In
a pivotal moment in the history of Liberia, the United Nations mission in the
country successfully completed its mandate after almost 15 years of supporting
the West African nation in the transition to peace and democracy.
At a ceremony in Monrovia on Thursday, attended by
President George Weah, United Nations Deputy Secretary-General Amina J.
Mohammed lauded the accomplishments of the United Nations Mission in Liberia
(UNMIL), which has had several Nigerian peacekeeping personnel.
She pointed out that the peacekeepers leave behind a
country that has great potential for lasting peace and stability. “UNMIL helped
to disarm more than 100,000 combatants, and protected millions of civilians;
helped to rebuild the police, the security services and other institutions;
facilitated the provision of humanitarian aid, and supported the development of
national capacity to promote and protect human rights,” she said.
Mohammed further lauded progress while acknowledging
the remaining challenges, saying: “Peace will not last without sustainable
development, and development gains will be at risk without sustained
peace. Many Liberians are still waiting
for the anticipated dividends of peace.
“Some of the root causes of conflict remain to be
addressed, including poverty, youth unemployment, illiteracy and lack of
infrastructure. We need to give Liberians back their dignity, dreams and faith
in a better future.”
She paid special tribute to the 202 peacekeepers who
lost their lives in pursuit of peace in Liberia. “Today, we remember their
sacrifice.”
The event was held at Monrovia’s Executive Pavilion
and was attended by top government officials, representatives of civil society,
members of the diplomatic community, and UN officials.
In his speech on behalf of the Liberian authorities,
President Weah said: “UN has positively impacted the lives of Liberians as well
as every fabric of the Liberian Society since its arrival in 2003.” He
acknowledged the hope the United Nations has given Liberians adding, “Liberia
has to protect and sustain the peace”. He expressed his commitment towards
ensuring this happens.
At the ceremony, UN Deputy Secretary-General, Mohammed
was accompanied by the Assistant Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations,
Ms. Bintou Keita, Special Representative of the Secretary-General and Head of
United Nations Office for West Africa and the Sahel (UNOWAS), Mr. Mohamed Ibn
Chambas, Assistant Secretary-General for Peacebuilding Support, Mr. Oscar
Fernandez-Taranco and Permanent Representative of Sweden to the United Nations
and Chair of the Peacebuilding commission configuration for Liberia ,
Ambassador Olof Skoog, and Special Representative of the Secretary-General and
Head of UNMIL, Mr. Farid Zarif.
Recall that UNMIL was established by the Security
Council in 2003 and will officially close at the end of this month. The mission
created a security environment that enabled more than a million refugees and
displaced persons return to their homes; supported the holding of three
presidential elections, and helped the government establish its authority
throughout the whole country following years of fighting and instability.
The conflict took a horrific toll in terms of
gender-based violence, with estimated 80 percent of women and girls affected.
As soon as the UN mission deployed, it prioritized the empowerment of women –
to vote, to run for office and to join the police and other rules of law
institutions. This investment in women’s equality paid huge dividends in the
transition to democracy. Recognizing the important role Liberian women played
in pursuing peace, Ms Mohammed said, “Women have borne most of the burden; they
have stepped up at every stage.”
To spur women’s empowerment, UNMIL led by example,
becoming the first UN peacekeeping operation to have an all-female contingent
thanks to India’s deployment of a formed police unit (FPU) from 2007 until
2016. The Indian policewomen served as
role models for Liberia’s women and girls, triggering a fourfold increase in
the number of Liberian women applying to become police officers.
During UNMIL’s nearly 15-year mandate, dozens of
countries from around the world deployed troops and police. Significant contributions were made during
this span by African nations such as Nigeria, Ghana and Ethiopia; Asian
countries including Pakistan, Bangladesh, India and China; and European
countries such as Ukraine, Sweden and Ireland.
Peacekeepers from the United States also played an important role.
UN peacekeeping mission in Liberia completes mandate
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on
Saturday, March 24, 2018
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