S/PV.9066 Security Council

In accordance with rule 37 of the Council’s provisional rules of procedure, I invite the representatives of the Dominican Republic and Haiti to participate in this meeting. On behalf of the Council, I welcome His Excellency Mr. Jean Victor Généus, Minister for Foreign Affairs and Religion of Haiti. In accordance with rule 39 of the Council’s provisional rules of procedure, I invite the following briefers to participate in this meeting: Ms. Helen La Lime, Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Haiti and Head of the United Nations Integrated Office in Haiti, and Mr. Arnoux Descardes, Executive Director, Volontariat pour le développement d’Haïti. The Security Council will now begin its consideration of the item on its agenda. I wish to draw the attention of Council members to document S/2022/481, which contains the report of the Secretary-General on the United Nations Integrated Office in Haiti. I now give the floor to Ms. La Lime. Ms. La Lime: It is an honour to once again provide the Council with an update on the situation in Haiti where, amid a rapidly deteriorating security situation, discussions about the country’s future governance arrangements remain deadlocked in a protracted stalemate. Since I last briefed the Security Council (see S/PV.8969), the grip with which gangs are controlling swathes of the Port-au-Prince metropolitan area has grown increasingly tighter as their zones of influence have expanded. Kidnappings and intentional homicides have risen by 36 and 17 per cent respectively compared to the last five months of 2021. In May alone, the Haitian National Police (HNP) reported 201 intentional homicides and 198 abductions, an average of almost seven cases a day each. The horrific violence that unfurled over the suburbs of Cité-Soleil, Croix-des-Bouquets and Tabarre in late April and early May, when women and girls were particularly exposed to sexual violence, is only one example of the state of terror into which Haiti’s political and economic heart has been plunged. Dozens of schools, medical centres, businesses and markets have been forced to close. Many people are trapped in their neighbourhoods and sometimes even their residences. At least 17,000 others have been displaced from their homes, and many are struggling to find basic necessities such as food, water and medicine. Movement along the main national roads connecting the capital to the rest of the country is seriously compromised, as gangs have erected barricades to restrict access to areas under their control, severely affecting the flow of goods throughout the country. The pervasive and deepening sense of insecurity exacerbated by the HNP’s seeming inability to address the situation and the manifest impunity with which criminal acts are being committed is dangerously fraying the rule of law in the country. Less than a week ago, the Port-au-Prince Court of First Instance was overrun by a local gang that proceeded to loot and burn both case files and pieces of evidence. In some parts of the country, acts of vigilantism against suspected gang members are increasingly garnering popular support. More than ever, Haiti requires immediate assistance to develop its National Police and counter increasing criminality and violence. The HNP currently lacks the human, material and financial resources to effectively fulfil its mandate. Its limited operational and logistical capacities compromise the implementation of a comprehensive public safety agenda that relies on intelligence-led policing and violence reduction. It is therefore with great urgency that I call on Member States to provide greater support and contribute to the newly established basket fund managed by the United Nations Development Programme and dedicated to supporting the HNP and helping it address the challenges it is contending with. The acute instability currently affecting Haiti is in large part a result of its prolonged institutional vacuum. The country has been without a functioning Parliament for two and a half years, was left aghast by the assassination of its President almost a year ago and in addition is suffering from an almost complete paralysis of its justice sector. To date, the multiple initiatives and proposals to foster a common vision among national stakeholders as to how Haiti can move forward have yielded few concrete results. On the contrary, previously homogeneous coalitions have started to fracture. Amid that growing political polarization, the United Nations Integrated Office in Haiti (BINUH) is intensely focused on reviving contacts between parties at all levels, notably through a series of informal gatherings aimed at encouraging consensus on a path towards elections. In late March, a civil society-led tripartite committee was formed to enlarge consensus among various political platforms, including the Government, to forge a common path forward. In parallel, Prime Minister Henry has been holding direct talks with the leadership of the Montana Group, which has proposed new modalities to relaunch formal negotiations. Yet, with the formation of a new Provisional Electoral Council frustratingly still a distant prospect and the organ having effectively ceased to function for many months, it is highly unlikely that elections, which would usher a return to democratic governance, will be held this year. The stalled investigation into the assassination of late President Moïse — to which the fifth judge in 11 months was recently assigned — epitomizes the deeply entrenched issues affecting Haiti’s judicial system, a branch crippled by limited financial and material resources, frequent strikes by judicial personnel and the deteriorating security situation. Resolute efforts are needed not only to enable courts to process and try a myriad of pending cases but also for prolonged pretrial detention levels to be sustainably reduced. It is urgent for the Government and relevant judicial institutions to reach a consensus on the appointment of Court of Cassation judges in order to allow Haiti’s highest court to resume its activities. Every effort must also be made to efficiently prepare and implement the long-standing criminal code reform, which aims to further align the Haitian legal framework with international norms and standards. The protracted insecurity and prolonged political uncertainty, combined with the dire economic situation and the growing humanitarian needs, are severely hindering the country’s socioeconomic development, widening economic inequalities and undermining peacebuilding efforts. With the gross domestic product having contracted by 1.8 per cent in 2021 as Government revenues shrank, Haiti’s economic situation remains a serious cause for concern. Meanwhile, humanitarian needs continue to increase, particularly in the aftermath of the earthquake that devastated the southern peninsula last August. This year, some 4.9 million Haitians are expected to require humanitarian assistance, with at least 4.5 million people forecasted to need urgent food assistance. It is essential that Haiti remain at the forefront of the international community’s agenda and that national authorities receive the assistance they need to address those interconnected challenges. Nonetheless, only Haitians hold the key to unlocking sustainable solutions to the country’s protracted crisis. BINUH will continue to encourage all parties to constructively engage and come together to chart a common, consensual path to a return to democracy. Similarly, under the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, the peace and security and development arms of the United Nations will continue to work hand in hand to support Haiti in moving from emergency assistance to longer-term stability and enduring development.

I thank Ms. La Lime for her briefing. I now give the floor to Mr. Descardes.

