               United Nations                                                                   S/RES/2555 (2020)
               Security Council                                                 Distr.: General
                                                                                22 December 2020

               Resolution 2555 (2020)
               Adopted by the Security Council on 18 December 2020

                    The Security Council,
                     Noting with concern that the situation in the Middle East is tense and is likely
               to remain so, unless and until a comprehensive settlement covering all aspects of the
               Middle East problem can be reached,
                    Having considered the reports of the Secretary-General on the United Nations
               Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF) of 25 September 2020 ( S/2020/945) and
               2 December 2020 (S/2020/1159), and also reaffirming its resolution 1308 (2000) of
               17 July 2000,
                    Stressing that both parties must abide by the terms of the 1974 Disengagement
               of Forces Agreement between Israel and the Syrian Arab Republic and scrupulously
               observe the ceasefire,
                     Expressing concern that the ongoing military activities conducted by any actor
               in the area of separation continue to have the potential to escalate tensions between
               Israel and the Syrian Arab Republic, jeopardize the ceasefire betw een the two
               countries, and pose a risk to the local civilian population and United Nations
               personnel on the ground,
                    Expressing its appreciation in this regard to UNDOF’s liaison efforts to prevent
               any escalation of the situation across the ceasefire line,
                    Expressing alarm that violence in the Syrian Arab Republic risks a serious
               conflagration of the conflict in the region,
                    Expressing concern at all violations of the Disengagement of Forces Agreement,
                    Noting the Secretary-General’s latest report on the situation in the area of
               operations of UNDOF, including findings about weapons fire across the ceasefire line
               as well as ongoing military activity on the Bravo side of the area of separation, and
               in this regard underscoring that there should be no military forces, military
               equipment, or personnel in the area of separation other than those of UNDOF,
                     Calling upon all parties to the Syrian domestic conflict to cease military actions
               throughout the country, including in the UNDOF area of operations, and to respect
               international humanitarian law,
                    Noting the significant threat to the UN personnel in the UNDOF area of
               operation from unexploded ordnance, explosive remnants of war and mines, and

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               emphasizing in this regard the need for demining and clearance operations in strict
               compliance with the 1974 Disengagement of Forces Agreement,
                     Reaffirming its readiness to consider listing individuals, groups, undertakings,
               and entities providing support to the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL, also
               known as Da’esh) or to the Al-Nusra Front (also known as Jabhat Fateh al-Sham or
               Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham), including those who are financing, arming, planning, or
               recruiting for ISIL or the Al-Nusra Front and all other individuals, groups,
               undertakings, and entities associated with ISIL and Al-Qaida as listed on the ISIL
               (Da’esh) and Al-Qaida Sanctions List, including those participating in or otherwise
               supporting attacks against UNDOF peacekeepers,
                     Recognizing the necessity of efforts to flexibly adjust UNDOF’s posture to
               minimize the security risk to UNDOF personnel as UNDOF continues to implement
               its mandate, while emphasizing that the ultimate goal is for the peacekeepers to return
               to UNDOF’s area of operations as soon as practicable,
                    Emphasizing the importance of Security Council and troop-contributing
               countries having access to reports and information related to UNDOF’s redeployment
               configuration, and reinforcing that such information assists the Security Council with
               evaluating, mandating, and reviewing UNDOF and with effective consultation with
               troop-contributing countries,
                     Underscoring the need for UNDOF to have at its disposal all necessary means
               and resources to carry out its mandate safely and securely, including technology and
               equipment to enhance its observation of the area of separation and the ceasefire line,
               and to improve force protection, as appropriate, and recalling that the theft of United
               Nations weapons and ammunition, vehicles and other assets, and the looting and
               destruction of United Nations facilities, are unacceptable,
                     Expressing its profound appreciation to UNDOF’s military and civilian
               personnel, including those from Observer Group Golan, for their service in an
               ongoing, challenging operating environment, underscoring the important
               contribution UNDOF’s continued presence makes to peace and security in the Middle
               East, welcoming steps taken to enhance the safety and security of UNDOF, including
               Observer Group Golan, personnel, and stressing the need for continued vigilance to
               ensure the safety and security of UNDOF and Observer Group Golan personnel,
                    Strongly condemning incidents threatening the safety and security of United
               Nations personnel,
                     Expressing its appreciation to UNDOF, including Observer Group Golan, for
               re-establishing its presence at Camp Faouar and for further progress towards
               expanding its presence in its area of operations through patrols and rehabilitation of
               positions on the Bravo side,
                     Taking note of the Secretary-General’s plan for UNDOF to return to the Bravo
               side based on a continuous assessment of security in the area of separation and its
               surroundings, and continued discussion and coordination with the parties,
                    Recalls that UNDOF’s deployment and the 1974 Disengagement of Forces
               Agreement are steps toward a just and durable peace on the basis of Security Council
               Resolution 338 (1973),
                     Recalling resolution 2378 (2017) and its request of the Secretary-General to
               ensure that data related to the effectiveness of peacekeeping operations, including
               peacekeeping performance data, is used to improve analytics and the evaluation of
               mission operations, based on clear and well identified benchmarks, and further
               recalling resolution 2436 (2018) and its request of the Secretary-General to ensure
               that decisions to recognize and incentivize outstanding performance and decisions

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           regarding deployment, remediation, training, withholding of financial
           reimbursement, and repatriation of uniformed or dismissal of civilian personnel, are
           predicated on objective performance data,
               Recalling resolution 2242 (2015) and its aspiration to increase the number of
           women in military and police contingents of United Nations peacekeeping operations,
                1.   Calls upon the parties concerned to implement immediately its resolution
           338 (1973) of 22 October 1973;
                 2.   Stresses the obligation on both parties to scrupulously and fully respect
           the terms of the 1974 Disengagement of Forces Agreement, calls on the parties to
           exercise maximum restraint and prevent any breaches of the ceasefire and the area of
           separation, encourages the parties to take full advantage of UNDOF’s liaison function
           regularly to address issues of mutual concern, as appropriate, and to maintain their
           liaison with UNDOF to prevent any escalation of the situation across the ceasefire
           line, as well as to support the enhancement of the UNDOF liaison function, and
           underscores that there should be no military activity of any kind in the area of
           separation, including military operations by the Syrian Arab Armed Forces;
                 3.   Underlines that UNDOF remains an impartial entity and stresses the
           importance to halt all activities that endanger United Nations peacekeepers on the
           ground and to accord the United Nations personnel on the ground the f reedom to carry
           out their mandate safely and securely;
                4.   Expresses full support for Major General Ishwar Hamal as Head of
           Mission and Force Commander;
                5.    Calls on all groups other than UNDOF to abandon all UNDOF positions,
           and return the peacekeepers’ vehicles, weapons, and other equipment;
                6.     Calls on all parties to cooperate fully with the operations of UNDOF, to
           respect its privileges and immunities and to ensure its freedom of movement, as well
           as the security of and unhindered and immediate access for the United Nations
           personnel carrying out their mandate, including the unimpeded delivery of UNDOF
           equipment and the temporary use of alternative ports of entry and departure, as
           required, to ensure safe and secure troop rotation and resupply activi ties, in
           conformity with existing agreements, and urges prompt reporting by the Secretary -
           General to the Security Council and troop-contributing countries of any actions that
           impede UNDOF’s ability to fulfil its mandate;
                 7.    Calls on the parties to provide all the necessary support to allow for the
           full utilization of the Quneitra crossing by UNDOF in line with established
           procedures and to lift COVID-19 related restrictions as soon as sanitary conditions
           permit, to allow UNDOF to increase its operations on the Bravo side to facilitate
           effective and efficient mandate implementation;
                 8.    Requests UNDOF, within existing capacities and resources, member
           states, and relevant parties to take all appropriate steps to protect the safety, security
           and health of all UNDOF personnel, in line with resolution 2518 (2020), taking into
           account the impact of COVID-19 pandemic;
                 9.    Welcomes UNDOF’s ongoing efforts to consolidate its presence and to
           intensify its operations in the area of separation, including the mission’s intent to
           resume inspections in the area of limitation on the Bravo side conditions permitting
           per the Mission’s assessment, as well as the cooperation of the parties to facilitate this
           return, together with continued efforts to plan for UNDOF’s expeditious return to the
           area of separation, including the provision of adequate force protection, based on a
           continuous assessment of security in the area;

