Security Council renews mandate of UN Haiti mission

The UN Security Council Thursday unanimously adopted a resolution to extend the mandate of the UN Stabilisation Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH) for another year, while withdrawing some mission staff from the Caribbean nation.

The 15-nation council decided to extend the mandate of MINUSTAH until Oct 15, 2014, "with the intention of further renewal", reported Xinhua citing the UNSC's resolution.

The UN mission has been working in Haiti since violence and upheaval broke out in the island country in 2004. Since the devastating earthquake of Jan 12, 2010 in Haiti, the mission has been engaged in efforts to help Haitians with reconstruction and recovery.

The Security Council also decided that the mission's overall force levels will consist of up to 5,021 troops of all ranks through a balanced withdrawal of infantry and engineering personnel and of a police component of up to 2,601 personnel.

While recognising that the Caribbean nation's government holds primary control over all aspects of stabilisation, the Council urged the mission to continue assisting in the protection of civilians, with particular attention to the needs of internally displaced persons (IDPs) and other vulnerable groups like women and children.

The council placed particular emphasis on the "grave" human rights violations committed against children affected by criminal gang violence, as well as rape and other forms of sexual abuses committed against women and girls.