First of all, I would like to thank you, Madam President, for inviting me to brief the Security Council on the situation in Haiti. I understand that this meeting is being held following the assessment of the mandate of the United Nations Integrated Office in Haiti (BINUH) by an independent expert. I come from a country ravaged by a multidimensional crisis in the hope of providing an authentic Haitian perspective. In my daily work at my organization, Volunteers for the Development of Haiti, a civil society organization, I am continually confronted with the harsh reality of Haiti. In 2020 and 2021, for example, I coordinated with colleagues no less than 10 regional workshops and a national civil society forum on proposals to end the crisis. I was also able to coordinate the implementation of a methodology known as a “360 degrees methodology”, which allowed us to gather proposals from the major actors of the crisis. Closer to home, on 8 and 9 June I was once again able to hear the views of several dozen Haitian leaders at a multisectoral workshop on governance in Haiti. From what I hear in the public debate and my engagement on the ground, I have come to understand that Haiti must today address the following pressing challenges: the establishment of inclusive and consensus-based governance, ensuring security with a view to promoting the rule of law and reducing violence, the organization of transparent elections and the strengthening of public finances. For inclusive and consensus-based governance, we must welcome the initiatives already taken and those under way. However, we must recognize that we must also broaden the current consensus. The resumption of consultations between Prime Minister Ariel Henry and the Montana Group’s monitoring office, as well as the establishment of a tripartite facilitation committee with high-level representatives of the religious sector, the business sector and academia, are also commendable initiatives that correctly aim to identify, through an inter-Haitian dialogue, a Haitian solution to the problems of Haitian men and women. Only an inter-Haitian dialogue can build a broader consensus. I therefore encourage the actors to go beyond statements of good intentions. With regard to security and human rights, the Human Rights Analysis and Research Institute, a Haitian organization, reported that the incidence of kidnapping had increased more than 18 per cent in 2021 as compared to 2020. For the month of May 2022, 200 cases were reported. In recent months, human rights abuses, particularly those involving physical abuse, killings and acts of sexual violence, have worsened. Armed gangs, which use young people as both a channel for recruitment and in their operations, occupy almost all the territories in the Port-au-Prince metropolitan area and paralyse land routes between the capital and towns in the provinces, which affects the transport of products, especially agricultural products, thereby aggravating the acute food crisis facing more than 4.5 million Haitians. Impunity continues to prevail to the point that, a few days before the first anniversary of the heinous assassination of President Jovenel Moïse, justice remains silent. There is an urgent need for transnational action to be taken against those involved in Haiti in smuggling, the illegal arms trade and financial crimes. The Haitian National Police, with the support of judges, must establish effective operations to dismantle gangs, although in the view of the public there is much doubt concerning the capacity of the Haitian National Police to deal with them alone without external assistance, given that the police is understaffed and underequipped while armed gangs seem to be well equipped and well organized. The Government must also take steps to strengthen judicial institutions and infrastructure, whose deficiencies are contributing to the denial of justice, prolonged pretrial detention and the violation of prisoners’ rights. In addition, steps must be taken for the Court of Cassation and the Superior Council of the Judiciary to function better. A fund for socioeconomic support for the residents of disadvantaged neighbourhoods, with an emphasis on women, must be created to prevent the effects of poverty on violence and interrupt the cycle of recruitment and integration of young people into networks of armed groups. Similarly, the public-private international community partnership that is being tested in the education sector, which will enable the reopening of schools in tough neighbourhoods, should be encouraged and pursued. With respect to the elections, which are crucial to the stability and re-establishment of the country’s democratic institutions, the Government must appoint a consensus-based electoral council, mobilize the financial resources necessary for the elections and guarantee political parties financial support to prevent dirty money from influencing election campaigns. At the same time, the political parties should work towards a political panorama that groups them according to their affiliations to avoid fragmenting the electorate and to ensure that the winners have genuine popular legitimacy. It would of course be a good idea to revise the Constitution, including where it concerns the length of terms of office, the balance of powers, the authorization and timing of the discharge of administrative duties, the definition of roles at the local-authority level and the conditions for integrating the Haitian diaspora into the political, economic and social life of the country. With respect to cleaning up public finances, the Government must regain control of the collection agencies and reorganize the economic and financial institutions in agreement with the private sector. It should also set up boards of directors and management bodies for the audit agencies, with the participation of technocrats who reflect the make-up of the various groups, especially the Petrochallengers. The situation being what it is, it is up to the current authorities, the political actors and civil society to stand together to face these challenges, which taken together are not insurmountable if we take advantage of the critical mass of Haitians, both in the diaspora and living in the country, who are capable of improving Haiti’s poor prospects. The international community is also called on to contribute. In that regard, I am pleased to note various programmes that have been implemented by technical and financial partners. In particular, I welcome BINUH, which for three years has taken on the difficult mission of supporting Haitian actors in a context of unprecedented institutional crisis and growing political polarization. BINUH has further engaged with Haitian civil society, including youth and women’s organizations, especially during the past year, and has tried to encourage all stakeholders to build a broader consensus capable of facilitating a political and security climate conducive to holding elections. I therefore encourage BINUH to increase its efforts along those lines, including working more closely with young people and civil society. However, BINUH would be even more effective if it had adequate resources to strengthen its good-offices mission and its work of advising and supporting the efforts of the Haitian National Police in combating the violence of armed gangs. That would help the Haitian authorities meet the people’s demands and the country’s urgent security needs, which if not managed could lead Haiti into irreversible chaos. The root causes of human rights abuses, which often originate in a lack of respect for economic, social and cultural rights, must be addressed. In 2012 Haiti ratified the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, and we would therefore like to see the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights strengthen the Haitian authorities’ implementation of those rights, including by signing an agreement with the Government to support the realization of economic, social and cultural rights in concert with the United Nations. Finally, I would like to emphasize the need for women to be more integrated into the decision-making arenas. I also want to acknowledge and encourage the commitment and participation of young people. In view of the demographic transition that is under way in Haiti, in which young people will have a significant numerical advantage, it is crucial to create new alliances with young Haitians in their quest to build their lives and to prepare them to better shape a new Haiti in the service of its 12 million inhabitants.

I thank Mr. Descardes for his briefing. I would like to draw the attention of speakers to paragraph 22 of presidential note S/2017/507, which encourages all participants in Council meetings to deliver their statements in five minutes or less, in line with the Security Council’s commitment to making more effective use of open meetings. I now give the floor to those Council members who wish to make statements.

I thank Special Representative La Lime for her briefing on the situation in Haiti and for the ongoing efforts of the United Nations Integrated Office in Haiti (BINUH) and the United Nations country team. I thank Mr. Descardes for his invaluable perspective on the issues faced by civil society and its essential role in finding lasting solutions to Haiti’s long-standing challenges. We also welcome the participation of representatives of Haiti and the Dominican Republic in this meeting. I thank Foreign Minister Généus for joining us today. Once again, the Security Council has before it a report from the Secretary-General (S/2022/481) highlighting gang violence, insecurity and worrying humanitarian and economic conditions in Haiti. Once again, we will all express our concern about the trends highlighted in this report, as well as the more recent reports of attacks on a courthouse in Port-au-Prince. Once again, we will condemn the horrific toll the ongoing violence has exacted on women and children in Haiti. And once again, we will all reiterate that it is long past time for Haiti’s stakeholders to set aside their differences and to finally put Haiti and Haitians first. That action can be taken only by Haiti’s leaders. Until they choose to do so collectively, the years of discussions in search of a political accord, along with the years of deteriorating security conditions, will remain fundamental challenges to an electoral process. The people of Haiti deserve better. As we have repeatedly emphasized to Haiti’s stakeholders, the time is long past for Haiti’s various competing coalitions to find their way to a consensus. The United States stands ready to support Haitian efforts to establish a broadly representative and inclusive provisional electoral council. In the interim, the Government of Haiti must also start the technical work needed to enable free and fair elections when conditions permit. In response to the security situation, the United States will continue to provide increased levels of capacity-building assistance to the Haitian National Police, technical assistance and other logistical support to improve citizen security. Haiti’s ongoing political impasse, difficult human rights conditions and high levels of poverty and food insecurity only underscore the importance of BINUH. The United States commends BINUH for its expertise and its coordination of the international community’s efforts in support of political progress, human rights and security in Haiti. We also take note of the Secretary-General’s assessment that a special political mission remains the configuration recommended by the United Nations for addressing Haiti’s most pressing challenges, his endorsement of a 12-month mandate and his recommendation to further enhance BINUH’s effectiveness. And we look forward to beginning mandate renewal discussions with the Council and the reauthorization of BINUH’s mandate in the coming weeks. But we must also make it clear that while BINUH and a robust United Nations presence in Haiti are essential, they are not substitutes for meaningful reforms that can only be undertaken by Haiti’s leaders. Ultimately, only the people of Haiti can determine the way forward. Given the challenges ahead, Haiti needs the strong support of the Security Council and the international community. Together with Mexico, the United States looks forward to working with all Council members to help deliver that urgently needed support by renewing the mandate of BINUH.