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                     10. Underscores the importance of progress in the deployment of appropriate
               technology, including counter-improvised explosive device (IED) capabilities and a
               sense and warn system, as well as in addressing civilian staffing needs, to ensure the
               safety and security of UNDOF personnel and equipment, follow ing appropriate
               consultations with the parties, and notes in this regard that the Secretary-General’s
               proposal for such technologies has been delivered to the parties for approval;
                     11. Encourages the parties to the Disengagement Agreement to engage
               constructively to facilitate necessary arrangements with UNDOF for the force’s return
               to the area of separation, taking into account existing agreements;
                    12. Encourages the Department of Peace Operations, UNDOF, and the UN
               Truce Supervision Organization to continue relevant discussions on recommendations
               from the 2018 independent review to improve mission performance and
               implementation of UNDOF’s mandate;
                     13. Welcomes the initiatives undertaken by the Secretary-General to
               standardize a culture of performance in UN peacekeeping, recalls its request in
               resolution 2378 (2017) and resolution 2436 (2018) that the Secretary-General ensure
               that performance data related to the effectiveness of peacekeeping operations is used
               to improve mission operations, including decisions such as those regarding
               deployment, remediation, repatriation and incentives, and reaffirms its support for the
               development of a comprehensive and integrated performance policy framework that
               identifies clear standards of performance for evaluating all United Nations civilian
               and uniformed personnel working in and supporting peacekeeping operations that
               facilitates effective and full implementation of mandates, and includes comprehensive
               and objective methodologies based on clear and well-defined benchmarks to ensure
               accountability for underperformance and incentives and recognition for outstanding
               performance, and calls on the United Nations to apply this framework to UNDOF as
               described in resolution 2436 (2018), notes the efforts of the Secretary-General to
               develop a comprehensive performance assessment system and requests the Secretary-General and troop- and police-contributing countries to seek to increase the number
               of women in UNDOF, as well as to ensure the full, equal, and meaningful participation
               of uniformed and civilian women at all levels, and in all positions, including senior
               leadership positions, and to implement other relevant provisions of resolution 2538
               (2020);
                     14. Requests the Secretary-General to continue to take all necessary measures
               to ensure full compliance of all personnel in UNDOF, civilian and uniformed,
               including mission leadership and mission support personnel with the United Nations
               zero-tolerance policy on sexual exploitation and abuse and to keep the Council fully
               informed through his reports to the Council about the Mission’s progress in this
               regard, including by reporting on the start, agreed deadlines, and outcomes of 2272
               reviews, stresses the need to prevent such exploitation and abuse and to improve how
               these allegations are addressed in line with resolution 2272 (2016), and urges troopand police-contributing countries to continue taking appropriate preventive action,
               including vetting of all personnel, pre-deployment and in-mission awareness training,
               and to take appropriate steps to ensure full accountability in cases of such conduct
               involving their personnel through timely investigation of allegations by troop- and
               police-contributing countries, and UNDOF as appropriate, holding perpetrators to
               account and repatriating units when there is credible evidence of widespread or
               systemic sexual exploitation and abuse by those units;
                     15. Decides to renew the mandate of UNDOF for a period of six months, that
               is, until 30 June 2021, and requests the Secretary-General to ensure that UNDOF has
               the required capacity and resources to fulfil the mandate in a safe and secure way;
                     16. Requests the Secretary-General to report every 90 days on developments
               in the situation and the measures taken to implement resolution 338 (1973).

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Security Council resolution 2555 (2020) [on extension of the mandate of the UN Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF) until 30 June 2021]

S/75 [55] UN DISENGAGEMENT OBSERVER FORCE
S/75 [54] MIDDLE EAST SITUATION
S/ X The situation in the Middle East.

UN Disengagement Observer Force|PEACEKEEPING OPERATIONS|TRUCE SUPERVISION|GOLAN HEIGHTS|ISRAEL|SYRIAN ARAB REPUBLIC|MIDDLE EAST SITUATION


               United Nations                                                                       S/RES/2556 (2020)
               Security Council                                                     Distr.: General
                                                                                18 December 2020

               Resolution 2556 (2020)
               Adopted by the Security Council on 18 December 2020

                     The Security Council,
                     Recalling its previous resolutions and the statements of its President concerning
               the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), especially its resolutions 2528 (2020),
               2502 (2019), 2478 (2019), 2463 (2019), 2424 (2018), 2409 (2018), 2389 (2017), and
               previous resolutions regarding the mandate of MONUSCO and the sanctions regime
               established by resolutions 1493 (2003) and 1807 (2008),
                     Reaffirming the basic principles of peacekeeping, including consent of the
               parties, impartiality, and non-use of force, except in self-defence and defence of the
               mandate, and recognising that the mandate of each peace-keeping mission is specific
               to the need and situation of the country concerned,
                      Reaffirming its strong commitment to the sovereignty, independence, unity and
               territorial integrity of the DRC as well as all States in the region and emphasising the
               need to respect fully the principles of non-interference, good-neighbourliness and
               regional cooperation,
                    Recalling that the Government of the DRC bears the primary responsibility to
               protect civilians within its territory and subject to its jurisdiction, including protection
               from crimes against humanity and war crimes,
                     Noting that the DRC continues to suffer from recurring and evolving cycles of
               conflict and persistent violence by foreign and domestic armed groups, which
               exacerbate a deeply concerning security, human rights and humanitarian crisis, as
               well as inter-communal and militia violence in areas of the DRC,
                     Recognising the efforts of the Government and the people of the DRC aiming at
               the achievement of peace and national development, further recognising the efforts
               of the Armed Forces of the DRC (FARDC) and the United Nations Organization
               Stabilisation Mission in the DRC (MONUSCO) in addressing the threat posed by
               armed groups in the DRC, encouraging the continuation of efforts by the Secretary-General of the United Nations, his special envoy for the Great Lakes, the African
               Union (AU), the International Conference on the Great Lakes Region (ICGLR), the
               Southern African Development Community (SADC) and signatory States of the Peace
               and Security (PSC) Framework for the DRC and the region to restore peace and
               security in the DRC, and encouraging the Government of the DRC to ensure
               continuous close cooperation with these and other international part ies,

