Charges of sexual violence.

• Author: Rutsch, Horst
• Position: Peacewatch: Sierra Leone - Brief Article

The Security Council voiced its serious concern at the violence, particularly sexual violence, suffered by women and children during the conflict in Sierra Leone, as well as evidence of human rights abuses and breaches of humanitarian law. It requested the Secretary-General, in his next report in September, to provide a further assessment of the situation of women and children who had suffered during the conflict. It called on the countries concerned to take the measures necessary to bring to justice their own nationals responsible for such crimes.

In the wake of the allegations that peacekeepers were involved in sexual exploitation of children in refugee camps, the United Nations Mission in Sierra Leone (UNAMSIL) Acting Force Commander Maj. Gen. Martin L. Agwai on 15 March visited United Nations peacekeepers and battalions, and discussed ways of preventing any possible misconduct among peacekeepers and of ensuring strict adherence to the UN code of conduct. He also emphasized that the Force headquarters would deal decisively with any case of wrongdoing by soldiers (see box on page 69).

The Security Council on 28 March unanimously extended the mandate of UNAMSIL for six months, until 30 September. Stressing the importance of the Mission's continued support to the Sierra Leone Government in the consolidation of peace and security after the country's elections in May, the Council urged the Government, with UNAMSIL assistance, 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 of the Sierra Leone Army on border security tasks.

The Council also welcomed the establishment of the electoral component of UNAMSIL and the recruitment of 30 additional civilian police advisers to support the Government and the police in preparing for the...