Claiming Human Rights

UNMIL – United Nations Mission in Liberia

UNMIL was established by the UN Security Council resolution 1509 of 19 September 2003 to support the implementation of the ceasefire agreement and the peace process; protect United Nations staff, facilities and civilians; support humanitarian and human rights activities; as well as assist in national security reform, including national police training and formation of a new, restructured military.

The Human Rights and Protection Section (HRPS) of UNMIL is working together with national institutions and civil society, including non-governmental organizations, in ensuring the promotion, protection and monitoring of human rights in all fifteen counties in Liberia. Its mandate is Support for Humanitarian and Human Rights Assistance, i.e.

• “to facilitate the provision of humanitarian assistance, including by helping to establish the necessary security conditions;
• to contribute towards international efforts to protect and promote human rights in Liberia, with particular attention to vulnerable groups including refugees, returning refugees and internally displaced persons, women, children, and demobilized child soldiers, within UNMIL's capabilities and under acceptable security conditions, in close cooperation with other United Nations agencies, related organizations, governmental organizations, and non-governmental organizations;
• to ensure an adequate human rights presence, capacity and expertise within UNMIL to carry out human rights promotion, protection, and monitoring activities”

HRPS aims to prevent or address human rights violations and abuses, and to minimise the harmful impact of violations on victims. This involves intervention in individual cases as well as technical assistance for the development of national institutions, legislation and policy to support the Government in fulfilling its international human rights obligations. HRPS is supporting the establishment and operation of national human rights institutions in order to promote sustainable national human rights capacity. HRPS includes capacity-building in all its activities. It also works closely with civil society to increase community awareness of human rights and supports Government efforts to implement the nation’s human rights obligations.

Contact:

More information: http://www.unmil.org/

http://www.un.org/en/peacekeeping/missions/unmil/