MINURCAT’s Judicial Advisory Unit is mandated through Resolution 1778 and 1861 to assist the Government of Chad in the promotion of the rule of law, through support of an independent judiciary and a strengthened legal system, in close coordination with the UN Country Team. The Judicial Advisory Unit works to support and build the capacity of Chadian judicial institutions to operate in a manner which is in accordance with the Chadian Constitution and laws, as well as consistent with international norms and standards. The Judicial Advisory Unit is tasked with supporting the implementation of the D.I.S. (Chadian Police) concept of operations regarding arrest and detention, supporting the harmonization of the traditional justice system with existing legal institutions, strengthening the legal capacity of justice officials, and aiding the government’s efforts to facilitate equal access to justice.
Closure of MINURCAT
MINURCAT completed its mandate on 31 December 2010, in accordance with Security Council resolution 1923 (2010) and at the request of the Chadian Government, which had pledged full responsibility for protecting civilians on its territory. Following its withdrawal, the UN country team and the UN Integrated Peacebuilding Office in the Central African Republic (BINUCA) remained in the country to continue to work for the benefit of the Chadian people.
Reporting to the Security Council in December, the Secretary-General said “MINURCAT has been an unusual and unique United Nations peacekeeping operation in that it was devoted solely to contributing to the protection of civilians, without an explicit political mandate. It has gone through the stages of planning, deployment and withdrawal in the short span of less than four years, enduring adversities in each.”
For more on the implementation of the MINURCAT’s mandate, achievements and the lessons learned, please see the Secretary-General’s final report S/2010/611 of 1 December 2010.