I thank Ms. La Lime and Mr. Descardes for their briefings. I also welcome the presence at this meeting of the Minister for Foreign Affairs of Haiti and the representative of the Dominican Republic. We once again recognize the commendable work done by civil society and the United Nations staff in Haiti. We also express our solidarity with the staff of the United Nations Integrated Office in Haiti (BINUH) who have been victims of violence. Four months ago, the members of the Security Council agreed that the situation in Haiti could hardly be more disturbing than it was at that time, given the political, humanitarian, economic and human rights crises it faced. Today, however, we regret that the situation has worsened. The levels of urban violence, mainly in Port-au- Prince, are staggering. The cases of sexual violence perpetrated against women, girls and young men are truly alarming. Juxtaposed with the impunity of the gangs are the deplorable conditions of the detainees in Haitian prisons, most of whom are being held without trial. Victims are unlikely to find justice under the current circumstances. The growing security crisis and the suffering of the Haitian people aggravate the multidimensional challenges to political stability and limit any progress towards sustainable development. Moreover, weapons are readily available, including some high-calibre weapons in the hands of gangs. We must focus on the sources of such weapons as an indispensable first step to address the crisis. In that regard, we believe that the container inspection programme and support for customs authorities are essential. Given the weakness of the justice and police apparatus, international cooperation is essential to strengthen the rule of law. In that regard, my country will join the joint support programme of the Haitian National Police, as part of the efforts to coordinate international collaboration efforts in security matters. We also welcome initiatives put forward by the Peacebuilding Fund and the support provided by the United Nations Regional Centre for Peace, Disarmament and Development in Latin America and the Caribbean to implement a national weapons and ammunition plan. The deterioration of Haiti’s natural environment, in particular the deforestation of its territory and the adverse effects of climate change, is another important factor that contributes to its instability, which is clearly exacerbated by food insecurity. On the political front, Mexico regrets that no agreements have been reached to date among the main political actors. The Secretary-General’s report (S/2022/481) essentially rules out the holding of elections this year. However, we need to start by setting up an Electoral Council to coordinate and conduct the upcoming elections. The Haitian people need democratically elected authorities who can address the current crises. Against that dire backdrop, we underscore what was stated in the Secretary-General’s assessment of BINUH: Haiti needs a robust United Nations presence in the form of a special political mission with a strong and stable mandate. BINUH’s good offices are essential to encourage political dialogue and unite efforts to revitalize the judicial system, support assistance to the Haitian National Police and coordinate efforts among the various United Nations programmes in Haiti. In addition, it is time to strengthen the Mission’s human rights and sexual violence components. While we recognize the undeniable limits of the United Nations presence in Haiti in recent decades, it is essential that, as an international community and as the Security Council, we assume our responsibility to the Haitian people, with full respect for their sovereignty and self-determination. Mexico is committed to supporting its sister Caribbean nation. In that regard, together with the United States, we must take action, with the support of all Council members, in view of the renewal of BINUH’s mandate, which clearly needs to be strengthened.

I would like to thank Special Representative of the Secretary-General La Lime for her briefing and her team’s work in an increasingly challenging context. I welcome hearing from our civil society briefer, and I welcome His Excellency the Minister for Foreign Affairs of Haiti, who is joining us today. Allow me to make three points. First, the international community must remain committed to supporting a Haitian-led solution to the complex security, health and economic challenges faced by the Haitian people. The United Kingdom firmly believes that the work of the United Nations Integrated Office in Haiti (BINUH) is fundamental in facilitating a united approach to resolving those multifaceted challenges. By strengthening the Haitian National Police and facilitating dialogue between Haitian political stakeholders, BINUH’s efforts lay the groundwork for stability in Haiti. It is therefore critical that BINUH continue that work, and we look forward to discussions on the renewal. Secondly, while we support Haitian-led solutions, we understand there has been limited progress by Haitian stakeholders in resolving the political gridlock. We are disappointed that that continues to obstruct potential solutions for securing the welfare of the Haitian people. We call on all actors to resume negotiations and agree to form a Government capable of ensuring the necessary security environment within which free and fair elections can be held as soon as possible. Furthermore, it is extremely regrettable that the perpetrators of the assassination of President Moïse have not yet been brought to justice. That abhorrent act undermined the Haitian people’s right to determine their own future democratically. Thirdly, as the Security Council discussed in May, the security and human rights situation continues to deteriorate, notably with the increase in kidnappings, indiscriminate criminal violence and instances of human trafficking. Those kidnappings increasingly target members of the international community who are often supporting the efforts of the Haitian Government to overcome those crises. Women and girls in Haiti experience myriad human rights abuses, including sexual and gender- based violence. The United Kingdom urges the Haitian authorities to improve access to medical and psychosocial services for survivors and to hold perpetrators to account. We continue to support BINUH’s work with the Government of Haiti and the international community to tackle those challenges. We look forward to renewed efforts by BINUH to help restore human rights and the rule of law through its next mandate. We remain deeply worried by the humanitarian situation in Haiti. Existing economic and health crises have been compounded by the devastating earthquake in southern Haiti last year and the rise in global food prices exacerbated by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. The United Kingdom encourages all actors to work constructively to find solutions to the root causes of those crises and to support recovery and progress for the Haitian people.

I have the honour to deliver this statement on behalf of the three African members of the Security Council (A3), namely, Ghana, Kenya and my country, Gabon. We thank Special Representative of the Secretary- General Helen La Lime for her enlightening briefing, and Mr. Arnoux Descardes for his contribution. We also welcome the participation of Minister for Foreign Affairs of Haiti and the representative of the Dominican Republic at this meeting. Since our previous meeting in February (see S/PV.8969), the situation in Haiti has rapidly deteriorated, raising serious concerns. Gang violence has continued to cause unprecedented suffering among civilians and a worsening of the humanitarian situation. People have been forced to flee their homes, children have dropped out of school and the overwhelmed Haitian National Police has been forced to focus on combating armed gangs and protecting internally displaced persons. Those who have studied Haiti’s history understand that the revolution resulted in a heavy burden for it, as it was made to pay reparations for its freedom. Haiti’s legacy of underdevelopment and insecurity cannot be separated from the historical injustices it has suffered for rising up against slavery. In a country that has for decades remained resilient in the face of every form of adversity, it is disheartening to see such high levels of unrest, with thousands of young people fleeing their homes in search of safety and a better life. The Council has always been united in the view that Haiti faces serious political, security, economic and humanitarian challenges. The situation in Haiti today demands greater attention from the international community and it is imperative to ensure that the Council takes more decisive and urgent measures. In that regard, the A3 would like to make the following comments. First, with regard to the political situation, while recognizing the initiatives that are under way, the A3 also notes the challenges that the various stakeholders have encountered in engaging in a comprehensive national dialogue process. As Africans, we are very interested in the role that the region can play in resolving the crisis. We therefore commend the Caribbean Community for its commitment and initiatives, particularly in the context of the post-earthquake recovery. The best solution to the current political situation is through a genuine process of inclusive, broadly Haitian-led and -owned national dialogue, which must include the full participation of women and young people. The A3 therefore calls on all Haitian stakeholders to set aside their differences, build trust, unite in the common interests of the Haitian people and move towards a democratic electoral process. We reaffirm the importance of creating the conditions essential to holding transparent, inclusive, secure and credible elections. To that end, we welcome the establishment of the tripartite committee and urge all stakeholders to support its activities in order to ensure a political consensus. We call on regional and international stakeholders to support the facilitation of a Haitian-led and -owned initiative to address the current political situation. Secondly, the A3 is deeply concerned about the horrific atrocities, including heinous murders and mutilations, that armed gangs are committing against innocent civilians. The reports of people being burned alive and houses set on fire are deeply shocking. We strongly condemn the terror that has been inflicted on vulnerable populations, including women and children, in Haiti. The recruitment of minors by armed gangs is deeply worrying, and we reaffirm that the perpetrators of such revolting crimes must be held accountable. While we recognize the various efforts to strengthen the Haitian National Police (HNP) and reinforce the State security apparatus, the rise in gang violence, sexual and gender-based violence and kidnappings has laid bare the inadequacies of existing security measures. The Haitian National Police’s capacity must be strengthened by providing it with human resources and equipment to combat cross-border crime and community violence. We welcome the ongoing efforts of the United Nations Integrated Office in Haiti (BINUH) and other partners to strengthen the capacity of the HNP, with a particular focus on anti-gang operations. Only when we are able to adequately support the HNP in that endeavour can we hope to reduce gang control and achieve the minimum security conditions necessary for Haiti to begin its return to stability. We also urge the donor community to contribute generously to the basket fund established to strengthen the HNP’s capacity to combat the illicit cross-border trade, as well as to promote the professionalization of the police and improve its effectiveness in terms of intelligence gathering, governance and accountability. We know what the international community is capable of when it is truly mobilized around a cause. We need to mobilize massively around the situation in Haiti before it is too late for the entire region. We welcome the prospect of the presence of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) in Haiti and the promising opportunities it can offer in terms of controlling the flow of arms and illicit substances, strengthening customs controls and increasing Government revenue. Breaking the link between politics, gangs and illicit financial flows is still crucial. We urge the Council and other international partners to help the Haitian Government combat corruption and illicit financial flows into and out of the country in order to disrupt the supply chains supporting armed gangs. Thirdly, to restore the rule of law, the Haitian authorities must enact comprehensive reform of the justice sector in order to address prolonged pretrial detentions, expedite court cases and establish functional court registries. That will also ensure that the perpetrators of various heinous crimes and violence are held accountable. They cannot go unpunished. We commend the positive role of BINUH and the United Nations specialized agencies in that regard, particularly through the appointment of 113 judges, which is intended to help restore the functioning of the courts, as well as their efforts to implement the new criminal and criminal procedure codes. Fourthly, the lack of economic opportunities and insufficient access to basic services have prompted many Haitians to leave the country, which for many means risking their lives and those of their loved ones. The country continues to lose the valuable labour force that is vital to ensuring its reconstruction and investment. The challenges that Haitian migrants are facing are a clear reminder of the dire economic situation. There is an urgent need to strengthen Haiti’s fiscal systems in order to enable it to mobilize domestic resources for its development. We encourage the international community to come together and provide additional support for food security, infrastructure development, justice and security-sector reform, education and disaster risk management. We are closely following the ongoing discussions between the Government and international donors to find structural solutions to the economic crisis. In a country where 31 per cent of the population is between the ages of 10 and 24 and where the youth unemployment rate is high, there is an urgent need to provide job opportunities. The future prospects for Haiti’s youth cannot be reduced to a choice between exile and gangs. We urge the country team to adopt an approach that focuses on employment and women’s empowerment in order to support economic recovery. We welcome the work of the United Nations Development Programme in that regard, including action to operationalize national food sovereignty, as well as food security and nutrition policy, and the development of a road map for food processing. (spoke in English) Fifthly, as the BINUH mandate comes up for renewal next month, the A3 reaffirms its support for the work of the Mission and welcomes the recommendations in Mr. Mourad Wahba’s independent assessment. We encourage the Council to consider them carefully in the light of the current situation and to come up with an appropriate mandate to comprehensively address Haiti’s growing challenges. The A3 would also like to echo the statement made on Monday by the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Ms. Michelle Bachelet, recommending that the human rights component of the BINUH team be strengthened by the addition of personnel specialized in sexual violence. Impunity must be met with an implacable response. In conclusion, the current situation offers the Council a unique opportunity to prevent Haiti from descending into a deeper crisis by coming up with practical solutions. We need to unite and act in a manner that is supportive of Haiti and all Haitians. The situation in Haiti must concern all of us, because Haiti is less than 2,500 kilometres from where we are now and the extreme poverty that prevails there cannot, and must not, leave us indifferent. The A3 reiterates its solidarity with the Haitian people and its support for BINUH.

