               United Nations                                                                   S/RES/2116 (2013)
               Security Council                                                 Distr.: General
                                                                                18 September 2013

               Resolution 2116 (2013)
               Adopted by the Security Council at its 7033rd meeting, on
               18 September 2013

                    The Security Council,
                     Recalling its resolutions and statements by its President concerning the
               situation in Liberia and the subregion, in particular its resolutions 1509 (2003), 1836
               (2008), 1885 (2009), 1938 (2010), 1971 (2011), 2008 (2011), and 2066 (2012),
               resolution 2100 (2013) on the situation in Mali, and resolution 2112 (2013) on the
               situation in Côte d’Ivoire,
                     Welcoming the Secretary-General’s report of 28 February 2013 (S/2013/124)
               and the Secretary-General’s report of 12 August 2013 (S/2013/479) and taking note
               of the recommendations contained therein,
                    Welcoming the overall progress towards restoring peace, security, and stability
               in Liberia, commending, on the tenth anniversary of the Comprehensive Peace
               Agreement, the enduring commitment of the people and Government of Liberia to
               peace and to developing democratic processes and institutions and initiating
               important reform efforts and further commending the continued efforts of the
               Government to strengthen security cooperation in the subregion, notably with the
               Governments of Guinea, Sierra Leone, and Côte d’Ivoire,
                    Recognizing that lasting stability in Liberia and the subregion will require
               well-functioning, accountable, and sustainable government institutions, including
               security and rule of law sectors,
                     Encouraging the Government of Liberia to accelerate its efforts to further
               national reconciliation and economic recovery, and to combat corruption and
               promote efficiency and good governance, in particular by continuing to strengthen
               Government transparency and accountability to manage effectively Liberia’s natural
               resources, noting with concern the potential for conflict over Liberia’s natural
               resources and disputes related to land ownership and noting that issues related to
               corruption threaten to undermine stability and the effectiveness of government
               institutions,
                    Recognizing the extension provided by the Government of Liberia to the
               Constitution Review Committee, looking forward to a comprehensive, inclusive
               constitutional review process as well as the development of the National Human
               Rights Action Plan and the implementation of the National Reconciliation Roadmap,

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               urging efforts to strengthen the Independent National Commission on Human Rights
               and calling on all Liberian stakeholders to intensify momentum towards achieving
               greater social cohesion,
                    Welcoming the contributions of the Peacebuilding Commission (PBC) to
               security sector reform (SSR), rule of law, and national reconciliation, further
               welcoming the establishment in Gbarnga of the first justice and security hub with
               the support of the United Nations Peacebuilding Fund and encouraging the
               Government of Liberia to apply the lessons learned as it prioritizes the development
               of additional hubs to extend its provision of security and other needed services
               throughout the country,
                    Expressing its appreciation for the continued assistance provided by both the
               Government and the Liberian people to Ivorian refugees in eastern Liberia and
               taking note of the progress towards their voluntary repatriation to Côte d’Ivoire,
                    Welcoming the launch of the National Vision 2030 in December 2012 and
               looking forward to it providing Liberians with a broad, participatory process to
               address the long-term political, economic, and social challenges facing the country,
                    Taking note of the effectiveness of Operation Restore Hope on Liberia’s border
               with Côte d’Ivoire conducted jointly by the Liberia National Police (LNP), the
               Bureau of Immigration and Naturalization, and the Armed Forces of Liberia and
               recognizing that the instability in western Côte d’Ivoire continues to pose crossborder security challenges for Liberia and Côte d’Ivoire,
                     Commending the work of the United Nations Mission in Liberia (UNMIL),
               under the leadership of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General (SRSG),
               for its continuing and significant contribution to maintaining peace and stability in
               Liberia, noting with satisfaction the increasing cooperation between UNMIL and the
               United Nations Operation in Côte d’Ivoire (UNOCI), noting with concern the threats
               to stability posed by insecurity, in particular those posed by transnational organized
               crime, including illicit activities such as arms trafficking, and in this regard,
               welcoming the development by UNMIL of a comprehensive strategy for the
               protection of civilians and encouraging the efforts to ensure adequate human rights
               capacity and expertise within UNMIL to carry out its human rights promotion,
               protection, and monitoring activities,
                     Affirming that the Government of Liberia bears the primary responsibility to
               reform the security sector and encouraging the Government, with the support of
               UNMIL, to demonstrate substantive progress in the reform and restructuring of the
               justice sector,
                     Commending the cooperation between, and significant efforts of, the
               Government of Liberia and UNMIL to plan, manage, and implement the first phase
               of UNMIL’s military drawdown, pursuant to its resolution 2066 (2012), noting with
               concern that the Government remains challenged to fund the continuing costs of
               deploying security personnel and resources to operate and maintain the vacated
               sites, urging the Government to intensify its efforts towards achieving progress on
               the transition of security responsibilities from UNMIL to the national authorities,
               particularly with regard to prioritizing and resourcing the critical gaps and
               improving the capacity and capability of the LNP and the Bureau of Immigration
               and Naturalization as well as the justice sector and further urging the Government to

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           redouble its efforts to register and track arms and related material used and imported
           by its security forces,
                 Recognizing the significant challenges that remain across all sectors, including
           continuing problems with violent crime, in particular the high rates of sexual and
           gender-based violence, especially involving children, recalling its resolutions 1325
           (2000), 1820 (2008), 1888 (2009), 1889 (2009), 1960 (2010) and 2106 (2013) on
           women, peace and security, welcoming the renewed efforts by the Government of
           Liberia, in coordination with UNMIL, to promote and protect the rights of civilians,
           in particular women and children, in this regard, recognizing the Government for
           signing the UN-Women’s COMMIT initiative and reaffirming the importance of
           appropriate gender expertise and training in missions mandated by the Security
           Council,
                Welcoming the efforts of the Secretary-General to keep all peacekeeping
           operations, including UNMIL, under close review and reiterating the need for the
           Security Council to pursue a rigorous, strategic approach to peacekeeping
           deployments,
                Expressing its appreciation to the international community, including the
           Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), the African Union (AU),
           the Mano River Union (MRU), and the United Nations Office for West Africa
           (UNOWA), for their continuing support to consolidate peace, security, and stability
           in Liberia and the region and taking note of the High-level Meeting on 29 June
           2013, co-chaired by the Special Representative for West Africa, President of the
           ECOWAS Commission, and Secretary-General of the MRU, to launch the process of
           developing a subregional strategy for the MRU region,
                 Determining that the situation in Liberia continues to constitute a threat to
           international peace and security in the region,
                Acting under Chapter VII of the Charter of the United Nations,
                1.  Decides that the mandate of UNMIL shall be extended until
           30 September 2014;
                2.    Emphasizes that the Government of Liberia bears primary and ultimate
           responsibility for security and the protection of its population and urges the
           Government to prioritize the effective and rapid development of the security
           agencies, including through the timely provision of sufficient financial resources
           and other support;
                3.    Reaffirms its decision that UNMIL’s primary tasks are to continue to
           support the Government in order to solidify peace and stability in Liberia and to
           protect civilians, and that UNMIL shall also support the Government’s efforts, as
           appropriate, to achieve a successful transition of complete security responsibility to
           the LNP by strengthening the LNP’s capabilities to manage existing personnel,
           improve training programmes to expedite their readiness to assume security
           responsibilities, and coordinate these efforts with all partners, including the
           Government of Liberia, the national police leadership, and donor partners;
                 4.   Recalls its endorsement, in its resolution 2066 (2012), of the Secretary-General’s recommendation to decrease UNMIL’s military strength by four infantry
           battalions and related enablers in three phases between August 2012 and July 2015,
           leaving UNMIL’s military strength at approximately 3,750 personnel, by July 2015,

