A/HRC/4/96 page 12 II. HUMAN RIGHTS ACTIVITIES OF THE UNITED NATIONS IN SIERRA LEONE A. The Human Rights and Rule of Law Section of UNIOSIL 32. In its resolution 1620 (2005) the Security Council established UNIOSIL to assist the Government in consolidating peace and serve as a catalyst for development. The mandate of UNIOSIL in the area of human rights is well defined: to assist the Government in (a) establishing the National Human Rights Commission, (b) developing a national plan of action for human rights, and (c) strengthening the rule of law, including by promoting the independence of the judiciary and enhancing the capacity of the police and penal systems. The Department of Peace Keeping Operations (DPKO) approved a staff increase of 24, including 10 international human rights officers. OHCHR provided 12 additional posts for national staff so that the United Nations is present in each of the 12 districts, and to build national capacity for a seamless transfer of responsibility to nationals upon the expiration of the mandate of UNIOSIL. 33. OHCHR, in its biannual budget (2006-2007) has also allocated US$ 410,000 for technical support, including equipment and logistics, to facilitate the implementation of the human rights and rule of law activities of UNIOSIL. This support, combined with that from DPKO, enabled the Human Rights and Rule of Law Section of UNIOSIL to carry out a number of activities in three core areas: (a) building national capacity for the promotion and protection of human rights; (b) promoting reconciliation and strengthening the rule of law; (c) monitoring and reporting on the human rights situation, and implementing technical assistance programmes of OHCHR in Sierra Leone. Acting as the representative of the High Commissioner, the Chief of the Human Rights and Rule of Law Section of UNIOSIL carried out these activities consistent with OHCHR plan of action which called for country engagement and close partnerships with relevant stakeholders. The Human Rights and Rule of Law Section worked in close collaboration with the United Nations Country Team, the Government, civil society, and international partners using existing national frameworks including the Poverty Reduction Strategy (PRS) and the United Nations Development Assistance Framework (UNDAF), the Peace Consolidation Strategy developed jointly by the United Nations, the Government and civil society. The Section also worked closely with other sections of UNIOSIL, including Peace and Governance, United Nations Police, Public Information and the Military. Additionally, the Section served as the implementing partner for some remaining OHCHR funded projects, including construction of human rights and law reference libraries and the dissemination of the TRC final report and awareness-raising activities on its findings. B. Monitoring of the courts, police stations and prisons 34. At the termination of the mandate of UNAMSIL in 2005, it was determined that assisting the Government in supporting the reform of the justice sector could be a major contribution to the consolidation of peace. The mandate of UNIOSIL was therefore expanded to include the strengthening of the rule of law by developing the independence and capacity of the judiciary, the police and the penal system. Regular monitoring visits were therefore, made by the Human Rights and Rule of Law Section to courts, police stations and prisons, which regularly brought the irregularities observed to the attention of the authorities concerned.