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                     Recognising the importance of confidence-building, facilitation, mediation,
               good offices, and community engagement to achieve peace and security in the DRC,
               and the need for MONUSCO, as appropriate and when possible, to continue to explore
               how it can use these techniques to enhance its ability to support the Mission’s
               protection, its information gathering and situational awareness, and to implement its
               mandated tasks, including to protect civilians,
                    Reaffirming the important role of women and youth in the prevention,
               management and resolution of conflicts, and in peacebuilding, stressing the
               importance of their full, effective and meaningful participation in all efforts for the
               maintenance of and promotion of peace and security in the DRC,
                     Expressing great concern over the humanitarian situation that has left an
               estimated 25.6 million Congolese in need of humanitarian assistance, further
               expressing deep concern regarding the growing number of internally displaced
               persons in the DRC with 5.2 million estimated to have b een displaced to date, and the
               529,000 refugees in the DRC, as well as the more than 934,000 refugees from the
               DRC in Africa as a result of ongoing hostilities, further calling upon the DRC and all
               States in the region to work towards a peaceful environmen t conducive to the
               realization of durable solutions for refugees and internally displaced persons,
               including their eventual voluntary return and reintegration in the DRC in conditions
               of safety and dignity, with the support of the United Nations Country Te am (UNCT),
               stressing that any such solution should be in line with relevant obligations under
               international refugee law, international humanitarian law and international human
               rights law, and commending United Nations humanitarian agencies, partners, and
               donors for their efforts to provide urgent and coordinated support to the population,
               calling on member States and other international partners to scale up funding and
               contribute to the United Nations humanitarian appeals for the DRC and the region to
               help ensure that United Nations humanitarian agencies and other international
               organizations are fully funded and able to urgently respond to the humanitarian needs
               in the country, including by addressing the protection and assistance needs of
               internally displaced persons, all survivors of sexual and gender-based violence, and
               other vulnerable communities,
                    Recalling the UN guiding principles of humanitarian emergency assistance,
                     Recalling resolution 2532 (2020) demanding a general and immediate cessation
               of hostilities in all situations on the Council’s agenda, as well as calling upon all
               parties to armed conflicts to engage immediately in a durable humanitarian pause for
               at least 90 consecutive days, in order to enable the safe, timely, unhindered and
               sustained delivery of humanitarian assistance in accordance with the humanitarian
               principles of humanity, neutrality, impartiality and independence,
                     Commending MONUSCO for the preventive measures taken to fight the
               COVID-19 pandemic and recalling its request to the Secretary-General to instruct
               peace-keeping operations to provide support, within their mandates and capacities, to
               host country authorities in their efforts to contain the pandemic, in particular to
               facilitate humanitarian access, including to internally displaced persons and refugee s
               camps and allow for medical evacuations, as well as its request to the Secretary -
               General and Member States to take all appropriate steps to protect the safety, security
               and health of all UN personnel in UN peace operations, while maintaining the
               continuity of operations, and to take further steps towards the provision of training
               for peacekeeping personnel on issues related to preventing the spread of COVID-19,
                     Recalling all its relevant resolutions on women, peace and security, on youth,
               peace and security, on children and armed conflict, and on the protection of civilians
               in armed conflict, welcoming efforts of the Government of the DRC in this regard,
               further welcoming efforts by the Government of the DRC to implement resolution

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           1325 (2000), also recalling the conclusions on children and armed conflict in the DRC
           adopted on 10 December 2020 by the Security Council Working Group on Children
           and Armed Conflict pertaining to the parties in armed conflicts of the DRC,
           expressing grave concern over the high number of violations against children, in
           particular sexual and gender-based violence being committed by security forces,
           further calling on all actors to contribute to the rehabilitation and reintegration of
           children formerly associated with armed groups and forces,
                 Welcoming the efforts of MONUSCO and international partners in delivering
           training in human rights, international humanitarian law, gender mainstreaming, child
           protection and protection from sexual and gender-based violence to Congolese
           security institutions and underlining their importance,
                 Recognising the adverse effects of climate change, ecological changes, natural
           disasters, and lack of energy access, among other factors, on the stability of the DRC,
           including through increasingly frequent and extreme weather phenomena, flooding,
           forest fires, erratic precipitation and food insecurity, welcoming the leadership of the
           DRC in the development of national strategies to address these issues and in the
           preservation of the Congo basin forest,
                 Commending the commitment of the Troops and Police Contributing Countries
           (T/PCCs) in implementing the Mission’s mandate in a challenging environment,
           recalling its expectations on delivering on mandated reforms and enhancements to
           MONUSCO, highlighting the importance of effective command and control, respect
           for the chain of command, adequate equipment and information in order for timely
           and effective responses to attacks on civilians,
                 Reiterating its call on all parties to cooperate fully with MONUSCO and to
           remain committed to the full and objective implementation of the Mission’s mandate,
           reiterating its condemnation of any and all attacks against peacekeepers, and
           emphasising that those responsible for such attacks must be held accountable, and
           encouraging all parties to work together to enhance the safety and security of
           MONUSCO’s personnel, including in line with resolution 2518 (2020) and to ensure
           that all peacekeepers in the field are willing, capable and equipped to effectively and
           safely implement their mandate,
                Welcoming the commitment of the Congolese authorities to closely collaborate
           with MONUSCO and their support to deliver the Joint strategy on the progressive and
           phased drawdown of MONUSCO,
                 Determining that the situation in the DRC continues to constitute a threat to
           international peace and security in the region,
                Acting under Chapter VII of the Charter of the United Nations,

           Political situation
                 1.    Welcomes the efforts of Government of the DRC to respond to the needs
           of the Congolese people above the pursuit of partisan interests and strongly urges all
           Congolese political stakeholders to put these needs above the pursuit of partisan
           interests, reiterates the importance of delivering on President Tshisekedi and his
           government’s commitments to pursue national unity, strengthen the rule of law and
           respect for human rights, including the respect of freedom of opinion and expression,
           freedom of the press and the right of peaceful assembly, fight against corruption,
           launch domestic development programmes to significantly reduce poverty, and
           further political inclusiveness and peacebuilding and encourages MONUSCO to
           continue to support, through its good offices, a swift and peaceful resolution of the
           current political situation;

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                      2.   Welcomes the efforts of President Tshisekedi and his government towards
               reconciliation and peace and stability in the DRC and to promote regional cooperation
               and integration, notes that political stability and security as well as increased State
               presence in areas of conflict are critical for the consolidation of the current political
               transition and sustainable peace in the DRC, calls upon the DRC authorities to work
               towards the stabilisation and strengthening of the capacity of S tate institutions
               particularly in areas of conflict, with the support of MONUSCO, in order to fulfil the
               rights and needs of all Congolese people, further calls upon all political stakeholders
               to work toward peaceful, transparent, inclusive and credible pr ocesses for future
               elections, including local elections in accordance with the Constitution and the
               Electoral law, and to ensure the full, effective and meaningful participation of women
               at all stages;
                     3.    Requests the Secretary-General and calls upon regional organisations to
               provide political support to the strengthening of State institutions in the DRC and the
               restoration of trust among the different parties, including through their good offices,
               in order to consolidate peace and security, tackle the roo t causes of conflict in priority
               areas, as well as foster a broad national consensus around key governance and security
               reforms, the fight against illegal exploitations of natural resources, and support to
               current reform and other electoral processes, in line with the government of DRC’s
               national priorities, and welcomes the upcoming AU chairpersonship by President
               Tshisekedi, which could constitute a further opportunity to promote the engagement
               of such regional organizations;

               Human Rights
                    4.    Welcomes the commitments and actions of President Tshisekedi towards
               ensuring that the Government of the DRC protects and respects human rights and
               fundamental freedoms, as well as to combat impunity in all areas, and calls upon the
               government of the DRC to uphold these commitments;
                     5.   Remains however deeply concerned by high levels of violations and abuses
               of human rights and violations of international humanitarian law in parts of the
               country, committed by all parties, as well as the persistently high le vel of violence
               and the intensification of intercommunal violence fuelled by hate speech, and
               recognises their deleterious effect on the stabilisation, community reconciliation,
               reconstruction and development efforts in the DRC, recalls in that regard that it is
               prepared to impose targeted sanctions under paragraph 7 (d) and (e) of its resolution
               2293 (2016), regarding inter alia human rights violations or abuses or violations of
               international humanitarian law;
                     6.    Urges the Government of the DRC to hold accountable those responsible
               for violations of international humanitarian law or violations and abuses of human
               rights, as applicable, including those involving targeted attacks against civilians,
               widespread sexual and gender-based violence, recruitment and use of children, the
               forced displacement of significant numbers of civilians, extrajudicial executions and
               arbitrary arrests, and in particular those that may amount to genocide, war crimes and
               crimes against humanity, and stresses both regional cooperation and the DRC’s
               cooperation with the International Criminal Court following the DRC’s referral of the
               situation in the DRC in 2004, as well as cooperation with the African Court of Human
               and People’s Rights;
                     7.   Welcomes the cooperation of the Government of the DRC with the team of
               international experts on the situation in the Kasai regions mandated by the Human
               Rights Council in its resolution 45/34, recognises the improvements in the
               cooperation since President Tshisekedi’s election, requests the Government of the
               DRC to implement all the recommendations made by the team of international experts