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               subject to and consistent with conditions in the area of operations, and in that
               respect, authorizes the Secretary-General to implement the second phase reducing
               the military component by 1,129 personnel between October 2013 and September
               2014;
                   5.   Decides to maintain the current authorized strength of UNMIL’s police
               component at 1,795 personnel, including 10 formed police units;
                    6.    Emphasizes that future reconfigurations of UNMIL should be determined
               on the basis of the evolution of the situation on the ground and on the achievement
               of an improved capacity of the Government of Liberia to effectively protect the
               population through the establishment of sustainable and effective security forces and
               by reform of the justice sector, including courts and prisons, with a view to
               progressively take over UNMIL’s security role;
                     7.   Encourages the Government of Liberia and UNMIL to accelerate
               progress in the transition planning process and to identify and address the critical
               gaps to facilitate a successful transition, including by prioritizing tasks, to include
               promotion of human rights and reconciliation, assessment of security challenges
               inclusive of the border, strengthening of democratic institutions and extension of
               state authority and services throughout the country, requests the Secretary-General
               to conduct an analysis focused on identifying the comparative advantages of
               UNMIL and the United Nations Country Team (UNCT) and to report to the Security
               Council in his final report on its findings and expresses its intention to request the
               Secretary-General to deploy a technical assessment mission to Liberia by the end of
               2014, soon after the conclusion of the October 2014 senatorial elections, that should
               focus on the security transition, including detailed options and timelines for the
               further transition of UNMIL after it completes its current reconfiguration by July
               2015 and to report to the Security Council no later than March 2015 on its findings;
                     8.    Requests the Secretary-General to ensure that UNMIL has the requisite
               qualified specialist advisers with the professional skills and experience appropriate
               to this transition phase in order to enhance mentoring with the aim of increasing the
               capacity of the Government, particularly the LNP, to accelerate the implementation
               of sustainable rule of law, justice, governance and SSR programmes, including
               mechanisms to hold perpetrators of sexual and gender-based violence accountable;
                     9.    Emphasizes that long-term stability will require the Government of
               Liberia to develop and sustain a self-sufficient, capable, and competent security
               sector to build the confidence of all Liberians, and in this regard, calls upon
               UNMIL, consistent with its mandate, to continue to make the appropriate internal
               adjustments and, at the request of the Government of Liberia, to support the people
               and the Government in advancing the identified priorities, including national
               reconciliation, constitutional reform, and decentralization while enhancing its
               support for security sector and rule of law reforms and encourages the Government
               of Liberia to enhance the respect for human rights, the professionalism, and the
               effective oversight and accountability of its security sector and to intensify its
               efforts to further national reconciliation;
                     10. Expresses its concern that women and girls in Liberia continue to face a
               high incidence of sexual and gender-based violence, reiterates its call on the
               Government of Liberia to continue to combat sexual violence, particularly against
               children, and gender-based violence, and in coordination with UNMIL, to continue

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           to combat impunity for perpetrators of such crimes and to provide redress, support,
           and protection to victims, including through public information campaigns and by
           continuing to strengthen national police capacity in this area and to raise awareness
           of existing national legislation on sexual violence and encourages the Government
           of Liberia to reinforce its commitment in this regard, including by funding the
           implementation of its national action plan on sexual and gender-based violence and
           improving women’s and girls’ access to justice;
                 11. Encourages UNMIL to continue to ensure regular interaction with the
           civilian population to raise awareness and understanding of its mandate and
           activities, within existing capabilities;
                 12. Calls on the Government of Liberia, with support from UNMIL, within
           existing capabilities, the UNCT and international partners, to continue to support the
           participation of women in conflict prevention, conflict resolution and peacebuilding,
           including in decision-making roles in post-conflict governance institutions and the
           broad range of reform efforts;
                 13. Calls on the Governments of Côte d’Ivoire and Liberia, including with
           the support of UNOCI and UNMIL and the two United Nations country teams, to
           further enhance their cooperation, particularly with respect to the border area,
           including through increasing monitoring, information sharing, and conducting
           coordinated actions, and in developing and implementing a shared border strategy to
           inter alia support the disarmament and repatriation of foreign armed elements on
           both sides of the border and the voluntary return of refugees in safety and dignity;
                 14. Reaffirms the inter-mission cooperation arrangements provided for in its
           resolutions 1609 (2005) and 2100 (2013), consistent with the conditions outlined
           therein, and calls upon the United Nations in Côte d’Ivoire and Liberia, including
           all components of UNOCI and UNMIL, within their respective mandates,
           capabilities and areas of deployment, to enhance their inter mission cooperation for
           the stabilization of the border area, including through the development of a shared,
           strategic vision and plan, in support of the Ivorian and Liberian authorities;
                 15. Takes note of the transfer of three armed helicopters from UNMIL to
           UNOCI, to be used in both Côte d’Ivoire and Liberia, along and across their border,
           and the transfer of four armoured personnel carriers and affirms the importance of
           inter-mission cooperation arrangements as UNMIL and UNOCI downsize;
                 16. Calls upon the donor community to continue to support the Government
           of Liberia, as well as the relevant United Nations agencies and other humanitarian
           actors, as appropriate, in their response to the Ivorian refugees still present in
           Liberia;
                17. Emphasizes the need for coherence between, and integration of,
           peacekeeping, peacebuilding, and development to achieve an effective response to
           post-conflict situations, requests the Secretary-General, in conjunction with the
           UNCT and international partners, to continue to coordinate and collaborate with the
           PBC, calls for the continued development and timely completion of the justice and
           security hubs, taking into account lessons learned with requisite full staffing to
           make these hubs fully operational, to contribute to improved access to justice and
           security services throughout Liberia and encourages the PBC, following close
           consultation with the Government of Liberia, to continue to report on the findings of

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               its missions and its recommendations on how it can accelerate progress on SSR, rule
               of law and national reconciliation;
                     18. Underscores the importance that the military concept of operations and
               rules of engagement be regularly updated and be fully in line with the provisions of
               this resolution and requests the Secretary-General to report on them to the Security
               Council and troop-contributing countries;
                     19. Further underscores the importance for the Government of Liberia, in
               coordination with UNMIL, the UNCT and international partners, to continue to
               develop national security and rule of law institutions that are fully and
               independently operational, and to this end encourages accelerated coordinated
               progress on the development and implementation of the Security and Justice
               Development Plans and the National Human Rights Action Plan and further
               encourages the effective and efficient management of assistance, including from
               bilateral and multilateral partners, to support the efforts of the Government to
               reform the justice and security sectors;
                     20. Encourages ECOWAS and the MRU to develop, with the support of
               UNOWA, and with the assistance of UNOCI and UNMIL, as appropriate, a
               subregional strategy to address the threat of the cross-border movement of armed
               groups and weapons and illicit trafficking and requests the Secretary-General to
               provide regular updates on progress towards the development of such a subregional
               strategy;
                     21. Requests the Secretary-General to keep it regularly informed of the
               situation on the ground as UNMIL continues its reconfiguration, progress towards
               achieving the transitional benchmarks, refinement of a transition plan with the
               Government of Liberia, inclusive of the priority elements in paragraphs 3, 7, 8, 9
               above, and the inter-mission cooperation arrangements between UNMIL and
               UNOCI, and to provide to it a midterm report no later than 28 February 2014 and a
               final report no later than 15 August 2014 on the implementation of this resolution;
                    22.   Decides to remain seized of the matter.