I would like to express my appreciation to Special Representative of the Secretary- General Helen La Lime for her comprehensive yet stark report. I also thank Mr. Descardes for his valuable input. We welcome the participation in today’s meeting of the Minister for Foreign Affairs of Haiti and the representative of the Dominican Republic. As the discussions on the renewal of the mandate of the United Nations Integrated Office in Haiti (BINUH)  — which should be adopted no later than 15 July  — start to gain momentum, it is imperative to recognize that the efforts of the international community regarding Haiti have simply not yielded the expected results. As pointed out in the Secretary-General’s most recent report (S/2022/481), nearly one year after the assassination of President Moïse and two and a half years since the dissolution of Parliament, the political deadlock remains, gang violence has increased and the legislative and judicial branches of power remain inoperative. Not only do there seem to be no relevant signs of improvement regarding any of the dimensions of the multifaceted crisis in Haiti, but the situation in some respects, such as the security situation, also seems to be deteriorating. We had hoped that, during our presidency of the Security Council in July, we would to be able to organize a field mission to Haiti before the renewal of the BINUH mandate, but the security conditions in Haiti and BINUH’s insufficient resources to guarantee the safety of the Mission made us postpone that idea. The economic, political and institutional situation of the country is extremely fragile, and holding elections in such a context remains a daunting and elusive objective. Such a bleak scenario makes it almost self- evident that United Nations efforts in Haiti, especially BINUH’s structure, are currently insufficient to prompt progress on the ground. Let me be clear: there is an urgent need to change our approach before the situation spirals out of control and becomes a possible threat to regional security. The assessment of BINUH’s mandate at the request of the Security Council, conducted under the leadership of Mr. Mourad Wahba, provides important insights into some of the changes needed. In addition to BINUH’s good-offices initiatives to break the current political stalemate, its efforts should encompass urgent measures to support the Haitian authorities in controlling gang violence and improving the functioning of the justice system, which are paramount for bringing institutional normalcy to Haiti, as well as longer-term projects to help Haiti address the root causes behind the persistent levels of violence and instability in the country. As we firmly believe in Haitian solutions for Haitian problems, we are glad that the assessment recognizes that the Haitian National Police, “with steady national and international commitments and investments”, may acquire the necessary capabilities to curb violence in the country. With those elements in mind, Brazil proposes the following actions in the context of the renewal of BINUH’s mandate. First, we must reinforce BINUH’s structure to provide specialized support to the Haitian National Police to deal with the deteriorating security conditions and the greater sophistication of gang activities. In addition, BINUH’s security contingent needs to be strengthened and better equipped to guarantee the safety and mobility of United Nations staff. Secondly, we must provide BINUH with a specific mandate to support the Haitian authorities in controlling illicit financial flows. Thirdly, we must scale up BINUH’s capacity to support the Haitian judiciary. Fourthly, we must strengthen BINUH’s mandate concerning the prevention, monitoring and investigation of human rights abuses, in the light of the serious reports on the pervasive levels of human rights violations, especially those of a sexual or gender-based nature. Fifthly, we must encourage more proactive use of strategic communications in order to raise local awareness of BINUH’s mandate and build trust and confidence among the local population. The assessment of the independent expert, Mr. Wahba, found there is a lack of clarity of BINUH’s purpose and an expectation gap among local actors. Strategic communication is an important tool to help address that issue. Finally, we concur with the Secretary-General’s assessment that BINUH’s mandate should be kept broad enough to allow for some flexibility to respond to the instability and changing situation on the ground. In summary, we consider it a moral imperative to increase efforts to relieve the plight of the Haitian people. We therefore propose that the United Nations presence in Haiti be strengthened in terms of resources, capabilities, personnel and security. BINUH needs bold and innovative approaches, as well as an enlarged structure that is better equipped for the challenges that it faces. Furthermore, Brazil encourages enhanced cooperation between the Security Council and other United Nations bodies, such as the Economic and Social Council and the Peacebuilding Commission. It is clear that there is no short-term solution to Haiti’s problems. But I would like to stress, once again, that Brazil’s commitment to Haiti is unwavering and that the Haitian people may count on our continued support and solidarity.

