities all called for greater camp security. Several measures that were previously agreed have yet to be implemented, including an unarmed National Police presence at the camps and adequate screening of arriving asylum seekers by the Liberia Refugee Repatriation and Resettlement Commission.”
2012-09-11 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6830 (2012) · source
“The Liberian Government has continued its efforts to mitigate security threats at its border with Cote d'Ivoire. Both Governments and the two Missions met in June to discuss enhanced border security and protection of civilians. Following this, Liberia deployed Operation Restore Hope, in which the Armed Forces of Liberia, the Emergency Response Unit and the Bureau of Immigration are taking part. This is the first major deployment of the Armed Forces of Liberia. The operation has been conducted in border areas with only limited localized support from UNMIL. The Government has taken additional measures, including the closure of the border, with exceptions on humanitarian grounds.”
2012-09-11 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6830 (2012) · source
“A draft reconciliation road map is currently under review and due to be launched in October. Coordinated by the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the road map covers some principal recommendations of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, including the "Palava Hut" programme, where perpetrators can seek public forgiveness. Other elements recommended by the Commission, such as those on impunity, remain largely unaddressed in the draft road map. As this process moves forward, the United Nations would encourage full, inclusive consultation and public discussion, allowing all Liberians to feel part of a national healing process. The United Nations would also like to see an invigorated Independent National Commission on Human Rights, and UNMIL is ready to offer support to this end.”
2012-09-11 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6830 (2012) · source