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Security Council resolution 2116 (2013) [on extension of the mandate of the UN Mission in Liberia (UNMIL) until 30 Sept. 2014]

UN Mission in Liberia|UN Operation in Côte d'Ivoire|UN. Peacebuilding Commission|Charter of the United Nations (1945). Chapter VII|PEACEKEEPING OPERATIONS|PEACEBUILDING|LIBERIA|POLICE|MILITARY PERSONNEL|SECURITY SECTOR REFORM|TECHNICAL FIELD ADVISERS|GENDER-BASED VIOLENCE|COUNTRY TEAMS|COOPERATION BETWEEN ORGANIZATIONS|RULE OF LAW|RECONCILIATION|BOUNDARIES|CÔTE D'IVOIRE|REGIONAL SECURITY|LIBERIA SITUATION

S/68 [90] UN MISSION IN LIBERIA
S/68 [89] LIBERIA SITUATION


               United Nations                                                                 S/RES/2117 (2013)
               Security Council                                               Distr.: General
                                                                              26 September 2013

               Resolution 2117 (2013)
               Adopted by the Security Council at its 7036th meeting, on
               26 September 2013

                    The Security Council,
                     Recalling its primary responsibility under the Charter of the United Nations
               for the maintenance of international peace and security, and noting the significance
               of small arms and light weapons as the most frequently used weapons in the
               majority of recent armed conflicts,
                      Recalling the statements of its President of 19 March 2010 (S/PRST/2010/6),
               of 14 January 2009 (S/PRST/2009/1), of 29 June 2007 (S/PRST/2007/24), of
               17 February 2005 (S/PRST/2005/7), of 19 January 2004 (S/PRST/2004/1), of
               31 October 2002 (S/PRST/2002/30), of 31 August 2001 (S/PRST/2001/21) and of
               24 September 1999 (S/PRST/1999/28), as well as other relevant resolutions of the
               Council, including that of 16 September 1998 (S/RES/1196 (1998)) and statements
               of its President related to small arms and light weapons,
                     Emphasizing that the right of individual and collective self-defence recognized
               in Article 51 of the Charter of the United Nations and the legitimate security
               demands of all countries should be fully taken into account, and recognizing that
               small arms and light weapons are traded, manufactured and retained by States for
               legitimate security, sporting and commercial considerations,
                     Gravely concerned that the illicit transfer, destabilizing accumulation and
               misuse of small arms and light weapons in many regions of the world continue to
               pose threats to international peace and security, cause significant loss of life,
               contribute to instability and insecurity and continue to undermine the effectiveness
               of the Security Council in discharging its primary responsibility for the maintenance
               of international peace and security,
                    Recognizing that threats arising from the illicit transfer, destabilizing
               accumulation and misuse of small arms and light weapons may vary according to
               national, regional and subregional circumstances and encouraging responses that
               address prevailing needs and challenges,
                     Recognizing the importance of capacity-building to address threats arising
               from the illicit transfer, destabilizing accumulation and misuse of small arms and
               light weapons, especially in Africa, welcoming efforts that have been made by

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               States, international, regional and subregional organizations to tackle this scourge,
               and strongly encouraging support for such efforts,
                     Emphasizing the importance of assisting Member States as well as,
               intergovernmental, regional and subregional organizations in capacity-building to
               prevent and address the illicit transfer, destabilizing accumulation and misuse of
               small arms and light weapons,
                     Recalling with concern the close connection between international terrorism,
               transnational organized crime, drugs trafficking, money-laundering, other illicit
               financial transactions, illicit brokering in small arms and light weapons and arms
               trafficking, and the link between the illegal exploitation of natural resources, illicit
               trade in such resources and the proliferation and trafficking of arms as a major
               factor fuelling and exacerbating many conflicts,
                     Expressing concern at the continuing threats posed by the illicit transfer,
               destabilizing accumulation and misuse of small arms and light weapons to the safety
               and security of United Nations peacekeepers and their effectiveness in implementing
               peacekeeping mandates, and to the safety and security of humanitarian workers and
               their effective provision of humanitarian assistance,
                     Recalling with grave concern that the illicit transfer, destabilizing
               accumulation and misuse of small arms and light weapons fuel armed conflicts and
               have a wide range of negative human rights, humanitarian, development and
               socioeconomic consequences, in particular on the security of civilians in armed
               conflict, including the disproportionate impact on violence perpetrated against
               women and girls, and exacerbating sexual and gender-based violence and the
               recruitment and use of children by parties to armed conflict in violation of
               applicable international law,
                    Noting that this resolution focuses on the illicit transfer, destabilizing
               accumulation and misuse of small arms and light weapons, including in respect of
               Council-mandated arms embargoes,
                     Acknowledging the important contribution of Council-mandated arms
               embargoes in countering the illicit transfer of small arms and light weapons,
               mitigating the intensity of conflict and creating conditions conducive to the peaceful
               resolution of situations that threaten or breach international peace and security, and
               acknowledging also the contribution Council-mandated arms embargoes make in
               supporting conflict prevention, post-conflict peacebuilding, disarmament,
               demobilization and reintegration and security sector reform,
                     Recognizing the value of effective physical security and management of
               stockpiles of small arms, light weapons and ammunition as an important means to
               prevent the illicit transfer, destabilizing accumulation and misuse of small arms and
               light weapons, in accordance with global and regional standards, including through
               the application of voluntary guidelines, such as the International Ammunition
               Technical Guidelines (IATG) developed under the UN SaferGuard programme, and
               the International Small Arms Control Standards (ISACS) in arms and ammunition
               stockpile management practices,
                    Emphasizing the importance of addressing the illicit transfer, destabilizing
               accumulation and misuse of small arms and light weapons in conflict prevention and
               post-conflict peacebuilding, and in this context, stressing the importance of

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           comprehensive international, regional and national approaches to disarmament,
           demobilization and reintegration that integrates political, social, economic,
           development and security aspects, and provides for the special needs of children and
           women, and women’s full and effective participation in all efforts for the
           maintenance and promotion of peace and security, in line with UNSCR 1325
           (S/RES/1325 (2000)),
                 Underlining the responsibility of States to prevent threats posed by the illicit
           transfer, destabilizing accumulation and misuse of small arms and light weapons to
           international peace and security, and the devastating impact on civilians in armed
           conflict,
                Recognizing that the misuse of small arms and light weapons has resulted in
           grave crimes and reaffirming therefore the relevant provisions of the 2005 World
           Summit Outcome Document regarding the protection of civilians in armed conflict,
           including paragraphs 138 and 139 thereof regarding the responsibility to protect
           populations from genocide, war crimes, ethnic cleansing and crimes against
           humanity,
                 Noting with appreciation the efforts made by Member States,
           intergovernmental, regional and subregional organizations in addressing threats to
           international peace and security posed by the illicit transfer, destabilizing
           accumulation and misuse of small arms and light weapons, and noting the
           significant role of civil society in supporting such efforts,
                Underlining in this regard the importance of cooperation, coordination and
           information-sharing among actors in addressing threats to international peace and
           security posed by the illicit transfer, destabilizing accumulation and misuse of small
           arms and light weapons,
                Recognizing the significance and central role of the United Nations
           Convention against Transnational Organized Crime and its Protocols, including the
           Protocol against the Illicit Manufacturing of and Trafficking in Firearms, Their Parts
           and Components and Ammunition; the Programme of Action to Prevent, Combat
           and Eradicate the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in All Its Aspects;
           and the International Instrument to Enable States to Identify and Trace, in a Timely
           and Reliable Manner, Illicit Small Arms and Light Weapons, as crucial instruments
           in countering the illicit transfer, destabilizing accumulation and misuse of small
           arms and light weapons,
                 Acknowledging the adoption of the Arms Trade Treaty, taking note of the
           signature and ratification of the Treaty by some States, and looking forward to the
           important contribution it can make to international and regional peace, security and
           stability, reducing human suffering and promoting cooperation,
                 Welcoming the increased cooperation between the United Nations and
           INTERPOL, including the 2009 Supplementary Agreement between INTERPOL and
           the United Nations Department of Peacekeeping Operations, as well as individual
           agreements between INTERPOL and Council Sanctions Committees, which provide
           better optional tools including, those for weapons identification and information
           sharing, for the United Nations and Member States to implement Council-mandated
           arms embargoes more effectively,