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           in its report, and to cooperate with the team of two international human rights experts,
           charged with monitoring, evaluating, providing support and reporting on the
           implementation by the DRC of those recommendations, further welcomes the
           Government of the DRC’s continued cooperation with the United Nations team
           deployed, as agreed, to assist the Congolese authorities investigations into the deaths
           of the two UN experts in March 2017, and calls on them to ensure all perpetrators are
           brought to justice and held accountable;
                 8.    Welcomes the steps taken by President Tshisekedi and his government to
           hold security forces accountable for violations of human rights and fight impunity
           within their ranks, release political prisoners, and close irregular detention cen tres, as
           well as to investigate and prosecute violations of human rights by State agents, further
           welcomes investigations by the Congolese authorities on any disproportionate use of
           force by security forces on peaceful protesters and calls on the Congolese authorities
           to ensure that those responsible for these acts are brought to justice, calls upon the
           Government of the DRC to facilitate, in line with previous agreements, full and
           unhindered access for the Joint Human Rights Office in the DRC (UNJHRO) to a ll
           detention centres, hospitals and morgues and all other premises required for
           documenting human rights violations, as applicable, stresses the need for the
           Government of the DRC to continue to ensure the increased professionalism of its
           security forces, including vetting, training and capacity building of security personnel
           to fully respect domestic and international human rights law, as well as international
           humanitarian law, and underlines the importance of observing the rule of law;
                 9.    Strongly condemns sexual violence in conflict perpetrated by all parties in
           the DRC, welcomes efforts made by the Government of the DRC to combat and prevent
           sexual violence in conflict, including progress made in the fight against impunity
           through the arrest, prosecution and conviction of perpetrators from the FARDC and the
           PNC, and urges the Government of the DRC to continue to strengthen its efforts to
           combat impunity for sexual violence in conflict, including sexual violence committed
           by the FARDC and PNC at all levels, and to provide all necessary services and
           protection to survivors, victims and witnesses, and further calls upon the Government
           of the DRC to complete investigations into allegations of sexual exploitation and abuse
           by members of the FARDC in line with the its zero-tolerance policy and, as appropriate,
           to prosecute those responsible, further encourages the government to take all measures
           to continue to support the psychological and medical support of survivors of sexual
           violence in conflict to facilitate their reintegration into their communities and to
           provide all necessary services, including legal, and protection to survivors;
                 10. Encourages the Government of the DRC to implement in full its National
           Strategy and the Roadmap agreed during the national conference in Kinshasa from
           11–13 October 2016 to evaluate the implementation of the Joint Communiqué
           between the Government of the DRC and the United Nations on the Fight Against
           Sexual Violence in Conflict adopted in Kinshasa on 30 March 2013, and to en sure
           adequate funding is allocated to the implementation of these commitments, and
           recalls the importance of cooperation with the SRSG for Sexual Violence in Conflict;
                 11. Welcomes the progress made by the Government of the DRC to consolidate
           the gains of the Action Plan to End and Prevent the Recruitment and Use of Children
           and expedite its implementation, including aspects of the plan related to sexual
           violence against children, and to take all necessary steps to end and prevent all
           violations and abuses against children, and to ensure that children are not detained
           for their alleged association with armed groups and are handed over to child
           protection actors, in line with the Ministry of Defence and the National Intelligence
           Agency Directives issued in 2013, and calls upon the Government of the DRC to
           continue its efforts, in particular by prosecuting perpetrators within security forces
           for child recruitment and use and by ensuring that perpetrators of all violations and

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               abuses are held accountable, and recalls the importance of cooperating with the SRSG
               for Children and Armed Conflict;

               Armed Groups
                     12. Strongly condemns all armed groups operating in the DRC and their
               violations of international humanitarian law as well as other applicable internation al
               law, and abuses of human rights, reiterates its condemnation of the violence witnessed
               in the DRC, especially those involving attacks on the civilian population, United
               Nations and associated personnel and humanitarian actors, as well as medical personn el
               and facilities, summary executions and maiming, sexual and gender-based violence and
               recruitment and use of children, abductions of children and humanitarian personnel,
               attacks on schools and hospitals in violation of applicable international law by arm ed
               groups and militias, the use of civilians as human shields, the forced displacement of
               significant numbers of civilians, extrajudicial executions and arbitrary arrests, and
               further reiterates that those responsible must be held accountable;
                     13. Demands that all armed groups cease immediately all forms of violence
               and other destabilising activities, the illegal exploitation and trafficking of natural
               resources, and further demands that their members immediately and permanently
               disband, lay down their arms, reject violence, end and prevent violations perpetrated
               against children and release children from their ranks, recalls in this regard that
               recruitment and use of children in armed conflict in the DRC may lead to sanctions
               under paragraph 7(d) of resolution 2293 (2016);
                     14. Notes that the elimination of the threat posed by armed groups requires an
               integrated regional approach and strong political engagement by the governments of
               DRC, SADC and the Great Lakes region to further seize on the positive regional
               momentum, in close coordination with MONUSCO and the Special Envoy for the
               Great Lakes, underscores that there can be no purely military solutions to these
               problems, welcomes the renewed commitments of the DRC and its neighbours to work
               together to tackle insecurity in Eastern DRC and to promote long lasting regional
               development expressed during the recent Quadripartite meetings and Goma Summit,
               bearing in mind the need to address the root causes of conflict, including the illicit
               exploitation and trafficking of natural resources and put an end to recurring cycles of
               violence, as outlined in the PSC Framework, reaffirms that the PSC Framework
               remains an essential mechanism to achieve durable peace and stability in the DRC
               and the Region recalls the commitments undertaken by the region under the PSC
               Framework not to tolerate nor provide assistance or support of any kind to armed
               groups, urges the signatory States, with the support of the PSC Framework
               Guarantors, to strengthen their collaboration in addressing appropriately and
               holistically the threat of all remaining foreign armed groups in the DRC and the illicit
               flow of weapons in the region, fully supports the Special Envoy of the Secretary-General for the Great Lakes in fulfilling his mandate to address the remaining
               challenges in implementation of the PSC Framework and to promote peace and
               stability in the region, including through good offices, coordinated strategies and
               shared information with MONUSCO, UNOCA and other UN entities, and stresses the
               need for coordination and cooperation between the Government of the DRC and other
               national authorities, United Nations entities, civil society organisations and
               development actors to build and sustain peace, stabilise, improve the security
               situation and assist in restoration of State authority;
                     15. Welcomes the repatriation of FDLR disarmed combatants and some former
               M23 combatants, calls on the signatory States of the PSC Framework to complete
               without precondition the repatriation of the remaining former M23 combatants, as
               well as other combatants seeking voluntary return to their country of origin, within
               the shortest time frame possible;