At the outset, I would like to thank the Special Representative of the Secretary-General, Ms. Helen La Lime, for her valuable briefing and her efforts in Haiti. We welcome the participation of His Excellency the Minister for Foreign Affairs of Haiti and the representative of the Dominican Republic in today’s meeting. I also thank Mr. Descardes for his extensive information. Today’s meeting comes at a critical juncture for Haiti. We are witnessing a deteriorating security situation there, including a significant increase in gang violence that has killed nearly 200 people in one month. In addition, women and girls continue to be subjected to sexual violence, with no accountability for those crimes. Kidnappings, including of United Nations personnel, have become a major source of income for the gangs. All of those challenges have exacerbated the already fragile humanitarian situation in the country, in which more than 4.5 million Haitians are suffering today from acute food insecurity. Meanwhile, Haiti continues to be exposed to natural disasters owing to climate change, which has further increased humanitarian needs and impeded the delivery of aid. In that context, the United Arab Emirates welcomes the findings of the Secretary-General’s strategic assessment, which will inform our discussions in the upcoming period as we consider the best ways to enhance the support provided by the United Nations Integrated Office in Haiti (BINUH) to the country. We look forward to engaging constructively with the other members of the Security Council in that regard. We are also sincerely grateful to Mr. Mourad Wahba and his team for their role in providing a clearer picture of the situation in Haiti. In my statement today I would like to focus on the following three areas. First, setting up an inclusive, nationally led political process is one of the most important ways to support Haiti on its path toward peace and stability. We believe that BINUH can contribute to achieving that objective, particularly through its efforts to facilitate a national dialogue. In addition, and as we have repeatedly emphasized in the Council, sustainable peace requires the full, equal and meaningful participation of women in all peacemaking processes, and we therefore welcome BINUH’s efforts to work with women at the local level to identify recommendations aimed at enhancing their participation in the political arena. Secondly, we must support anti-corruption measures in order to advance the restoration of stability and security in Haiti. Such measures include addressing the trafficking and proliferation of illegal arms and financial flows, which amplify gang violence and undermine stability in Haiti and the entire region. In that context, we appreciate the efforts of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) to build Haiti’s anti-corruption capabilities through initiatives supporting border security such as the Global Container Control Programme. We also support ongoing efforts to enhance cooperation between UNODC, the Government of Haiti and BINUH. Thirdly, the capacity of the Haitian National Police (HNP) must be strengthened to enable it to respond effectively to the growing security challenges and rising levels of gang-related violence. That includes increasing its presence across the country and improving its intelligence capabilities. In order to address the continuing rise in conflict-related sexual violence and hold the perpetrators accountable, it is important to appoint HNP officers who specialize in providing protection to women and girls, which would help to improve women and girls’ sustainable access to basic services and to temporary response measures such as mobile medical clinics. It should be noted that improving the security sector in Haiti will be more effective if it is complemented by community violence-reduction programmes, which can address the root causes of violence and socioeconomic disparities in Haiti directly. In conclusion, the United Arab Emirates emphasizes its solidarity with Haitians and its full support for BINUH and its efforts to achieve security and stability in Haiti.

First of all, I would like to thank Special Representative La Lime for her briefing. I also listened carefully to the statement by the representative of civil society. The Secretary-General’s report (S/2022/481) and the briefing by the Special Representative of the Secretary-General show that Haiti is deeply mired in political, economic, security and humanitarian crises, which is dispiriting and disquieting. We are profoundly sympathetic to the Haitian people in their tragic plight, as well as seriously concerned about the escalations of gang violence and the kidnapping and maiming of women and children. A large number of Haitians have fled their homes in despair only to be violently expelled and repatriated en masse by some countries in an inhumane way. The basic human rights of Haitian refugees, especially women and children, have been grossly violated, and the situation is cause for great concern. China strongly condemns the kidnapping of United Nations staff and calls on the Haitian Government to protect their safety and security effectively. We strongly appeal to all political parties in Haiti to actively respond to people’s expectations, reject self-interest, show political responsibility and accountability, end the senseless political struggles, restore constitutional law and order and State governance as soon as possible and put an end to disorder and paralysis. That is the only way for Haiti to achieve security and stability and emerge from the crisis. Over the past 30 years, the United Nations has made immense efforts and invested huge resources in aid of Haiti. But the security and humanitarian situations have gone from bad to worse, while the people have continued to suffer terribly. As we speak, according to the Secretary-General’s report, 4.9 million Haitian people  — 43 per cent of the total population  — are reliant on humanitarian assistance. Gang violence is spiralling upwards. From January to May, the number of kidnappings increased by 36.4 per cent year on year, with nearly 200 kidnappings and more than 2,000 murders in May alone, which is a record high. The collusion between gang forces and Government officials has contributed to rampant transnational crime, smuggling and drug trafficking, while national governance might as well be non-existent. The international community should respond to the realities, learn from the lessons of the past, eliminate the systematic and structural problems that hinder Haiti’s peaceful development and explore ways to provide it with more targeted and effective support and assistance. First, it is imperative to push Haiti to end the political deadlock as soon as possible. An effective constitutional mechanism and order are the fundamental sine qua non for Haiti’s ability to attain lasting security and stability. To promote a political solution that is Haitian-owned and -led, the United Nations Integrated Office in Haiti (BINUH) needs a greater sense of urgency and must step up its political mediation efforts. One immediate priority should be urging the Haitian Government and political leaders to shoulder their responsibility for managing the country effectively, encourage all the parties to proceed in the interests of the country and the people and use dialogue and consultation to determine the transitional political process and general election arrangements, with a view to restoring constitutional order as soon as possible. Secondly, effective measures should be taken to first deal with the root causes in order to improve the security situation effectively. The Secretary-General points out in the BINUH mandate assessment report that attention should be given to addressing the underlying causes of the volatile security situation in Haiti. We have noted that BINUH is assisting Haiti in strengthening its police capacity-building and is cooperating with the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime to strengthen controls at the ports and combat smuggling. Lessons from the past show that in order to restore social stability and security and crack down thoroughly on gang activities, it is essential to cut off the supply chain of gang funding and weaponry, especially to severely punish the gang leaders and politicians who are colluding for profit. The Security Council should consider taking effective measures in that regard, give a clear warning about acts that obstruct and undermine the process of political dialogue and threaten Haiti’s security and take measures against gang leaders and politicians who collude with gangs. Thirdly, countries in Latin America and the Caribbean can leverage their advantage and play a greater role in supporting peace and development in Haiti. The situation in Haiti has remained turbulent for a long time. Its spillover effects are posing an ever- increasing threat to regional security and stability. China calls on the countries of the region and regional organizations to help Haiti promote political dialogue and to enhance coordination and cooperation in combating drug trafficking, arms smuggling and illegal financial flows. China hopes that the Security Council will seize the opportunity of the renewal of BINUH’s mandate to carry out a comprehensive review of its work and, in the light of the current situation in Haiti and the Secretary-General’s mandate assessment report, explore more effective ways for BINUH to provide Haiti with support. BINUH’s mandate should have the right focus, seek to address Haiti’s problems pertinently and be results-oriented. In addition, the Mission should use a regular review mechanism to assess the implementation of all mandated tasks and make timely adjustments in order to optimize such implementation. The Council’s support for BINUH should produce results and hopes, rather than one disappointment after another. China stands ready to have in-depth discussions with other Council members on the renewal of BINUH’s mandate, including its mandated tasks and duration, as well as on the coordination and cooperation between BINUH and the United Nations system agencies present in Haiti, particularly on how to take strong and effective measures to control illicit money and arms inflows, so as to jointly explore practical, effective and sustainable ways to curb illicit financial flows and help Haiti exit the crisis as soon as possible and embark on a clear path towards peaceful development.