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                     Welcoming the Secretary-General’s report to the Council of 22 August 2013
               entitled “Small Arms” (S/2013/503),
                     Being determined to continue to take practical steps to prevent the illicit
               transfer, destabilizing accumulation and misuse of small arms and light weapons,
               including in support of other ongoing efforts and processes,
                     1.   Welcomes efforts made by Member States, regional and subregional
               organizations in addressing the illicit transfer, destabilizing accumulation and
               misuse of small arms and light weapons, and encourages the establishment or
               strengthening, where appropriate, of subregional and regional cooperation,
               coordination and information sharing mechanisms, in particular, transborder
               customs cooperation and networks for information-sharing, with a view to
               preventing, combating, and eradicating illicit transfer, destabilizing accumulation
               and misuse of small arms and light weapons;
                     2.   Reminds Member States of their obligation to fully and effectively
               comply with Council-mandated arms embargoes and to take appropriate measures,
               including all legal and administrative means against any activity that violates such
               arms embargoes, and including, in accordance with relevant Council resolutions,
               through cooperating with all relevant United Nations entities; by making available
               to relevant sanctions committees all pertinent information on any alleged violations
               of arms embargoes; by acting on credible information to prevent the supply, sale,
               transfer or export of small arms and light weapons in contravention of Councilmandated arms embargoes; by facilitating unhindered access by relevant Councilmandated personnel in accordance with Council mandates; and by applying relevant
               international standards such as the International Tracing Instrument;
                     3.   Calls on Member States subject to Council-mandated arms embargoes to
               implement and enforce the embargo, including by, as mandated, avoiding diversion
               of state owned or controlled weapons by enhancing small arms and light weapon
               stockpile security, accountability and management; improving the monitoring of
               small arms and light weapons that are supplied in accordance with exemptions to
               arms embargoes; and ensuring that seized, confiscated or surrendered small arms,
               light weapons and ammunition are recorded and disposed of in an appropriate
               manner, and by implementing national weapons marking programmes in accordance
               with the International Tracing Instrument;
                    4.    Reiterates that United Nations peacekeeping operations and other
               relevant Council-mandated entities, located in a Member State or region with a
               Council-mandated arms embargo, may, if deemed necessary by the Council, assist
               with appropriate expertise the host government, relevant sanctions committee and
               relevant experts group, with the implementation and compliance monitoring of that
               arms embargo;
                     5.   Reiterates that such peacekeeping operations and relevant Councilmandated entities may, if deemed necessary by the Council, assist in capacitybuilding for host governments, as requested, to implement commitments under
               existing global and regional instruments and to address the illicit trafficking of small
               arms and light weapons, including inter alia through weapons collection,
               disarmament, demobilization, and reintegration programmes, enhancing physical
               security and stockpile management practices, record keeping and tracing capacities,

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           development of national export and import control systems, enhancement of border
           security, and strengthening judicial institutions and law enforcement capacity;
                 6.   Reaffirms its responsibility to monitor the implementation of Councilmandated arms embargoes and reaffirms its intention to take appropriate measures,
           when needed, to strengthen arms embargo monitoring mechanisms including inter
           alia through assigning dedicated staff or monitoring units to relevant United Nations
           Missions to effectively monitor arms embargoes;
                  7.   Encourages information-sharing between groups of experts,
           peacekeeping missions within their mandates and other relevant United Nations
           entities on possible arms embargo violations, including on illicit arms transfers,
           illicit brokering in small arms and light weapons, illicit financial activities,
           suspected traffickers and trafficking routes;
                8.   Requests the Secretary-General to direct that any relevant United Nations
           agencies operating in a State or region in relation to which the Council maintains an
           arms embargo provide the utmost assistance to the work of relevant sanctions
           committees, experts groups, peacekeeping operations and other relevant United
           Nations entities in the implementation and compliance monitoring of that arms
           embargo;
                9.    Reaffirms its decision that States shall eliminate the supply of weapons,
           including small arms and light weapons, to terrorists, as well as its calls for States to
           find ways of intensifying and accelerating the exchange of operational information
           regarding traffic in arms, and to enhance coordination of efforts on national,
           subregional, regional and international levels;
                  10. Urges      Member      States,  relevant   United     Nations     entities,
           intergovernmental, regional and subregional organizations, in a position to do so and
           where appropriate, to cooperate and share information on suspected traffickers and
           trafficking routes, suspect financial transactions and brokering activities for, or
           diversions of, small arms or light weapons, and other information relevant to the
           illicit transfer, destabilizing accumulation or misuse of small arms and light
           weapons, with potentially affected States and with relevant United Nations entities,
           including experts groups assisting sanctions committees and peacekeeping
           operations;
                11. Calls for Member States to support weapons collection, disarmament,
           demobilization and reintegration of ex-combatants, as well as physical security and
           stockpile management programmes by United Nations peacekeeping operations
           where so mandated;
                 12. Urges Member States, United Nations entities, intergovernmental,
           regional and subregional organizations, to take further measures to facilitate
           women’s full and meaningful participation in all policymaking, planning and
           implementation processes to combat and eradicate the illicit transfer, destabilizing
           accumulation and misuse of small arms and light weapons in all its aspects and calls
           upon, in this regard, all those involved in the planning for disarmament,
           demobilization and reintegration and justice and security sector reform efforts to
           take into account the particular needs of women and children associated with armed
           forces and armed groups, with the participation of women, and to provide for their
           full access to these programmes inter alia, through consultation with civil society,
           including women’s organizations, as appropriate;

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                     13. Bearing in mind that the illicit transfer, destabilizing accumulation and
               misuse of small arms and light weapons fuel conflict and impact on the protection of
               civilians, reiterates its demand that all parties to armed conflict comply strictly with
               the obligations applicable to them under international humanitarian, human rights
               law and refugee law, and stresses the need for parties to take all required measures
               to avoid civilian casualties, respect and protect the civilian population;
                     14. Calls on parties to armed conflict, in this regard, to comply with
               obligations under international humanitarian law to respect and protect humanitarian
               personnel, facilities and relief consignments, and to take measures to eradicate the
               negative impact of the illicit transfer, destabilizing accumulation and misuse of
               small arms and light weapons on humanitarian actors, and take all required steps to
               facilitate the safe, rapid and unimpeded passage of relief consignments, equipment
               and personnel;
                      15. Encourages Member States and intergovernmental, regional and
               subregional organizations in a position to do so to render assistance upon request in
               securing government stockpiles of small arms and light weapons, particularly
               through training in physical security and stockpile management and disposition of
               illicit or poorly secured small arms and light weapons in an appropriate manner in
               light of the important role that international assistance can play in supporting and
               facilitating efforts at the local, national, regional and global levels to prevent and
               address the illicit transfer, destabilizing accumulation or misuse of small arms and
               light weapons;
                     16. Encourages the Secretary-General and Heads of intergovernmental,
               regional and subregional organizations to continue their efforts to strengthen their
               cooperation in addressing small arms and light weapons-related threats to
               international peace and security;
                     17. Encourages all Member States that have not yet done so to accede to and
               implement the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime
               and its Protocols, including the Protocol against the Illicit Manufacturing of and
               Trafficking in Firearms, Their Parts and Components and Ammunitions;
                     18. Stresses the need for full and effective implementation by States at the
               national, regional and international levels, of the United Nations Programme of
               Action to Prevent, Combat and Eradicate the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light
               Weapons in All Its Aspects and the International Instrument to Enable States to
               Identify and Trace, in a Timely Manner, Illicit Small Arms and Light Weapons, in
               particular, paying special attention to applying measures contained therein on the
               prevention of the diversion of small arms and light weapons, in order to make real
               progress in preventing, combating and eradicating the illicit trade in small arms and
               light weapons;
                     19. Urges States to consider signing and ratifying the Arms Trade Treaty as
               soon as possible and encourages States, intergovernmental, regional and subregional
               organizations that are in a position to do so to render assistance in capacity-building
               to enable States Parties to fulfil and implement the Treaty’s obligations;
                    20. Requests the Secretary-General to continue to submit to the Council on a
               biennial basis a report on small arms and light weapons, including on the
               implementation of this resolution, and affirms its intention to consider the report in
               a timely manner;
                    21.   Decides to remain seized of the matter.

