UNITED NATIONS, United States (CMC) — The United Nations Security Council has extended the mandate of Stabilisation Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH) for a final six months, deciding to replace it with a follow-up, smaller peacekeeping mission.

The UN said that the mission would help the Haitian government strengthen rule-of-law institutions, further develop and support the Haitian National Police, and engage in human rights monitoring, reporting and analysis.

The UN Security Council Thursday unanimously adopted resolution 2350 (2017), under Chapter VII of the United Nations Charter.

It also decided that MINUSTAH’s military component would be drawn down during the final six-month period, and requested that the Secretary-General begin immediately to phase out the Mission’s tasks.

It also requested that MINUSTAH prioritise efforts to ensure a “successful and responsible transition” to the new entity, to be known as the United Nations Mission for Justice Support in Haiti (MINUJUSTH).

Also by the text, the new mission would be headed by a Special Representative of the Secretary-General, who would also play a “good-offices and advocacy role at the political level to ensure full implementation of the mandate,” the UN said.

It said MINUJUSTH would comprise up to seven “formed police units (FPUs),” or 980 FPU personnel, and 295 individual police officers, for an initial six months, from October 16, 2017 until April 15, 2018.

MINUSTAH’s current military component would withdraw fully by October 15, the UN said.

Further, the Security Council decided that MINUJUSTH’s rule-of-law mandate, including efforts to reduce community violence and quick impact projects, “would be part of a strategy to ensure a continuing, progressive transition to development.

“At the same time, the council recognised the ownership and primary responsibility of the Government and people of Haiti over all aspects of their country’s development, and encouraged the mission to provide logistical and technical expertise, within available means and consistent with its mandate,” the UN said.

The UN said the new mission was also authorized to “protect civilians under imminent threat of physical violence, within its capabilities and areas of deployment, as needed.

Earlier this week, MINUSTAH chief Sandra Honoré told the UN Security Council that Haiti had made significant progress in consolidating democracy and maintaining security and stability with the inauguration of Jovenel Moïse as President on February 7, marking the restoration of constitutional order.

But the UN noted that in spite of these gains, pockets of fragility persisted and political challenges remained.

Honoré, however, said it was time to reshape the partnership among the international community, the United Nations and Haiti, “with a view to monitoring concerns, such as human rights issues, and ensuring that progress made since MINUSTAH’s 2004 establishment endure”.