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                 16. Expresses concern at the illegal exploitation and trafficking of natural
           resources, particularly timber, so-called “conflict minerals” like tin, tantalum,
           tungsten and gold, as well as diamonds, cobalt, charcoal and wildlife, by armed
           groups and criminal networks supporting them, the negative impact of ar med conflict
           on protected natural areas, which undermines lasting peace and development for the
           DRC, and encourages the Government of the DRC to strengthen efforts to safeguard
           those areas, calls on member States of ICGLR and regional economic communities
           to jointly fight illegal exploitation and trade of natural resources, and encourages
           them to promote the transparent and lawful management of natural resources,
           including the adoption of government revenue targets to finance development,
           sustainable regulatory and customs frameworks, and responsible mineral sourcing
           supply chain due diligence, and recalls in this regard its resolutions 2457 (2019) and
           2389 (2017);
                  17. Notes that drivers behind different armed groups’ activities and militia
           violence are varied, internal and external, and that there is no purely military solution
           to these problems, underlines the need for tailored responses in addressing the threat
           posed by armed groups, calls on the Government of the DRC to take further action in
           this respect, combining military and non-military approaches in accordance with
           international law, including international humanitarian law and international human
           rights law, and including through tailored Disarmament, Demobilisation and
           Reintegration (DDR) of ex-combatants into civilian life and local peacebuilding
           initiatives which are sensitive to the needs and experiences of women and girls, in
           coordination and with the support of MONUSCO in accordance with its mandate;
                 18. Calls for joint operations by the FARDC and MONUSCO, that include
           joint planning and tactical cooperation, in accordance with MONUSCO’s mandate
           and the United Nations Human Rights Due Diligence Policy (HRDDP), to ensure all
           efforts possible are being made to prevent, deter and stop armed groups and stresses
           the need to carry out all operations, joint or unilateral, in strict compliance with
           international law, including international humanitarian law and international human
           rights law, as applicable;
                 19. Acknowledges the gradual implementation of the peace agreement between
           the Government of the DRC and the Force de résistance patriotique de l’Ituri (FRPI)
           and the expression of readiness by some armed groups to lay down their weapons and,
           in that regard, welcomes the Government of the DRC’s efforts to create a national
           structure for delivery and intent to pursue a new community-based national DDR
           approach as a core component of efforts to sustainably reduce the threat posed by
           armed groups and urges the Government of the DRC and its partners to urgently
           provide adequate and timely support for the DDR of eligible former combatants,
           through tailored, community-based and context specific DDR initiatives with
           sustainable economic alternatives and opportunities in order to effectively attract
           combatants willing to demobilise and transition into a peaceful civilian life, learning
           lessons from previous approaches, and ensuring that accountability and the protection
           of children’s rights are an integral part of those processes, acknowledges that the
           absence of a credible DDR process adjusted to current armed groups dynamics is
           preventing armed elements from laying down their weapons;
                20. Welcomes the preliminary commitments and actions taken by President
           Tshisekedi and his government to advance security sector reform (SSR), promote the
           consolidation of State authority, reconciliation, tolerance and democracy, encourages
           the Congolese authorities to continue the troop rotations announced by President
           Tshisekedi, and calls on the Government of the DRC to remain fully committed to
           protecting the civilian population through the swift establishment of professional,
           accountable and sustainable security forces, the deployment of an accountable
           Congolese civil administration, in particular the police, judiciary, prison and

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               territorial administration, and the consolidation of rule of law and promotion and
               protection of human rights, further calls upon the Government of the DRC to uphold
               its national commitments to SSR, including by allocating the necessary financial
               resources, and taking into account women’s full, effective and meaningful
               participation and safety, and notes with concern the limited progress in those fields
               essential for the DRC’s stabilisation to date;
                     21. Notes with concern that diversions of arms from national stockpiles
               continue to constitute a source of supply for armed groups in the DRC and calls for
               continued national efforts to address the threat posed by the illicit transfer,
               destabilising accumulation and misuse of small arms and light weapons, including
               inter alia through ensuring the safe and effective management, storage and security
               of their stockpiles of weapons and ammunition, with the continued support of
               MONUSCO, as appropriate and within existing resources;

               MONUSCO’s mandate
                    22. Decides to extend until 20 December 2021 the mandate of MONUSCO in
               the DRC, including, on an exceptional basis and without creating a precedent or any
               prejudice to the agreed principles of peacekeeping, its Intervention Brigade;
                     23. Decides that MONUSCO’s authorised troop ceiling will comprise 14,000
               military personnel, 660 military observers and staff officers, 591 police personnel,
               and 1,050 personnel of formed police units, and continues to agree to a temporary
               deployment of up to 360 personnel of formed police units provided they are deployed
               in replacement of military personnel, as proposed by the Secretary -General in his
               report S/2019/905, and invites the Secretariat to consider further reduction of
               MONUSCO’s level of military deployment and area of operations based on the
               positive evolution of the situation on the ground, in particular in the regions where
               the threat posed by armed groups is no longer significant;
                    24. Decides that the strategic priorities of MONUSCO are to contribute to the
               following objectives:
                    (a)   Protection of civilians, as described in paragraph 29(i) of this resolution;
                     (b) Support to the stabilisation and strengthening of State institutions in the
               DRC and key governance and security reforms, as described in paragraph 29(ii) of
               this resolution;
                     25. Stresses that MONUSCO’s mandate should be implemented based on a
               prioritization of tasks established in paragraphs 29 to 39 of this resolution and, in this
               regard, reaffirms that the protection of civilians must be given priority in decisions
               about the use of available capacity and resources;
                     26. Welcomes the UN Strategy for Peace Consolidation, Conflict Prevention
               and Conflict Resolution in the Great Lakes region and looks forward to an inclusive
               articulation of an action plan for its operationalisation, calls on the United Nations
               Special Envoy for the Great Lakes Region to continue his regional and international
               engagement to support the full implementation of the PSC Framework and urges
               MONUSCO to work with the Office of the Special Envoy for the Great Lakes to seek
               political solutions to stop the cross-border flows of armed combatants, arms and
               conflict minerals that threaten peace and stability in the DRC, by aligning strategies
               and conducting information-sharing and coordinating their respective reporting;
                    27. Authorises MONUSCO, in pursuit of its mandated tasks, to take all
               necessary measures to carry out its mandate and requests the Secretary-General to
               immediately inform the Security Council should MONUSCO fail to do so;

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                      28. Requests MONUSCO to ensure that any support provided to operations
                 conducted by national security forces, including in the form of rations and fuel, should
                 be only for joint operations, jointly planned and execute d, and subject to appropriate
                 oversight and scrutiny, in strict compliance with the United Nations HRDDP,
                 including by the United Nations Country Team, failing which that support should be
                 suspended;
                       29. Decides that the mandate of MONUSCO shall include the following
                 priority tasks, and that all MONUSCO’s tasks should be implemented in a manner
                 consistent with respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms:

           (i)   Protection of civilians
                       (a) Take all necessary measures to ensure effective, timely, dyna mic and
                 integrated protection of civilians under threat of physical violence within its
                 provinces of current deployment, with a specific focus on Eastern DRC whilst
                 retaining a capacity to intervene elsewhere in case of major deterioration of the
                 situation, through a comprehensive approach and in consultation with local
                 communities, including by preventing, deterring, and stopping all armed groups and
                 local militias from inflicting violence on the populations, by disarming them, and by
                 supporting and undertaking local mediation efforts to prevent escalation of violence,
                 paying particular attention to civilians gathered in displaced persons and refugee
                 camps, peaceful demonstrators, humanitarian personnel and human rights defenders,
                 in line with the basic principles of peacekeeping, while ensuring the risk to civilians
                 are mitigated before, during and after any military or police operation, including by
                 tracking, preventing, minimising and addressing civilian harm resulting from the
                 mission’s operations, including when in support of national security forces;
                       (b) Maintain a proactive deployment and a mobile, flexible and robust
                 posture, including by conducting active patrolling by foot and by vehicle, in particular
                 in high risk areas;
                       (c) Work with the Government of the DRC and humanitarian workers to
                 identify threats to civilians and implement joint prevention and response plans and
                 strengthen civil-military cooperation, to ensure the protection of civilians from abuses
                 and violations of human rights and violations of international humanitarian law,
                 including all forms of sexual and gender-based violence and violations and abuses
                 committed against children and persons with disabilities;
                       (d) Enhance its community engagement with civilians, including by the troo ps
                 and police, to raise awareness and understanding about its mandate and activities, to
                 strengthen its early warning mechanism, and to increase its efforts to monitor and
                 document violations of international humanitarian law and violations and abuses of
                 human rights, and continue and strengthen local community engagement and
                 empowerment, as well as strengthening protection of civilians through early warning
                 and response, including prevention, as appropriate, to lay out a strategy with the
                 government of the DRC containing concrete measures to build trust and
                 understanding among the population regarding MONUSCO’s efforts in the DRC and
                 to prevent disinformation campaigns aimed at undermining the mission’s credibility
                 and hindering its performance, and by ensuring mobility of the mission;
                       (e) in support of the authorities of the DRC, and on the basis of information
                 collection and analysis, carry out targeted offensive operations in the DRC to
                 neutralise armed groups and contribute to the objective of reducing the threat posed
                 by armed groups to state authority and civilian security in the DRC and to make space
                 for stabilisation activities, either unilaterally or jointly with the FARDC, through a
                 reconfigured and effective Force Intervention Brigade, as determin ed by the Force
                 Commander, with a view to enabling it to execute its mandate, that includes additional