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Security Council resolution 2117 (2013) [on small arms]

Arms Trade Treaty (2013)|International Instrument to Enable States to Identify and Trace, in a Timely and Reliable Manner, Illicit Small Arms and Light Weapons (2005)|Programme of Action to Prevent, Combat and Eradicate the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in All Its Aspects (2001)|SMALL ARMS|ILLICIT ARMS TRAFFICKING|SANCTIONS COMPLIANCE|STOCKPILE MANAGEMENT|TECHNICAL COOPERATION|ARMS EMBARGO


               United Nations                                                                S/RES/2118 (2013)
               Security Council                                              Distr.: General
                                                                             27 September 2013

               Resolution 2118 (2013)
               Adopted by the Security Council at its 7038th meeting, on
               27 September 2013

                    The Security Council,
                    Recalling the Statements of its President of 3 August 2011, 21 March 2012,
               5 April 2012, and its resolutions 1540 (2004), 2042 (2012) and 2043 (2012),
                     Reaffirming its strong commitment to the sovereignty, independence and
               territorial integrity of the Syrian Arab Republic,
                     Reaffirming that the proliferation of chemical weapons, as well as their means
               of delivery, constitutes a threat to international peace and security,
                    Recalling that the Syrian Arab Republic on 22 November 1968 acceded to the
               Protocol for the Prohibition of the Use in War of Asphyxiating, Poisonous or Other
               Gases and of Bacteriological Methods of Warfare, signed at Geneva on 17 June
               1925,
                    Noting that on 14 September 2013, the Syrian Arab Republic deposited with
               the Secretary-General its instrument of accession to the Convention on the
               Prohibition of the Development, Production, Stockpiling and Use of Chemical
               Weapons and on their Destruction (Convention) and declared that it shall comply
               with its stipulations and observe them faithfully and sincerely, applying the
               Convention provisionally pending its entry into force for the Syrian Arab Republic,
                    Welcoming the establishment by the Secretary-General of the United Nations
               Mission to Investigate Allegations of the Use of Chemical Weapons in the Syrian
               Arab Republic (the Mission) pursuant to General Assembly resolution 42/37 C
               (1987) of 30 November 1987, and reaffirmed by resolution 620 (1988) of 26 August
               1988, and expressing appreciation for the work of the Mission,
                     Acknowledging the report of 16 September 2013 (S/2013/553) by the Mission,
               underscoring the need for the Mission to fulfil its mandate, and emphasizing that
               future credible allegations of chemical weapons use in the Syrian Arab Republic
               should be investigated,
                     Deeply outraged by the use of chemical weapons on 21 August 2013 in Rif
               Damascus, as concluded in the Mission’s report, condemning the killing of civilians
               that resulted from it, affirming that the use of chemical weapons constitutes a

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               serious violation of international law, and stressing that those responsible for any
               use of chemical weapons must be held accountable,
                     Recalling the obligation under resolution 1540 (2004) that all States shall
               refrain from providing any form of support to non-State actors that attempt to
               develop, acquire, manufacture, possess, transport, transfer or use weapons of mass
               destruction, including chemical weapons, and their means of delivery,
                     Welcoming the Framework for Elimination of Syrian Chemical Weapons dated
               14 September 2013, in Geneva, between the Russian Federation and the United
               States of America (S/2013/565), with a view to ensuring the destruction of the
               Syrian Arab Republic’s chemical weapons program in the soonest and safest
               manner, and expressing its commitment to the immediate international control over
               chemical weapons and their components in the Syrian Arab Republic,
                    Welcoming the decision of the Executive Council of the Organization for the
               Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) of 27 September 2013 establishing
               special procedures for the expeditious destruction of the Syrian Arab Republic’s
               chemical weapons program and stringent verification thereof, and expressing its
               determination to ensure the destruction of the Syrian Arab Republic’s chemical
               weapons program according to the timetable contained in the OPCW Executive
               Council decision of 27 September 2013,
                     Stressing that the only solution to the current crisis in the Syrian Arab
               Republic is through an inclusive and Syrian-led political process based on the
               Geneva Communiqué of 30 June 2012, and emphasising the need to convene the
               international conference on Syria as soon as possible,
                    Determining that the use of chemical weapons in the Syrian Arab Republic
               constitutes a threat to international peace and security,
                     Underscoring that Member States are obligated under Article 25 of the Charter
               of the United Nations to accept and carry out the Council's decisions,
                     1.    Determines that the use of chemical weapons anywhere constitutes a
               threat to international peace and security;
                     2.   Condemns in the strongest terms any use of chemical weapons in the
               Syrian Arab Republic, in particular the attack on 21 August 2013, in violation of
               international law;
                    3.   Endorses the decision of the OPCW Executive Council 27 September
               2013, which contains special procedures for the expeditious destruction of the
               Syrian Arab Republic’s chemical weapons program and stringent verification
               thereof and calls for its full implementation in the most expedient and safest
               manner;
                     4.    Decides that the Syrian Arab Republic shall not use, develop, produce,
               otherwise acquire, stockpile or retain chemical weapons, or transfer, directly or
               indirectly, chemical weapons to other States or non-State actors;
                    5.     Underscores that no party in Syria should use, develop, produce, acquire,
               stockpile, retain, or transfer chemical weapons;
                     6.   Decides that the Syrian Arab Republic shall comply with all aspects of
               the decision of the OPCW Executive Council of 27 September 2013 (Annex I);

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                 7.    Decides that the Syrian Arab Republic shall cooperate fully with the
           OPCW and the United Nations, including by complying with their relevant
           recommendations, by accepting personnel designated by the OPCW or the United
           Nations, by providing for and ensuring the security of activities undertaken by these
           personnel, by providing these personnel with immediate and unfettered access to
           and the right to inspect, in discharging their functions, any and all sites, and by
           allowing immediate and unfettered access to individuals that the OPCW has grounds
           to believe to be of importance for the purpose of its mandate, and decides that all
           parties in Syria shall cooperate fully in this regard;
                 8.   Decides to authorize an advance team of United Nations personnel to
           provide early assistance to OPCW activities in Syria, requests the Director-General
           of the OPCW and the Secretary-General to closely cooperate in the implementation
           of the Executive Council decision of 27 September 2013 and this resolution,
           including through their operational activities on the ground, and further requests the
           Secretary-General, in consultation with the Director-General of the OPCW and,
           where appropriate, the Director-General of the World Health Organization, to submit
           to the Council within 10 days of the adoption of this resolution recommendations
           regarding the role of the United Nations in eliminating the Syrian Arab Republic’s
           chemical weapons program;
                 9.   Notes that the Syrian Arab Republic is a party to the Convention on the
           Privileges and Immunities of the United Nations, decides that OPCW-designated
           personnel undertaking activities provided for in this resolution or the decision of the
           OPCW Executive Council of 27 September 2013 shall enjoy the privileges and
           immunities contained in the Verification Annex, Part II(B) of the Chemical Weapons
           Convention, and calls on the Syrian Arab Republic to conclude modalities
           agreements with the United Nations and the OPCW;
                 10. Encourages Member States to provide support, including personnel,
           technical expertise, information, equipment, and financial and other resources and
           assistance, in coordination with the Director-General of the OPCW and the
           Secretary-General, to enable the OPCW and the United Nations to implement the
           elimination of the Syrian Arab Republic’s chemical weapons program, and decides
           to authorize Member States to acquire, control, transport, transfer and destroy
           chemical weapons identified by the Director-General of the OPCW, consistent with
           the objective of the Chemical Weapons Convention, to ensure the elimination of the
           Syrian Arab Republic’s chemical weapons program in the soonest and safest
           manner;
                11. Urges all Syrian parties and interested Member States with relevant
           capabilities to work closely together and with the OPCW and the United Nations to
           arrange for the security of the monitoring and destruction mission, recognizing the
           primary responsibility of the Syrian government in this regard;
                 12. Decides to review on a regular basis the implementation in the Syrian
           Arab Republic of the decision of the OPCW Executive Council of 27 September
           2013 and this resolution, and requests the Director-General of the OPCW to report
           to the Security Council, through the Secretary-General, who shall include relevant
           information on United Nations activities related to the implementation of this
           resolution, within 30 days and every month thereafter, and requests further the
           Director-General of the OPCW and the Secretary-General to report in a coordinated

