Haiti – UN : BINUH report on Haiti to the Security Council
04/07/2024 10:19:36
Wednesday July 3rd, 2024, report from Maria Isabel Salvador, Special Representative of the Secretary General in Haiti and Head of the United Nations Integrated Office in Haiti (BINUH) to the United Nations Security Council on the situation in Haiti.
Intervention by Maria Isabel Salvador :
“Mister President, Distinguished Members of the Council, Prime Minister Conille,
Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen,
Major changes have taken place in Haiti since I last briefed this Council, and I am happy to report Haiti is making headway toward restoring democratic institutions through enhanced security and credible elections. The installation of the Transitional Presidential Council in April https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-42198-haiti-flash-swearing-and-installation-of-members-of-the-cpt.html, and the designation of a Prime Minister and a new government, sworn in last month, are clear indications of progress. Works have continued at the Port-au-Prince Airport, where flights have resumed and the building of the base that will house the Multinational Security Support Mission (MSS) has been completed. A first group of Kenyan Police officers for the MSS arrived on 25 June. This first deployment is an important step in the implementation of Security Council Resolution 2699 and brings renewed hope to the people of Haiti.
Mister President,
On May 28, Dr. Garry Conille, whose presence among us we welcome today, was chosen as Prime Minister by the Transitional Presidential Council. On June 12, a new Transitional Government was inaugurated, composed of 14 ministers at the head of 18 ministries. With the installation of this Government, the two-headed executive is committed to leading Haiti towards the restoration of state institutions through the holding of credible, inclusive and participatory elections which will lead – according to the proposed timetable – to the installation of the authorities elected no later than February 2026.
I welcome the efforts of the transitional authorities to increase the participation of women and other minorities in key positions in government. In fact, 6 of the 18 ministries are led by women https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-42631-haiti-news-zapping.html, représentant 33 pour cent de l’ensemble des ministères.50% of the heads of Haiti’s diplomatic missions are today women. Inclusion and diversity are essential to promote a political transition that paves the way for the restoration of state institutions and effectively meets the needs and expectations of all Haitians.
[…] It is in this spirit that BINUH has renewed and reoriented its strategic commitment to support the political process. Systematically increasing the participation of women and young people in this process is a fundamental pillar of this strategy that we are developing jointly with the government. In this vision, BINUH supported the organization of the Civil Society Forum which was held last week, June 27 and 28, in Port-au-Prince. This forum, which was marked by a significant participation of women’s and youth organizations from different departments of the country, aimed to promote the inclusion and participation of women and young people in the current transition. https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-42652-haiti-news-zapping.html
[…] On the security front, though progress has been achieved, alarming levels of violence remain a source of great concern. Indiscriminate gang violence has been consistently spreading beyond the capital to other regions of the country. The gangs’ recurrent attacks since 29 February have severely hampered national and international efforts to fast-track the recruitment process of new police officers and attrition rates in the national police continue to be high. The recent designation of a new Director General of the Haitian National Police brings new hope to the continuous fight against gang violence https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-42606-haiti-pnh-the-pm-installed-the-new-director-general-videos.html
Human rights violations and abuses have persisted at alarmingly high levels. Documented incidents include mass shootings and targeted killings, collective rapes, kidnappings, the burning and looting of homes and businesses, and the intentional destruction of facilities operated by social service providers, including hospitals and schools.
I remain deeply disturbed by the indiscriminate violence and grave abuses perpetrated by armed gangs against children. Equally worrisome is the prevalence of threats and attacks against human rights defenders, journalists and members of the judiciary, many of whom have been forced to limit or stop their work, or even to flee the country.
In my discussions with Prime Minister Conille, I transmitted the commitment of the United Nations to continue supporting Haiti in line with national priorities. Taking into account the new context marked by enhanced cooperation with OAS and CARICOM. Within its mandate, and at this new momentum BINUH will continue to support the transitional authorities in key areas that include elections, constitutional reform, police development, enhancement of political dialogue and justice, as well as community violence reduction – to name a few. BINUH is redirecting and redefining priorities in support of the new governance structure of this Haitian-led and owned transition. As elections are at the core of the objectives set forth by the new transitional authorities, the possibility to strengthen BINUH electoral expertise could be considered.
As the MSS continues deploying, the establishment of a coordination mechanism among national authorities, the MSS, the UN in Haiti and other partners will be critical to promote complementarities, exchange information, and devise effective communication strategies.
I would like to express my appreciation to Member State efforts ensuring the implementation of Security Council Resolution 2699, and commend Kenya’s willingness to lead the Multi-national Security Support Mission. I would also like to appeal to all Member States to ensure the Multi-national Security Support Mission receives the sustained financial support that it needs to succeed.
Turning to the humanitarian situation, it continues to worsen. There are 578 thousand internally displaced persons, a 60% increase since March 2024 https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-42531-haiti-social-578-074-displaced-people-increase-of-60-in-3-months.html. Rates of sexual violence and abuse remain troubling. Only 20 per cent of health facilities are operating normally. Despite being faced with access constraints over the last few months, as you know, the United Nations and its partners have continued to deliver across the country. Disappointingly, the 2024 Humanitarian Response Plan is only 24.3 per cent funded.
Mr. President,
Security Council Resolution 2699 authorized a strengthened Police component in BINUH, though the financial situation in the Organization with the hiring freeze prevented us from moving forward with scaling up the Police and Corrections area and the security situation that unfolded since 29 February further exacerbated this situation. In this new momentum for Haiti, as we move forward, it is also an opportunity to reinvigorate BINUH and reposition its role in the current context. As the Multi-national Security Support Mission deploys, strengthening the human rights area in BINUH to be able to provide the necessary support and monitoring to a compliance with the Human rights due diligence policy is fundamental. Resolution 2699 mandates the MSS to establish a human rights oversight mechanism. BINUH within its mandate on human rights stands ready to provide support -when required-to the definition of a robust human rights compliance framework […]”
HL/ S/ HaitiLibre
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