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                combat units from additional TCCs functioning as quick reaction forces with
                appropriate training, capabilities and equipment, able to cope with asymmetri c
                warfare, which operates with unity of command of the FIB under the FIB
                Headquarters, which falls under the authority, command and control of MONUSCO
                Force Commander and with the support of the whole of MONUSCO, in a robust,
                highly mobile and versatile manner and in strict compliance with international law,
                including international humanitarian law, and with the United Nations HRDDP and
                in accordance with the standing operating procedures applicable to persons who are
                captured or who surrender, and underlines that the entire MONUSCO force, including
                the Intervention Brigade, must prioritise the implementation of its protection of
                civilians mandate;
                      (f) Work with the authorities of the DRC, leveraging the capacities and
                expertise of the UN Police, MONUSCO justice and corrections capacities including
                the UN Prosecution Support Cell, UNJHRO and other MONUSCO Justice
                components, to strengthen and support the DRC judicial system in order to investigate
                and prosecute all those allegedly responsible for genocide, w ar crimes and crimes
                against humanity and violations of international humanitarian law and violations or
                abuses of human rights in the country, including through cooperation with States of
                the region and the ICC, following the decision made by the Prosecut or of the ICC in
                June 2004 to open, following the request of the Government of the DRC, an
                investigation into alleged crimes committed in the context of armed conflict in the
                DRC since 2002;
                      (g) Provide good offices, advice and support to the Government o f the DRC
                to promote human rights, in particular civil and political rights, and to fight impunity,
                including through the implementation of the Government’s “zero tolerance policy”
                with respect to discipline and human rights and international humanitarian law
                violations, committed by elements of the security sector, and to engage and facilitate
                mediation efforts at local level to advance sustainable peace;
                      (h) Strengthen the Mission’s early warning and response mechanisms,
                including by systematically recording and analysing its rate of response and ensure
                that risks of sexual violence in conflict are included in the Mission’s data collection,
                threat analysis and early warning system;

         (ii)   Support to stabilisation and the strengthening of State institutions in the DRC,
                and key governance and security reforms, in order to establish functional,
                professional, and accountable state institutions, including security and
                judicial institutions
                Stabilisation
                     (a) Provide coordination between the Government of the DRC, international
                partners and United Nations agencies in a targeted, sequenced and coordinated
                approach to stabilisation informed by up to date conflict analysis, through the
                implementation of the International Security and Stabilisation Su pport Strategy
                (ISSSS) and adoption of a conflict-sensitive approach across the Mission;
                      (b) Provide technical advice to the Government of the DRC in the
                consolidation of an effective national civilian structure that controls key mining
                activities and manages in an equitable manner the extraction, transport, and trade of
                natural resources in eastern DRC, in coordination with the Special Envoy for the
                Great Lakes Region’s technical assistance efforts;

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           Root causes of conflict
                (c) Provide good offices and technical support, in coordination with regional
           and international partners, with a view to furthering reconciliation, democratisation
           and inclusion, addressing the root causes of conflict and promoting intercommunal
           and gender-responsive reconciliation, including through political support and
           engagement with interlocutors across the political spectrum, including the
           Government, opposition parties, local authorities, women and civil society;
                (d) Provide good offices, advice and assistance to enable the G overnment of
           the DRC to prevent, mitigate, and resolve intercommunal conflicts through, inter alia,
           mediation and community engagement, by undertaking local dialogues on community
           security, local conflict resolution, promotion of justice and reconciliation initiatives,
           and to ensure actions against armed groups are supported by civilian and police
           components as part of consolidated planning which provides a comprehensive
           response to area-based stabilisation efforts;
                 (e) Monitor, report immediately to the Security Council, and follow-up on
           human rights violations and abuses and violations of international humanitarian law
           to report on restrictions on political space and violence, including in the context of
           the elections, and support the United Nations system in-country to ensure that any
           support provided by the United Nations shall be in strict compliance with the United
           Nations human rights due diligence policy and consistent with international
           humanitarian law and human rights law and refugee law as applicable;

           Security Sector Reform (SSR)
                 (f) Provide good offices and strategic and technical advice to the Government
           of the DRC and play a role in coordinating the support provided by international and
           bilateral partners and the United Nations system, in consultation with the Government
           of DRC, particularly in North and South Kivu and Ituri provinces to:
              – accelerate national ownership of SSR by the Government of the DRC, including
                through supporting the development of a common national plan, as well as a
                clear and comprehensive SSR implementation roadmap including benchmarks
                and timelines;
              – encourage inclusive SSR which delivers security and justice to all through
                independent, accountable and functioning justice and security institutions which
                take into account women’s meaningful participation and safety, underlines in
                that regard that progress in the fight against impunity is critical for the security
                forces to no longer be perceived as a threat to civilians;
              – promote and facilitate military, police, justice and prison sector reforms to
                enhance the justice and security sector’s accountability and effectiveness; in that
                regard, provide expertise, advice and training to the Congolese security forces
                to strengthen their capacity, in particular through human rights training and
                through continued implementation of the Integrated Operational Strategy for the
                Fight Against Insecurity, developed by MONUSCO police, in compliance with
                the United Nations HRDDP;

           Disarmament, demobilisation, reintegration (DDR)
                 (g) Provide good offices, advice and assistance to the Government of the
           DRC, particularly in North and South Kivu and Ituri provinces in close cooperation
           with other international partners, for the DDR of Congolese and foreign combatants
           not suspected of genocide, war crimes, crimes against humanity or abuses of human
           rights, into a peaceful civilian life that can be complemented by a Community

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               Violence Reduction (CVR) approach through community-based security and
               stabilisation measures and a flexible disarmament and demobilisation approach,
               coordinated under the framework of the ISSSS, while paying specific attention to the
               needs of women and children formerly associated with armed forces and groups;
                     (h) Coordinate with civil society, donor partners and government officials,
               including local and provincial leaders, to support DDR efforts, especially regarding
               reintegration into civilian life;
                     (i) Provide support to the disarmament, demobilisation, repatriation,
               resettlement and reintegration (DDRRR) process to return and reintegrate foreign
               combatants not suspected of genocide, war crimes, crimes against humanity or abuses
               of human rights and their dependants to a peaceful civilian life in their country of
               origin, or a receptive third country while paying specific attention to the needs of
               women and children formerly associated with armed forces and groups;
                     (j) Advise and support the DRC authorities in the disposal of weapons and
               ammunitions of disarmed Congolese and foreign combatants in compliance with
               resolution 2424 (2018) as well as applicable international arms control treaties,
               including the Nairobi Protocol of which the DRC is signatory party and the Kinshasa
               Convention;
                     (k) Continue to collaborate with the Government of the DRC to consolidate
               the gains of the Action Plan to Prevent and End the Recruitment and Use of Children
               and expedite its implementation, including on the aspects related to Sexual Violence
               by the FARDC, and continue dialogue with all listed parties to obtain further
               commitments and work towards the development and implementation of action plans
               to prevent and end violations and abuses against children;

               Protection of the United Nations
                    30. Ensure the protection of United Nations personnel, facilities, installations
               and equipment and the security and freedom of movement of United Nations and
               associated personnel;

               Child protection
                     31. Requests MONUSCO to take fully into account child protection as a crosscutting issue throughout its mandate and to assist the Government of the DRC in
               ensuring that the protection of children’s rights is taken into account, inter alia, in
               DDR processes and in SSR as well as during interventions leading to the separation
               of children from armed groups in order to end and prevent violations and abuses
               against children, and acknowledges the crucial role of United Nations Child
               Protection Advisers deployed as a standalone capacity in MONUSCO in that regard,
               requests MONUSCO to continue to ensure the effectiveness of the monitoring and
               reporting mechanisms on children and armed conflict;