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               manner, as needed, to the Security Council, non-compliance with this resolution or
               the OPCW Executive Council decision of 27 September 2013;
                     13. Reaffirms its readiness to consider promptly any reports of the OPCW
               under Article VIII of the Chemical Weapons Convention, which provides for the
               referral of cases of non-compliance to the United Nations Security Council;
                    14. Decides that Member States shall inform immediately the Security Council
               of any violation of resolution 1540 (2004), including acquisition by non-State actors
               of chemical weapons, their means of delivery and related materials in order to take
               necessary measures therefore;
                    15. Expresses its strong conviction that those individuals responsible for the
               use of chemical weapons in the Syrian Arab Republic should be held accountable;
                     16. Endorses fully the Geneva Communiqué of 30 June 2012 (Annex II),
               which sets out a number of key steps beginning with the establishment of a
               transitional governing body exercising full executive powers, which could include
               members of the present Government and the opposition and other groups and shall
               be formed on the basis of mutual consent;
                    17. Calls for the convening, as soon as possible, of an international
               conference on Syria to implement the Geneva Communiqué, and calls upon all
               Syrian parties to engage seriously and constructively at the Geneva Conference on
               Syria, and underscores that they should be fully representative of the Syrian people
               and committed to the implementation of the Geneva Communiqué and to the
               achievement of stability and reconciliation;
                     18. Reaffirms that all Member States shall refrain from providing any form of
               support to non-State actors that attempt to develop, acquire, manufacture, possess,
               transport, transfer or use nuclear, chemical or biological weapons and their means of
               delivery, and calls upon all Member States, in particular Member States
               neighbouring the Syrian Arab Republic, to report any violations of this paragraph to
               the Security Council immediately;
                    19. Demands that non-State actors not develop, acquire, manufacture,
               possess, transport, transfer, or use nuclear, chemical or biological weapons and their
               means of delivery, and calls upon all Member States, in particular Member States
               neighbouring the Syrian Arab Republic, to report any actions inconsistent with this
               paragraph to the Security Council immediately;
                    20. Decides that all Member States shall prohibit the procurement of
               chemical weapons, related equipment, goods and technology or assistance from the
               Syrian Arab Republic by their nationals, or using their flagged vessels or aircraft,
               whether or not originating in the territory of the Syrian Arab Republic;
                    21. Decides, in the event of non-compliance with this resolution, including
               unauthorized transfer of chemical weapons, or any use of chemical weapons by
               anyone in the Syrian Arab Republic, to impose measures under Chapter VII of the
               United Nations Charter;
                    22.   Decides to remain actively seized of the matter.

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Annex I
           OPCW Executive Council Decision
           Decision on destruction of Syrian chemical weapons

           The Executive Council,
           Recalling that following its Thirty-Second Meeting, 27 March 2013, the
           Chairperson of the Executive Council (hereinafter “the Council”) issued a statement
           (EC-M-32/2/Rev. 1, dated 27 March 2013) expressing “deep concern that chemical
           weapons may have been used in the Syrian Arab Republic,” and underlining that
           “the use of chemical weapons by anyone under any circumstances would be
           reprehensible and completely contrary to the legal norms and standards of the
           international community”;
           Recalling also that the Third Review Conference (RC-3/3*, 19 April 2013)
           expressed “deep concern that chemical weapons may have been used in the Syrian
           Arab Republic and underlined that use of chemical weapons by anyone under any
           circumstances would be reprehensible and completely contrary to the legal norms
           and standards of the international community”;
           Noting the “Report on the Alleged Use of Chemical Weapons in the Ghouta area of
           Damascus on 21 August 2013,” (S/2013/553, dated 16 September 2013) prepared by
           the United Nations Mission to Investigate Allegations of the Use of Chemical
           Weapons in the Syrian Arab Republic, dated 16 September 2013, which concludes
           that “chemical weapons have been used in the ongoing conflict between the parties
           in the Syrian Arab Republic, also against civilians, including children, on a
           relatively large scale”;
           Condemning in the strongest possible terms the use of chemical weapons;
           Welcoming the Framework for Elimination of Syrian Chemical Weapons agreed
           upon by the United States and the Russian Federation on 14 September 2013
           (EC-M-33/NAT.1, dated 17 September 2013);
           Noting also that on 12 September 2013, in its communication to the Secretary-General of the United Nations, the Syrian Arab Republic notified its intention to
           apply the Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production,
           Stockpiling, and Use of Chemical Weapons and on their Destruction (hereinafter
           “the Convention”) provisionally;
           Noting further that on 14 September 2013, the Syrian Arab Republic deposited with
           the Secretary-General of the United Nations its instrument of accession to the
           Convention and declared that it shall comply with its stipulations and observe them
           faithfully and sincerely, applying the Convention provisionally pending its entry
           into force for the Syrian Arab Republic, which was notified to all States Parties by
           the depositary on the same date (C.N.592.2013.TREATIES-XXVI.3), and taking
           into account that the depositary received no communications to the contrary from
           the States Parties with regard to this declaration;
           Noting further that the Convention enters into force for the Syrian Arab Republic on
           14 October 2013;