I too would like to thank Special Representative of the Secretary-General La Lime for her briefing, as well as Mr. Arnoux Descardes for his important testimony today. I also want to welcome the Foreign Minister of Haiti to the Chamber. I will focus my remarks this afternoon on three areas of particular concern. As we have heard, today’s lived reality for the Haitian people is one of constant intimidation, grievous violence and absolute terror. The collapse of State control and rampant gang activity has led to the population living in fear — of being caught in the crossfire or kidnapped if they leave their homes — and with no guarantee of protection from sexual violence or assault, even in their own homes. Ireland condemns in the strongest possible terms the systematic use of sexual violence as a weapon against countless women and girls across the country. Men and boys are also affected. Testimony from victims and survivors make clear the scale and brutality of the acts being perpetrated against the Haitian people, with the perpetrators being emboldened by impunity and seemingly untouchable in the context of a failed judicial system. Civil society space in Haiti is shrinking as a direct consequence of the violence utilized by gangs to exert control and dominate the population. Social leaders, not least women leaders, risk their lives and those of their families in standing up for their rights and working constructively to create a better, more peaceful future for Haiti. The many and varied challenges confronting the Haitian people cannot be overcome in the absence of active, stable and representative governance. The need for an inclusive dialogue in which women can participate fully, meaningfully and safely has never been more urgent. Those committed to working to overcome political deadlock in Haiti need to be protected. They need the support, encouragement and assistance of the United Nations and the international community. As we look towards the renewal of the mandate of the United Nations Integrated Office in Haiti (BINUH), what is clear is the dire and urgent need to help build capacity within the Haitian National Police. It is also crucial to support judicial reform, strengthen the capacity to provide protection from gender-based violence and provide a holistic response to victims. The Security Council is keenly aware of the impact the current food security crisis is having on fragile countries across the globe. Haiti has not escaped that ripple effect, with almost half of its population now facing severe food insecurity. Violence has disrupted food production, transport and access to markets for millions, who are falling deeper into hunger and acute malnutrition. Spiralling fuel costs further compound the situation. Humanitarian access has grown more precarious, curtailed by gang control of roads, ports and border crossings. Humanitarian workers, focused solely on alleviating dire need, are being targeted by gangs and are at risk of kidnapping and sexual violence. Yet against that challenging environment, the humanitarian response plan in Haiti remains less than 30 per cent funded, which is one of the lowest levels of funding of any plan. At a time of global turbulence, we must not allow the humanitarian needs of Haiti to be forgotten. The Council has a responsibility to those carrying out its good offices and its mandate. That means ensuring that BINUH has adequate resources to carry out all its mandated functions. We have heard about the extreme jeopardy facing its staff in their efforts to carry out our mandate. They carry an unimaginable burden in our name. Ireland looks forward to engaging constructively with Council members to deliver a mandate in support of the Haitian people that includes resources, both human and financial, that are sufficient to the task at hand. We welcome the recommendations made by the Secretary- General resulting from the independent assessment. Over the coming weeks, we have a responsibility to consider how to translate those into actions through the new mandate. Today’s meeting has left us in no doubt — if any doubt had existed — as to the scale of the challenges being faced by the Haitian people. Our deep regret and concern are not enough. The people of Haiti deserve our action.

At the outset, let me thank Special Representative of the Secretary-General La Lime for her comprehensive briefing on the implementation of the Security Council mandate given to the United Nations Integrated Office in Haiti (BINUH) and on the recent developments in Haiti. I would also like to thank the civil society briefer, Mr. Descardes, for his remarks. We welcome the presence of Haiti’s Foreign Minister at today’s meeting and the representative of the Dominican Republic. As we have seen in the past decade, recovery from the multidimensional challenges in Haiti has not been easy. The resilience of the people of Haiti has been tested repeatedly by unpredictable political developments and tragic natural calamities. Last year, Haiti faced challenges on both those fronts. First, there was the assassination of President Moïse in July last year, followed by the devastating high-magnitude earthquake and subsequent hurricane in August. All of those calamities exacerbated the humanitarian crisis. The political and security situation has remained precarious over the past four months. Haitian political stakeholders have yet to reach any agreement on the transition, the restoration of functioning institutions and the holding of elections. The dire humanitarian situation has been further complicated by the prevailing situation of economic stagnation. In that context, we note the recent efforts of Special Representative La Lime and her team in facilitating dialogue among the interim Government, the opposition and civil society groups. It is important to have a clear timeline and road map for the transition and the holding of elections in Haiti. All Haitian stakeholders need to work constructively to build trust and confidence and arrive at a consensus on the restoration of the constitutional order through a realistic and practical road map. The restoration of law and order has remained one of the biggest impediments to Haiti’s progress. The persisting gang-related violence and kidnappings, including in the capital city of Port-au-Prince, have further contributed to the prevailing sense of insecurity. In some instances, United Nations personnel have also been targeted. Such attacks deserve the Council’s strongest condemnation, and we call for swift action against the perpetrators. We also reiterate the importance of proactively pursuing the capacity-building of the Haitian National Police. In that regard, we welcome the formal request of the interim Government to the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime for assistance in addressing the perennial problem of the entry of illicit goods into Haiti. We also underscore the importance of the smooth and efficient functioning of the respective judicial institutions to address the environment of impunity. On mandate renewal with regard to BINUH, we have taken note of the Secretary-General’s findings that Haiti is undergoing one of the most difficult periods in its history. The presence of BINUH is important, and it needs to be empowered to support Haitian authorities in a more purposeful manner. My delegation will engage constructively in the mandate renewal discussions. India has had a long-standing relation with Haiti and its people. India has been a major troop-contributing country to United Nations peacekeeping operations in Haiti and contributed three formed police units to the United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti. These were in operation until 2017. India has also extended assistance to Haiti in its times of need, commencing with the 2010 earthquake rehabilitation efforts. We also extended emergency financial aid of $2,050,000 to Haiti in the aftermath of Hurricane Matthew in October 2016. More recently, we donated essential life-saving medicines to address the coronavirus disease pandemic. We have full confidence that the people of Haiti have the strength and resilience to overcome the current challenges they face. India reiterates its commitment to support the people of Haiti in these testing times.

I thank Special Representative of the Secretary-General La Lime for her briefing today and the pertinent recommendations in the report (S/2022/481). We thank her and team for their dedication and efforts in Haiti. We would also like to thank Mr. Arnoux Descardes for his valuable input, and we welcome the presence today of the Foreign Minister of Haiti in the Chamber. Once again, we must stress our deep concern for what Haiti and the Haitian people are going through. As the recent report sets out, almost every indicator shows a negative situation. Violence has affected the ability of Haitians to meet their basic needs. Approximately 17,000 citizens have reportedly fled gang-affected areas, and there is evidence of recruitment of minors by armed gangs. The chronic kidnapping situation is also a worrisome example drawing together the exploitation, insecurity and the disregard for human rights that is endemic in Haiti. We are also alarmed by reports of increasing use of sexual and gender-based violence against girls and women by gangs as a form of retaliation and punishment. It is vital that victims and survivors have safe access to comprehensive health services, legal services and information. We are also concerned that the Haitian National Police sexual and gender-based violence data centre is no longer functional. The rule of law and the justice sector must be strengthened in order to end this cycle of impunity and promote accountability for human rights violations and abuses. In addition, as we head into hurricane season, we once again call for greater focus on resilience-building. Climate disasters take multidimensional forms and impact the poorest rural communities the most. As people are forced to flee to cities, they are increasingly vulnerable to exploitation by gangs. The relationship is clear  — there are climate elements that contribute to instability. We therefore believe that this should be a stronger part of the work of the United Nations Integrated Office in Haiti (BINUH) and the United Nations family. Norway remains committed to the presence of the United Nations in Haiti through BINUH, the country team and agencies, funds and programmes. We look forward to actively engaging in the upcoming mandate renewal process as a strong partner of Haiti. Norway will remain a development partner and provide further support in areas such as climate resilience, food security, water and sanitation and the empowerment of women. In facing those challenges, we urge all political actors in Haiti to come together to find a joint way forward and restore legitimately elected institutions. Political will must be found to forge reconciliation and a path towards free, fair and transparent elections. The only solution for Haiti is one created by Haitians themselves.

