On 25 April 2013, the UN Security Council adopted resolution S/RES/2100 in which it decided to establish the new United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali (MINUSMA). MINUSMA is to take over authority from the current African-led International Support Mission in Mali (AFISMA) on 1 July 2013. Crucially, the Security Council endowed MINUSMA with a strong human rights and child protection mandate. Among its functions, MINUSMA is to monitor, help investigate and report on violations of human rights or international humanitarian law throughout Mali, including specifically violations and abuses against children, and to provide specific protection for women and children affected by armed conflict, as well as general protection of civilians. The resolution also authorizes French troops to intervene to provide support to MINUSMA.
In authorizing MINUSMA, the Security Council called upon MINUSMA and all military forces to abide by international humanitarian, human rights and refugee law and to take into account Security Council resolutions on children and armed conflict, the protection of civilians and women and peace and security. It also called for strict compliance with the UN Human Rights Due Diligence Policy in providing support to Malian forces. One issue not addressed in the resolution, however, is whether the Chadian National Army currently part of AFISMA will be integrated into MINUSMA. The Chadian Army is a persistent perpetrator of the recruitment and use of children. Watchlist has called for the Secretary-General to certify that Chad has fully implemented the action plan it signed in 2011 before incorporation of the Chadian forces into MINUSMA.