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               Recognising the extraordinary character of the situation posed by Syrian chemical
               weapons and determined to ensure that the activities necessary for the destruction of
               the Syrian chemical weapons programme start immediately pending the formal entry
               into force of the Convention with respect to the Syrian Arab Republic, and are
               conducted in the most rapid and safe manner;
               Recognising also the invitation of the Government of the Syrian Arab Republic to
               receive immediately a technical delegation from the OPCW and to cooperate with
               the OPCW in accordance with the provisional application of the Convention prior to
               its entry into force for the Syrian Arab Republic, and noting the designation by the
               Syrian Arab Republic to the Technical Secretariat (hereinafter “the Secretariat”) of
               its National Authority;
               Emphasising that the provisional application of the Convention gives immediate
               effect to its provisions with respect to the Syrian Arab Republic;
               Noting further that the Syrian Arab Republic submitted on 19 September 2013 the
               detailed information, including names, types, and quantities of its chemical weapons
               agents, types of munitions, and location and form of storage, production, and
               research and development facilities;
               Noting further that pursuant to paragraph 36 of Article VIII of the Convention, the
               Council, following its consideration of doubts or concerns regarding compliance and
               cases of non-compliance, shall, in cases of particular gravity and urgency, bring the
               issue or matter, including relevant information and conclusions, directly to the
               attention of the United Nations General Assembly and the United Nations Security
               Council;
               Taking into account the Agreement Concerning the Relationship between the United
               Nations and the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons of
               17 October 2000;
               Strongly urging all remaining States not Party to the Convention to ratify or accede
               to it as a matter of urgency and without preconditions, in the interests of enhancing
               their own national security as well as contributing to global peace and security; and
               Recalling that, pursuant to paragraph 8 of Article IV and paragraph 10 of Article V
               of the Convention, a State acceding to the Convention after 2007 shall destroy its
               chemical weapons and its chemical weapons production facilities as soon as
               possible, and the Council shall determine the “order of destruction and procedures
               for stringent verification” of such destruction;
               Hereby:
                    1.    Decides that the Syrian Arab Republic shall:
                          (a) not later than 7 days after the adoption of this decision, submit to
                    the Secretariat further information, to supplement that provided on
                    19 September 2013, on the chemical weapons as defined in paragraph 1 of
                    Article II of the Convention that the Syrian Arab Republic owns or possesses,
                    or has under its jurisdiction or control, in particular:
                          (i) the chemical name and military designator of each chemical in its
                          chemical weapons stockpile, including precursors and toxins, and
                          quantities thereof;

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                (ii) the specific type of munitions, sub-munitions and devices in its
                chemical weapons stockpile, including specific quantities of each type
                that are filled and unfilled; and
                (iii) the location of all of its chemical weapons, chemical weapons
                storage facilities, chemical weapons production facilities, including
                mixing and filling facilities, and chemical weapons research and
                development facilities, providing specific geographic coordinates;
                (b) not later than 30 days after the adoption of this decision, submit to
           the Secretariat the declaration required by Article III of the Convention;
                 (c) complete the elimination of all chemical weapons material and
           equipment in the first half of 2014, subject to the detailed requirements,
           including intermediate destruction milestones, to be decided by the Council
           not later than 15 November 2013;
                (d) complete as soon as possible and in any case not later than
           1 November 2013, the destruction of chemical weapons production and
           mixing/filling equipment;
                 (e) cooperate fully with all aspects of the implementation of this
           decision, including by providing the OPCW personnel with the immediate and
           unfettered right to inspect any and all sites in the Syrian Arab Republic;
                  (f) designate an official as the main point of contact for the Secretariat
           and provide him or her with the authority necessary to ensure that this decision
           is fully implemented.
           2.   Decides further that the Secretariat shall:
                (a) make available to all States Parties, within five days of its receipt,
           any information or declaration referred to in this decision, which shall be
           handled in accordance with the Annex to the Convention on the Protection of
           Confidential Information;
                 (b) as soon as possible and in any case not later than 1 October 2013,
           initiate inspections in the Syrian Arab Republic pursuant to this decision;
                 (c) inspect not later than 30 days after the adoption of this decision, all
           facilities contained in the list referred to in paragraph 1 (a) above;
                 (d) inspect as soon as possible any other site identified by a State Party
           as having been involved in the Syrian chemical weapons programme, unless
           deemed unwarranted by the Director-General, or the matter resolved through
           the process of consultations and cooperation;
                 (e) be authorised to hire, on a short-term basis, qualified inspectors and
           other technical experts and to rehire, on a short-term basis, inspectors, other
           technical experts, and such other personnel as may be required whose term of
           service has recently expired, in order to ensure efficient and effective
           implementation of this decision in accordance with paragraph 44 of Article
           VIII of the Convention; and
                 (f) report to the Council on a monthly basis on implementation of this
           decision including progress achieved by the Syrian Arab Republic in meeting
           the requirements of this decision and the Convention, activities carried out by

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                    the Secretariat with respect to the Syrian Arab Republic, and its needs for any
                    supplementary resources, particularly technical and personnel resources.
                    3.   Decides further:
                          (a) to consider, on an urgent basis, the funding mechanisms for
                    activities carried out by the Secretariat with respect to the Syrian Arab
                    Republic, and to call upon all States Parties in a position to do so to provide
                    voluntary contributions for activities carried out in the implementation of this
                    decision;
                          (b) to meet within 24 hours if the Director-General reports delay by the
                    Syrian Arab Republic in meeting the requirements of this decision or the
                    Convention, including, inter alia, the cases referred to in paragraph 7 of Part II
                    of the Annex to the Convention on Implementation and Verification, or a lack
                    of cooperation in the Syrian Arab Republic or another problem that has arisen
                    with regard to the implementation of this decision and at that meeting to
                    consider whether to bring the matter, including relevant information and
                    conclusions, to the attention of the United Nations Security Council in
                    accordance with paragraph 36 of Article VIII of the Convention;
                         (c)   to remain seized of the matter and
                          (d) to recognise that this decision is made due to the extraordinary
                    character of the situation posed by Syrian chemical weapons and does not
                    create any precedent for the future.

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Annex II
           Action Group for Syria Final Communiqué
           30 June 2012

           1.    On 30 June 2012, the Secretaries-General of the United Nations and the
           League of Arab States, the Ministers for Foreign Affairs of China, France, the
           Russian Federation, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, the
           United States of America, Turkey, Iraq (Chair of the Summit of the League of Arab
           States), Kuwait (Chair of the Council of Foreign Ministers of the League of Arab
           States) and Qatar (Chair of the Arab Follow-up Committee on Syria of the League
           of Arab States) and the High Representative of the European Union for Foreign
           Affairs and Security Policy met at the United Nations Office at Geneva as the
           Action Group for Syria, chaired by the Joint Special Envoy of the United Nations
           and the League of Arab States to Syria.
           2.    The members of the Action Group came together out of grave alarm at the
           situation in the Syrian Arab Republic. They strongly condemn the continued and
           escalating killing, destruction and human rights abuses. They are deeply concerned
           at the failure to protect civilians, the intensification of the violence, the potential for
           even deeper conflict in the country and the regional dimensions of the problem. The
           unacceptable nature and magnitude of the crisis demands a common position and
           joint international action.
           3.    The members of the Action Group are committed to the sovereignty,
           independence, national unity and territorial integrity of the Syrian Arab Republic.
           They are determined to work urgently and intensively to bring about an end to the
           violence and human rights abuses, and to facilitate the launch of a Syrian-led
           political process leading to a transition that meets the legitimate aspirations of the
           Syrian people and enables them independently and democratically to determine their
           own future.
           4.    In order to secure these common objectives, the members of the Action Group
           (a) identified steps and measures by the parties to secure the full implementation of
           the six-point plan and Security Council resolutions 2042 (2012) and 2043 (2012),
           including an immediate cessation of violence in all its forms; (b) agreed on
           principles and guidelines for a political transition that meets the legitimate
           aspirations of the Syrian people; and (c) agreed on actions that they would take to
           implement the objectives in support of the Joint Special Envoy’s efforts to facilitate
           a Syrian-led political process. They are convinced that this can encourage and
           support progress on the ground and will help to facilitate and support a Syrian-led
           transition.