               Gender, Sexual Violence
                     32. Requests MONUSCO to take fully into account gender considerations as
               a crosscutting issue throughout its mandate and to assist the Government of the DRC
               and other relevant stakeholders in creating a legal, political and socio -economic
               environment conducive to ensuring the full, effective and meaningful par ticipation
               and full involvement and representation of women at all levels, and survivors of
               sexual and gender-based violence, for the maintenance and promotion of peace and
               security, protection of civilians, including by engaging women’s networks as partne rs
               in protection, support to DDR and SSR efforts, and support to stabilisation efforts
               through, inter alia, the provision of civilian and uniformed gender and women

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           protection advisers and focal points at headquarters and field levels, participation of
           women civil society leaders and organization members with regards to conflict
           prevention and resolution, public institutions and decision -making, requests
           MONUSCO support the government in advancing women’s political participation, in
           particular achieving the 30% constitutional quota and further requests enhanced
           reporting by MONUSCO to the Council on this issue;
                 33. Acknowledges the important role of United Nations Women Protection
           Advisers deployed in MONUSCO in supporting the Government of the DRC to
           implement its commitments on addressing sexual violence in conflict and calls on
           MONUSCO to ensure they continue to work closely with the Government of the DRC
           at both strategic and operational levels;
                34. Reiterates the urgent and imperative need to hold accountable all
           perpetrators of violations of international humanitarian law, requests MONUSCO to
           accelerate the coordinated implementation of monitoring, analysis and reporting
           arrangements on sexual violence in conflict;

           Humanitarian Access
                 35. Recalls all its relevant resolutions on the protection of humanitarian and
           medical personnel, including resolutions 2439 (2018) and 2286 (2016), and expresses
           serious concern at increased attacks on humanitarian personnel and medical
           personnel exclusively engaged in medical duties, as well as impediments to
           humanitarian access in eastern DRC, demands that all parties allow and facilitate the
           full, safe, immediate and unhindered access of humanitarian personnel, equipment
           and supplies and the timely delivery of humanitarian assistance to populations in
           need, in particular to internally displaced persons, throughout the territory of the
           DRC, in accordance with relevant provisions of international law and the
           humanitarian principles;
                 36. Calls on MONUSCO to strengthen its collaboration with humanitarian
           actors and streamline coordination mechanisms with humanitarian agencies to ensure
           information sharing and an effective response, in line with their respective mandates,
           to protection risks to the population;
                 37. Emphasises the importance of maintaining international support and
           engagement – financially, technically and in-kind – to respond rapidly to infectious
           disease outbreaks and requests all relevant parts of the United Nations System to
           effectively coordinate their activities, in accordance with their mandates and
           responsibilities, in response to Ebola, COVID-19 and other potential outbreaks and
           notes the positive role of MONUSCO in the 2018-2020 eastern DRC Ebola response
           and recognises that Ebola is one of many serious humanitarian and health challenges
           in the DRC that need sustainable solutions, including sustained strengthened
           healthcare systems to contain future epidemics;

           Sanctions regime
                 38. Requests MONUSCO to monitor the implementation of the arms embargo
           as described in paragraph 1 of resolution 2293 (2016) in cooperation with the Group
           of Experts established by resolution 1533 (2004), and in particular observe and report
           on flows of military personnel, arms or related materiel across the eastern border of
           the DRC, including by using, as specified in the letter of the Council dated 22 January
           2013 (S/2013/44), surveillance capabilities provided by unmanned aerial systems,
           seize, collect, record and dispose of arms or related materiel brought into the DRC in
           violation of the measures imposed by paragraph 1 of resolution 2293 (2016), and
           exchange relevant information with the Group of Experts;

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                     39. Expresses its full support to the United Nations Group of Experts
               established by resolution 1533 (2004), calls for enhanced cooperation between all
               States, particularly those in the region, MONUSCO and the Group of Experts,
               requests timely information exchange between MONUSCO and the Group of Experts,
               encourages all parties and all States to ensure cooperation with the Group of Experts
               by individuals and entities within their jurisdiction or under their control and
               reiterates its demand that all parties and all States ensure the safety of its members
               and its support staff, and unhindered and immediate access, in particular to persons,
               documents and sites the Group of Experts deems relevant to the execution of its
               mandate;

               Mission effectiveness
                     40. Recognises that the effective implementation of peacekeeping mandates is
               the responsibility of all stakeholders and is contingent upon several critical factors,
               including well-defined, realistic, and achievable mandates, political will, leadership,
               performance and accountability at all levels, adequate resources, policy, plannin g, and
               operational guidelines, and training and equipment;
                    41. Requests the Secretary-General, Member States, and the DRC authorities
               to continue to take all appropriate measures to review and enhance the safety and
               security of MONUSCO’s personnel, in line with resolution 2518 (2020);
                     42. Welcomes the initiatives undertaken by the Secretary-General to
               standardise a culture of performance in UN peacekeeping, recalls its requests in
               resolution 2378 (2017) and resolution 2436 (2018) that the Secretary-General ensure
               that performance data related to the effectiveness of peacekeeping operations is used
               to improve mission operations, including decisions such as those rega rding
               deployment, remediation, repatriation and incentives, and reaffirms its support for the
               development of a comprehensive and integrated performance policy framework that
               identifies clear standards of performance for evaluating all United Nations civili an
               and uniformed personnel working in and supporting peacekeeping operations that
               facilitates effective and full implementation of mandates, and includes comprehensive
               and objective methodologies based on clear and well-defined benchmarks to ensure
               accountability for underperformance and incentives and recognition for outstanding
               performance, and calls on the United Nations to apply this framework to MONUSCO,
               as described in resolution 2436 (2018), in particular by investigating and taking
               immediate action following significant performance failures to implement the
               protection of civilians strategy, to include the rotation, repatriation, replacement or
               dismissal of the under-performing MONUSCO uniformed or civilian personnel,
               including mission leadership and mission support personnel, consistent with
               resolution 2436 (2018), notes the efforts of the Secretary-General to develop a
               comprehensive performance assessment system;
                     43. Requests the Secretary-General and the troop- and police-contributing
               countries to seek to increase the number of women in MONUSCO, as well as to ensure
               the full, effective and meaningful participation of women in all aspects of operations,
               including in senior leadership positions, and to implement other relevant provisions
               of resolution 2538 (2020);
                     44. Reiterates the need to further improve the effectiveness of the Force
               Intervention Brigade to ensure effective, timely, dynamic and integrated protection of
               civilians and the neutralisation of armed groups by, inter alia, completing
               implementation of past assessments to reinvigorate the Intervention Brigade’s
               operational effectiveness, attaching additional staff officers, as deemed appropriate
               by MONUSCO Force Headquarters, and undertaking the action set out in paragraph
               29(i)(e) of this resolution and supports in this regard the Secretary-General’s efforts

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           to improve the Force Intervention Brigade’s performance, including in the light of the
           Independent assessment report on the protection of civilians and neutralization of
           Armed Groups in Beni and Mambasa territories, as appropriate and consistent with
           MONUSCO’s mandate, including through the expeditious deployment of combat units
           functioning as quick reaction forces having undergone predeployment training and
           verification in accordance with UN standards;
                 45. Requests the Secretary-General to take all possible steps, including
           through the full use of existing authorities and at his discretion, to maximise
           MONUSCO’s operational capacity and ability to discharge its mandate, with a
           specific focus on priority areas, including through enhancing MONUSCO’s
           personnel, mobility assets and capabilities for gathering timel y, reliable and
           actionable information on threats to civilians, especially the linkages between armed
           groups and local communities, while continuing to strengthen the performance of the
           Mission;
                 46. Requests MONUSCO to consider the environmental impacts of its
           operations when fulfilling its mandated tasks and, in this context, to manage them as
           appropriate and in accordance with applicable and relevant General Assembly
           resolutions and United Nations rules and regulations;
                 47. Requests the Secretary-General to continue to implement a zero-tolerance
           policy on serious misconduct, sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment,
           fraud, corruption, trafficking in natural resources or wildlife, including by making
           full use of the existing authority of the SRSG to ensure accountability of the Mission’s
           staff and through effective mission support arrangement, recalls its presidential
           statement S/PRST/2015/22 and its resolution 2272 (2016), welcomes the commitment
           of the Secretary-General to enforce strictly his zero-tolerance policy on sexual
           exploitation and abuse (SEA), further requests the Secretary-General to take all
           necessary measures to ensure full compliance of all personnel in MONUSCO, civilian
           and uniformed, including mission leadership and mission support personnel, with the
           United Nations zero-tolerance policy on sexual exploitation and abuse and to keep
           the Council fully informed through his reports to the Council about the Mission’s
           progress in this regard, stresses the need to prevent such exploitation and abuse and
           to improve how these allegations are addressed in line with resolution 2272 (2016),
           and urges T/PCCs to continue taking appropriate preventative action including vetting
           of all personnel, predeployment and in-mission awareness training, and to take
           appropriate steps to ensure full accountability in cases of such conduct involving their
           personnel, including through timely investigation of allegations by T/PCCs and
           MONUSCO as appropriate, and to take appropriate steps to investigate allegations of
           sexual exploitation and abuse, hold perpetrators accountable and repatriate units when
           there is credible evidence of widespread or systemic sexual exploitation and abuse or
           other serious misconduct by those units;