At the outset, I wish to join others in thanking Special Representative La Lime for her briefing. I would also like to thank Mr. Descardes for his briefing. I welcome the presence today of the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Religion of Haiti. As we just heard, there is an emergency in Haiti. The Haitian authorities must respond, and the international community must mobilize further. I would like to now touch upon several aspects. First, there is no alternative to dialogue for breaking the current political impasse. In that connection, the direct contacts established between the Prime Minister and the opposition are positive. All political actors must work to build the necessary consensus to organize elections once the conditions are met, particularly security conditions. In order to succeed, it is important to appoint Provisional Electoral Committee members that are acceptable to all. Secondly, gang violence must be stopped at all costs. We made that assessment less than a month ago when we met. Those criminal groups act with impunity and, as a result, the number of homicides and kidnappings this year has surged. Gangs undermine the authority of the State and plunder its resources. Without security, there can be neither rule of law nor development. Against that backdrop, our priority must be to strengthen the Haitian National Police. We therefore welcome the proposal to increase the ceiling for police advisers in the United Nations Integrated Office in Haiti (BINUH). The creation of a multi-donor funding fund is also a very welcome development. France has stepped up its security cooperation and will continue to do so. Thirdly, we need to return to the normal functioning of institutions. As mentioned, the prisons are overcrowded and dilapidated, without water or basic services. The Haitian judicial system, lacking resources, is also failing and unable to carry out the investigation into the assassination of President Jovenel Moïse, in particular. Impunity, like widespread corruption, undermines confidence in the State and destroys social ties. The budding cooperation between Haiti and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime is therefore a welcome and positive step. Finally, the economic and humanitarian situation in Haiti is alarming and is rapidly deteriorating. As mentioned several times today, nearly half of the Haitian population will need humanitarian aid in 2022. There is therefore an urgent need to strengthen humanitarian support, particularly food aid. Against that backdrop, it is essential that the Haitian State work to strengthen governance and the accountability of its institutions, particularly in the fight against corruption. Before concluding, I would like to return to the important work that the United Nations is doing in Haiti. As the Secretary-General’s report (S/2022/481) stresses, maintaining a robust United Nations presence in Haiti is essential, particularly in the political and security arenas. We hope that BINUH is renewed for another 12 months and provided a robust mandate and the necessary resources to carry out its difficult mission. France stands by Haiti, which is linked to France by ancient ties and a common language. I would like to commend the political and field work carried out by the International Organization of La Francophonie. France is determined to support the Haitians to bring the crisis to an end, which the country so desperately needs.

We welcome the participation in this meeting of Mr. Jean Victor Généus, Minister for Foreign Affairs and Religion of Haiti. We listened carefully to the remarks made by Mr. Arnoux Descardes. And we thank Special Representative of the Secretary-General Helen La Lime for her briefing on the situation in the country and the work of the United Nations Integrated Office in Haiti (BINUH). We are increasingly concerned by the developing situation in Haiti. The recent four-month reporting period was again characterized by continuing deterioration on all key issues  — from political settlement to the security and humanitarian situation. Key stakeholders in the Government, civil society and the business sector still fundamentally disagree on how to overcome the political deadlock. While we can see that Prime Minister Ariel Henry is trying to establish a dialogue with some forces, we have to admit that considering everything, it is premature to talk about concrete results. Unfortunately, BINUH’s assistance in organizing informal discussions between various groups is not having any perceptible effects either. We hope to see some fresh ideas in the discussions in the tripartite committee of representatives from academia, religious organizations and the business community. The security situation is being exacerbated by the armed groups that are fighting one another as well as the Government. In the first five months of the year, the number of kidnappings has increased by a third, murders went up, the number of internally displaced persons once again reached 17,000 and sex-related crimes were off the charts. All that demands that Haiti consolidate and enhance the effectiveness of its system of law enforcement, which is on the front lines of the country’s challenges. Nor should we forget the likely impact of the global food crisis caused by the irresponsible actions of Western States, for which they try to blame Russia, to no avail. We understand the Secretary-General’s logic when he concludes in his report (S/2022/481) that the current domestic political and security situation means that we cannot count seeing the long-overdue elections held before the end of the year. However, we believe that only a political settlement of the country’s internal contradictions can lead to a genuinely sustainable settlement. We have carefully studied the Secretary-General’s conclusions about the independent review of the work of the special political mission prepared in accordance with resolution 2600 (2021). We have noted his most detailed recommendations were about helping to strengthen the capacity of the Haitian National Police, and we are ready to give due consideration to the relevant recommendations as part of the work on the next draft resolution. However, we would like to see more details on the mission’s mandate to provide assistance to Haitians in establishing an internal dialogue. Without progress on the political track, tackling the country’s security problems may be merely tilting at windmills, because it is the chaos in the legislative, executive and judicial branches of the Government that is creating fertile ground for the rise in crime. Haitians must come up with a viable solution for emerging from their political nosedive on their own. Externally imposed solutions are not capable of dealing with the unique and complex nature of the underlying causes of Haiti’s crisis. We firmly believe that one of those causes is the years of external interference and the imposition of democratizing models that fail to consider the country’s specificities. That crude, bull-in-a-china-shop approach has become the primary cause of countless crises all over the world. Any international assistance, including that provided by the United Nations, must be responsible and based on broad national discussion. For our part, we will continue our efforts to achieve results through the work of the Security Council and the United Nations mission, which should be centred round a Haitian-led and exclusively Haitian-owned settlement process.

I shall now make a statement in my capacity as the representative of Albania. I join others in thanking Special Representative of the Secretary-General La Lime for her comprehensive briefing today, and I would like to express our special appreciation to Mr. Descardes for giving us a frank account of the situation in his home country and for providing us with some clear recommendations on how to better support the people of Haiti in their struggle for peace, stability and development. I welcome the presence of His Excellency Mr. Jean Victor Généus, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Haiti, and of the Ambassador of the Dominican Republic. Every United Nations and media report confirms that the security situation in Haiti is deteriorating rapidly. Gangs control most of the country’s territory. We are particularly concerned about the rise in sexual violence and the recruitment of minors by armed gangs. Some speak of a black hole in the Caribbean. In such a desperate situation, it is difficult to establish priorities, because everything is needed and everything becomes a priority. It is important to restore security and replace the rule of gangs with the rule of law. Haiti and its people cannot continue be subject to the law of the street. The Haitian National Police must be professional. It must be strengthened, assisted and trained in order to address the violence and to fight back against organized crime. Urgent measures are needed to guarantee law enforcement and improve judicial institutions. It is the responsibility of the Government of Haiti to protect its people, but as reality shows, it cannot do it alone. The international community should stand ready to listen to the pleas of the people of Haiti and do more to support the security institutions wherever necessary. In that regard, we welcome the creation of the multi-donor basket fund, in cooperation with the United Nations Development Programme, to support the Haitian National Police in becoming a more responsible, professional and accountable law-enforcement agency, as well as the establishment of the new joint country team units of the United Nations Integrated Office in Haiti (BINUH). The recommendations of the assessment mission to strengthen BINUH’s mandate and operations concerning the justice and law enforcement sectors will be very useful in reshaping the mandate, and we thank the United Nations and the independent expert for their work in that regard. We welcome the joint efforts of BINUH, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime and other international partners, in cooperation with the national authorities, to tackle corruption and illicit financial flows, which are used by gangs for their illegal activities and which undermine State authority. We believe that BINUH’s mandate should address the needs of the Government in overcoming those challenges, while also ensuring proper monitoring of the situation on the ground, including regarding human rights. With the increase in human rights violations and abuses, including sexual violence, BINUH’s human rights mandate and human rights services should be strengthened. We look forward to engaging with all Council members to design a strong mandate for BINUH, based on the findings of the assessment report, that will be fit for purpose in the challenging security and political context in Haiti. In conclusion, I would like to commend the Special Representative of the Secretary-General’s efforts to guide all the parties towards a conducive political environment. We know it is not easy, but we strongly believe that a sustainable solution for peace in Haiti can be achieved only through an inclusive dialogue among all political actors, the private sector, civil society and representatives of women and youth, paving the way for free and democratic elections as soon as feasible to bring back legitimacy, impose legal authority and build a State that works for all. I now resume my functions as President of the Council. I call on His Excellency Mr. Jean Victor Généus, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Haiti.