           Identified steps and measures by the parties to secure the full implementation of
           the six-point plan and Security Council resolutions 2042 (2012) and 2043 (2012),
           including an immediate cessation of violence in all its forms
           5.    The parties must fully implement the six-point plan and Security Council
           resolutions 2042 (2012) and 2043 (2012). To that end:
                 (a) All parties must recommit to a sustained cessation of armed violence in
           all its forms and to the implementation of the six-point plan immediately and

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               without waiting for the actions of others. The Government and armed opposition
               groups must cooperate with the United Nations Supervision Mission in the Syrian
               Arab Republic (UNSMIS), with a view to furthering the implementation of the plan
               in accordance with the Mission’s mandate;
                    (b) A cessation of armed violence must be sustained, with immediate,
               credible and visible actions by the Government of the Syrian Arab Republic to
               implement the other items of the six-point plan, including:
                       (i) Intensification of the pace and scale of release of arbitrarily detained
                       persons, including especially vulnerable categories of persons, and persons
                       involved in peaceful political activities; the provision, without delay and
                       through appropriate channels, of a list of all places in which such persons are
                       being detained; the immediate organization of access to such locations; and the
                       provision, through appropriate channels, of prompt responses to all written
                       requests for information, access or release regarding such persons;
                       (ii) Ensuring freedom of movement throughout the country for journalists
                       and a non-discriminatory visa policy for them;
                       (iii) Respecting freedom of association and the right to demonstrate
                       peacefully, as legally guaranteed;
                    (c) In all circumstances, all parties must show full respect for the safety and
               security of UNSMIS and fully cooperate with and facilitate the Mission in all
               respects;
                     (d) In all circumstances, the Government must allow immediate and full
               humanitarian access by humanitarian organizations to all areas affected by the
               fighting. The Government and all parties must enable the evacuation of the
               wounded, and all civilians who wish to leave must be enabled to do so. All parties
               must fully adhere to their obligations under international law, including in relation
               to the protection of civilians.

               Agreed principles and guidelines for a Syrian-led transition
               6.   The members of the Action Group agreed on the principles and guidelines for
               a Syrian-led transition set out below.
               7.  Any political settlement must deliver to the people of the Syrian Arab
               Republic a transition that:
                    (a) Offers a perspective for the future that can be shared by all in the Syrian
               Arab Republic;
                     (b) Establishes clear steps according to a firm timetable towards the
               realization of that perspective;
                       (c)   Can be implemented in a climate of safety for all and of stability and
               calm;
                       (d)   Is reached rapidly without further bloodshed and violence and is credible.
               8.    Perspective for the future. The aspirations of the people of the Syrian Arab
               Republic have been clearly expressed by the wide range of Syrians consulted. There
               is an overwhelming wish for a State that:

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                (a) Is genuinely democratic and pluralistic, giving space to established and
           newly emerging political actors to compete fairly and equally in elections. This also
           means that the commitment to multiparty democracy must be a lasting one, going
           beyond an initial round of elections;
                 (b) Complies with international standards on human rights, the independence
           of the judiciary, accountability of those in Government and the rule of law. It is not
           enough just to enunciate such a commitment. There must be mechanisms available
           to the people to ensure that these commitments are kept by those in authority;
                 (c) Offers equal opportunities and chances for all. There is no room for
           sectarianism or discrimination on ethnic, religious, linguistic or any other grounds.
           Numerically smaller communities must be assured that their rights will be respected.
           9.    Clear steps in the transition. The conflict in the Syrian Arab Republic will
           end only when all sides are assured that there is a peaceful way towards a common
           future for all in the country. It is therefore essential that any settlement provide for
           clear and irreversible steps in the transition according to a fixed time frame. The key
           steps in any transition include:
                 (a) The establishment of a transitional governing body that can establish a
           neutral environment in which the transition can take place, with the transitional
           governing body exercising full executive powers. It could include members of the
           present Government and the opposition and other groups and shall be formed on the
           basis of mutual consent;
                 (b) It is for the Syrian people to determine the future of the country. All
           groups and segments of society in the Syrian Arab Republic must be enabled to
           participate in a national dialogue process. That process must be not only inclusive
           but also meaningful. In other words, its key outcomes must be implemented;
                 (c) On that basis, there can be a review of the constitutional order and the
           legal system. The result of constitutional drafting would be subject to popular
           approval;
                 (d) Upon establishment of the new constitutional order, it will be necessary
           to prepare for and conduct free and fair multiparty elections for the new institutions
           and offices that have been established;
                (e)   Women must be fully represented in all aspects of the transition.
           10. Safety, stability and calm. Any transition involves change. However, it is
           essential to ensure that the transition can be implemented in a way that ensures the
           safety of all in an atmosphere of stability and calm. This requires:
                 (a) Consolidation of full calm and stability. All parties must cooperate with
           the transitional governing body to ensure the permanent cessation of violence. This
           includes completion of withdrawals and addressing the issue of the disarmament,
           demobilization and reintegration of armed groups;
                (b) Effective steps to ensure that vulnerable groups are protected and that
           immediate action is taken to address humanitarian issues in areas of need. It is also
           necessary to ensure that the release of the detained is completed rapidly;
                 (c) Continuity of governmental institutions and qualified staff. Public
           services must be preserved or restored. This includes the military forces and security

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               services. However, all governmental institutions, including the intelligence services,
               have to perform according to human rights and professional standards and operate
               under a leadership that inspires public confidence, under the control of the
               transitional governing body;
                    (d) Commitment          to   accountability and   national     reconciliation.
               Accountability for acts committed during the present conflict must be addressed.
               There also needs to be a comprehensive package for transitional justice, including
               compensation or rehabilitation for victims of the present conflict, steps towards
               national reconciliation and forgiveness.
               11. Rapid steps to come to a credible political agreement. It is for the people of
               the Syrian Arab Republic to come to a political agreement, but time is running out.
               It is clear that:
                    (a) The sovereignty, independence, unity and territorial integrity of the
               Syrian Arab Republic must be respected;
                    (b) The conflict must be resolved through peaceful dialogue and negotiation
               alone. Conditions conducive to a political settlement must now be put in place;
                    (c) There must be an end to the bloodshed. All parties must recommit
               themselves credibly to the six-point plan. This must include a cessation of armed
               violence in all its forms and immediate, credible and visible actions to implement
               points 2 to 6 of the six-point plan;
                     (d) All parties must now engage genuinely with the Joint Special Envoy. The
               parties must be prepared to put forward effective interlocutors to work expeditiously
               towards a Syrian-led settlement that meets the legitimate aspirations of the people.
               The process must be fully inclusive in order to ensure that the views of all segments
               of Syrian society are heard in shaping the political settlement for the transition;
                     (e) The organized international community, including the members of the
               Action Group, stands ready to offer significant support for the implementation of an
               agreement reached by the parties. This may include an international assistance
               presence under a United Nations mandate if requested. Significant funds will be
               available to support reconstruction and rehabilitation.

               Agreed actions
               12. Agreed actions that the members of the Group will take to implement the
               above in support of the Joint Special Envoy’s efforts to facilitate a Syrian-led
               political process are as follows:
                     (a) Action Group members will engage as appropriate, and apply joint and
               sustained pressure on, the parties in the Syrian Arab Republic to take the steps and
               measures outlined in paragraph 5 above;
                     (b)   Action Group members are opposed to any further militarization of the
               conflict;
                     (c) Action Group members emphasize to the Government of the Syrian Arab
               Republic the importance of the appointment of an effective empowered interlocutor,
               when requested by the Joint Special Envoy to do so, to work on the basis of the six
               point plan and the present communiqué;

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                 (d) Action Group members urge the opposition to increase cohesion and to
           be in a position to ensure effective representative interlocutors to work on the basis
           of the six-point plan and the present communiqué;
                 (e) Action Group members will give full support to the Joint Special Envoy
           and his team as they immediately engage the Government and the opposition, and
           will consult widely with Syrian society, as well as other international actors, to
           further develop the way forward;
                 (f) Action Group members would welcome the further convening by the
           Joint Special Envoy of a meeting of the Action Group, should he deem it necessary
           to review the concrete progress taken on all points agreed in the present
           communiqué and to determine what further and additional steps and actions are
           needed from the Action Group to address the crisis. The Joint Special Envoy will
           also keep the United Nations and the League of Arab States informed.

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Security Council resolution 2118 (2013) [on use of chemical weapons in the Syrian Arab Republic]

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