           Exit strategy
                 48. Recalls the independent strategic review and the conditions it highlights
           for a successful, gradual transition and a responsible exit of MONUSCO, in particular
           the importance of meaningful action by the people and Government of the DRC to
           address the drivers of instability and violence, the need for a whole -of-government
           transformative strategy to lay the foundations for durable peace and inclusive
           development and the importance of tangible regional cooperation initiatives, further
           recalls the assessment made by the review that an absolute minimum transition period
           of three years is required, that the achievement of this timeline would require the
           implementation of the Government of the DRC’s announced reforms to address the
           structural drivers of conflict, and that this tentative timeline would have to remain

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               flexible and to take into account the security situation based on ongo ing assessments,
               as well as the red lines set out in the review justifying a pause in the transition;
                     49. Endorses the Joint Strategy on the Progressive and Phased Drawdown of
               MONUSCO and the broad parameters of MONUSCO’s transition, as well as its
               planned withdrawals from the Kasai in 2021 and progressively from Tanganyika in
               2022, as well as the gradual consolidation of MONUSCO’s footprint in the three
               provinces where active conflict persists while pursuing its work on good offices and
               institutional strengthening at the national level as recommended by the Joint Strategy,
               including the continuation of an early warning system ;
                     50. Requests the Secretary-General to present to the Council in the third threemonth report no later than September 2021 a transition plan on the basis of the Joint
               Strategy defining the practical modalities of the transfer of tasks to the Government
               of the DRC, the UNCT and other stakeholders, including a set of detailed, measurable
               and realistic benchmarks with indicative timelines defined in partnership with the
               Government and the UNCT, roles and responsibilities, risks assessment and
               mitigation strategies, as appropriate, for the progressive and phased drawdown of
               MONUSCO;
                     51. Underscores the need to progressively transfer MONUSCO’s tasks to the
               Government of the DRC, the UNCT and other relevant stakeholders in order to enable
               the responsible and sustainable exit of MONUSCO, in this regard requests the
               establishment of a working group comprised of representatives from MONUSCO, th e
               Government of the DRC, the UNCT, to enhance coordination and planning, in liaison
               with civil society, for the transition, including the transfer of tasks, and recognises
               the important role of strategic planning officers and field -level coordinators in
               supporting these efforts, requests the Secretary-General to proceed with the gradual
               transfer of MONUSCO’s programmatic activities to the relevant partners based on
               such analysis and planning;
                    52. Stresses that MONUSCO’s activities should be conducted in su ch a
               manner as to facilitate progress towards sustainable and inclusive peace and
               development and address the root causes of conflict, to reduce the threat posed by
               domestic and foreign armed groups to a level that can be managed by the DRC’s
               security forces and enables MONUSCO’s gradual, responsible and sustainable exit,
               taking into consideration the situation on the ground, with a particular focus on
               reduction of the threat to civilians;
                     53. Stresses the importance of a comprehensive dialogue between the
               government of the DRC and MONUSCO on the progress of the political and security
               reform agenda, and on progress towards transition and in this regard calls upon the
               Government of the DRC to participate in joint working level structures to be
               established in line with paragraph 51;
                     54. Recognising the progress made by the Government of the DRC and its
               efforts to fulfil its commitments, encourages the government to swiftly address the
               following key issues in order to make the support and technical assistance of
               MONUSCO and other partners more efficient, in particular with regard to priorities
               identified by the government of the DRC and MONUSCO in the Joint Strategy:
                     (a) Appoint and empower a national mechanism to lead DRC government
               efforts on DDR programs and develop a national framework outlining key strategic,
               political, institutional, legal, coordination, financial and operational parameters for
               DDR in line with UN integrated DDR standards;
                     (b) Initiate disciplinary and judicial procedures, in accordance with the DRC
               legislation, against DRC officials who have been found to have engaged in corruption ,

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           ordered or participated in violence against civilians or engaged in commercial
           relations with armed groups;
                 (c) Initiate appropriate disciplinary and judicial procedures against
           individuals responsible for human rights violations and abuses, including crimes
           against children and sexual and gender-based violence, and work towards eliminating
           human rights violations committed by Congolese security forces;
                 (d) Devise a security sector reform plan with MONUSCO and other
           international and regional partners on ways to strengthen the capacity of national
           security forces, so that they are able to manage the security situation in areas where
           armed groups are present and active with a view towards transition;
                 (e) Develop a comprehensive stabilisation and conflict prevention strategy for
           eastern DRC with a view towards transition;
                (f) Conduct information-sharing with regional security forces to interdict
           cross-border flows of arms, combatants, and conflict minerals;

           Reports by the Secretary-General
                 55. Requests the Secretary-General to report to the Council every three months
           on the situation in the DRC, including progress towards the strengthening of State
           institutions, key governance and security reforms, and on the implementation of
           MONUSCO’s mandate, including its protection of civilian tasks, as per the
           requirements set out in paragraph 46 of resolution 2463 (2019), as well as on progress
           made towards consolidating the footprint of MONUSCO in the three provinces where
           active conflict persists and the progressive transfer of tasks to the Government of the
           DRC, the UNCT and other relevant stakeholders, including progress made towards
           satisfying the region-specific conditions outlined in the Joint Strategy for
           MONUSCO’s progressive and phased drawdown, cooperation among regional
           security forces, MONUSCO’s performance including on FIB operations, and
           information on police and force generation and the implementation of the measures
           taken to improve MONUSCO’s performance, including to ensure Force Intervention
           Brigade effectiveness as outlined in paragraphs 40 to 47, further requests the
           Secretary-General to include gender analysis in all reports to the Security Council;
                56. Requests the Secretary-General to report to the Security Council every six
           months, in coordination with the Secretary-General’s Special Envoy for the Great
           Lakes Region and the SRSG for the DRC on the implementation of the commitments
           under the PSC Framework and its linkages with the broader security situation in the
           Great Lakes Region;
                57.   Decides to remain actively seized of the matter.

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Security Council resolution 2556 (2020) [on extension of the mandate of the UN Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO) until 20 Dec. 2021]

S/75 [104] UN ORGANIZATION STABILIZATION MISSION IN THE DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO
S/75 [102] DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO SITUATION
S/ X The situation concerning the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

UN Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo|UN. Group of Experts Established pursuant to Resolution 1533 (2004)|Framework for Peace, Security and Cooperation for the Democratic Republic of the Congo and the Region (2013)|Charter of the United Nations (1945). Chapter VII|PEACEBUILDING|HUMAN RIGHTS IN ARMED CONFLICTS|PEACEKEEPING OPERATIONS|INTERNAL SECURITY|PROTECTION OF CIVILIANS IN PEACEKEEPING OPERATIONS|DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO|DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO SITUATION

Congo, The Democratic Republic of the|Congo