I am particularly honoured to be able to take part in this meeting of the Security Council to consider the Secretary-General’s eighth periodic report (S/2022/481) on the United Nations Integrated Office in Haiti (BINUH), pursuant to Council resolutions 2476 (2019) and 2600 (2021). Before presenting Haiti’s remarks, I would like to warmly congratulate you, Madam President, on Albania’s assumption of the presidency of the Council for the month of June. We wish you every success in conducting its work. I would also like to greet the other members of the Council and thank them for their contributions to this discussion, their expressions of concern and their thoughtful comments, which demonstrate their continued solidarity with Haiti and which we have duly noted. I extend my congratulations to the Special Representative of the Secretary-General, Ms. Helen La Lime, and thank her for her introduction of the report (S/2022/481), of which we took note with renewed interest. I also welcome the presence among us of Mr. Arnoux Descardes, Executive Director of Volontariat pour le développement d’Haïti, and thank him for his enlightening comments. I also welcome the presence of the Ambassador of the Dominican Republic, our neighbouring country, with which we have good relations. The report comes at a time when the security situation continues to worsen in Haiti. The activities of armed gangs has created a widespread climate of insecurity. Kidnappings for ransom and violent killings have become commonplace, and even foreign diplomats, including Members of the United Nations, are not spared. Clashes between rival gangs have claimed numerous victims among the population, and thousands of people have had to flee their homes to escape the violence. However, the authorities are not standing idly by. With the very limited resources available to them they are doing everything possible to incapacitate those who seek to maintain chaos and prevent the situation from being normalized. We welcome the fact that the Secretary-General’s report recognizes the efforts made by the Haitian National Police to counter gangs’ criminal activities. Its efforts have led to the arrest of a number of individuals suspected of involvement in kidnappings or killings. The Haitian National Police, the force on which the Government relies to respond to those phenomena, cannot go it alone in current circumstances despite the courage and the determination that it has shown so far despite its limited means. The Government of the Republic of Haiti has decided to make every sacrifice to free up the resources necessary to provide the Haitian National Police with the means it requires to carry out its mission effectively. The difficulties faced by the Haitian Administration in acquiring armoured vehicles and lethal weapons continue to put the Haitian National Police at a disadvantage vis-à-vis the gangs, which are able to acquire such weapons by means of smuggling. Given those circumstances, it is urgent for the Haitian National Police to receive, in the coming days, not the coming weeks or the coming months, robust support from our partners in the international community so that we can put an immediate end to this deeply unacceptable situation. The countries and organizations that are friends of Haiti must determine the most appropriate way to rapidly provide considerable assistance to us to give us sufficient equipment and means, training on the ground and to carry out the vetting of Haitian National Police personnel. That is essential if we wish to restore a stable security situation. The Government genuinely appreciates the assistance received from the international community to help the Haitian National Police uphold their responsibilities to protect and serve the population. I would highlight the initiatives taken by the United States, Canada and France of holding meetings with our international partners to discuss the numerous problems Haiti that faces and to provide the necessary international support. Several States Members of the United Nations have promised bilateral support to the Haitian Police Force, including financial and material assistance and specialized police advisers. We have taken note of the creation by the United Nations Integrated Office in Haiti (BINUH) of a basket fund to support the Haitian National Police in combating gang violence and organized crime. We warmly thank our international partners for their active cooperation and their solidarity. On that point, I welcome the recent report by the Secretary-General on the mandate of BINUH, which clearly points out the limits of the Haitian National Police as well as its lack of capacity and expertise in terms of the number of experts and degree of specialization in order to address the unprecedented level of crime in the country. We do not want the international community or foreign forces to replace the Haitian National Police and come in and do our work for us. What the Haitian Government wants is to see the remit and the capacity of BINUH bolstered to provide effective training and support for the Haitian National Police. The experience of the United Nations presence in Haiti in recent decades has shown the limits of that form of intervention, which is aimed at substituting for local forces in order to achieve satisfactory targeted results. However, we cannot but recognize the fact that following the withdrawal of international forces, local structures cannot achieve the same level of performance because they have not received adequate training and do not have the same means at their disposal. Security is a public good; it is a priority not only for our Government but also for the Haitian people, who are at their wits’ end. Urgent solutions are required as quickly as possible if we wish to restore Haitian democracy. We cannot seriously imagine any free, honest and democratic election in such an environment, much less a national economic recovery or sustainable development undertakings. Restoring normal functioning for our institutions can be achieved only through concerted action, so that we can put an end to armed-gang activities, which terrorize our people and prevent the free circulation of persons and goods. In addition to resolving the existing security problems, we need also to address, through effective management, other related short-term and structural issues that are directly related to the phenomenon of insecurity. I refer here to the dysfunctional judicial system, illicit trafficking in weapons, munitions and drugs, and corruption and smuggling. The exchange of information on individuals involved in those reprehensible acts and concerted actions is essential so that we can effectively combat insecurity. In the complex situation in Haiti today, the solution cannot be solely repressive. Many other parameters must be taken into account. Ending gang activity presupposes that the forces of law and order will be able to maintain control over recovered areas so that the State can fulfil its obligations, such as by providing basic services to the population, restoring police stations, building roads, providing drinking water, electricity and garbage collection, reopening schools, operating health centres and creating job opportunities. It is under such conditions that we will be able to settle citizens and stop irregular migration, which is a major challenge not only for us but also all the countries of the region. Moreover, we must not lose sight of the fact that finding a sustainable solution to the phenomenon of insecurity also requires the promotion of Haiti’s long- term socioeconomic development. Even if there is no causal relationship, there is nevertheless an intimate relationship between the level of crime and the situation of extreme poverty in the country.

I now give the floor to the representative of the Dominican Republic.

Allow me to thank you, Madam President, for having convened this exchange of views on the situation in the Republic of Haiti, which is an issue of importance for my country and the international community. In 2004, the international community supported the demands of Haitian society to establish a force capable of guaranteeing security and peace in Haiti. For that reason, the United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH) enjoyed recognition and political legitimacy. Unfortunately, 18 years later, the situation has dramatically worsened in the absence of an institutional mechanism to confront the crisis. Although one of goals of MINUSTAH was to guarantee the restructuring of the police, the report of the Secretary-General (S/2022/481) informs us that that remains a pending issue. It is clear that the Haitian National Police has not adequately developed its capacity to guarantee order and subdue the many armed gangs that are terrorizing the population. In that context, the extremely high levels of street violence have produced such insecurity that immediate responses are required. But a plan to gradually improve the Haitian National Police will not be enough because stabilization work does not concern only the violent actions of gangs. That is why the Dominican Republic believes that stabilization efforts in Haiti must focus on both peace and political dialogue in order to establish lasting agreements to build sustainable peace. It is incumbent upon the United Nations to act urgently for the peace and stability of Haiti and the region by providing a robust plan and immediate support for the Haitian National Police and extending the mandate of the United Nations Integrated Office in Haiti in order to mitigate the uncertainties faced by Haitians in their lives, which are of great concern to their neighbours, who are affected by such profound instability, including several States members of the Security Council. I recall that, less than three years ago in this very Chamber (see S/PV.8559), our country warned of the negative consequences of reducing the United Nations presence in Haiti. We are seeing the results of that disastrous decision today. We reiterate that there must not be any delay in delivering aid to Haiti. The chilling macroeconomic data clearly illustrate the situation. According to studies by the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean, 5.3 million of the country’s 11 million habitants suffer from chronic hunger. That statistic has doubled over the past four years. Those high levels of acute food insecurity are mainly due to economic decline, political instability, low production, poor resilience to frequent natural disasters and the insecurity caused by the gangs that currently control the country’s critical infrastructure to a large extent. Since stability is not possible as long as there is hunger, and even less so as long as citizens remain insecure, the immediate pacification of the situation is the only way to confront the violence and chaos, because the threat of a major bloodbath hangs in the balance and could result from the exacerbation of the current clashes among criminal gangs and possible attacks against property by segments of the population in their search for food. For our country, the situation represents a national security issue, given the pressure exerted on our border in the face of the harsh reality on the ground. The Dominican Republic will tirelessly reaffirm its concern and willingness to help our neighbouring country overcome such an unfortunate situation. But as President Luis Abinader Corona said last year at the general debate of the seventy-sixth session of the General Assembly, “It is imperative that we state in the strongest and most emphatic terms possible that the international community must not and cannot abandon the Haitian people” (A/76/PV.9. p. 3). We must support them at this time of global crises and unprecedented disasters. We cannot continue to be spectators of the process of social deterioration in Haiti. We cannot continue to attend meetings and listen to reports and try to avoid what is happening in Haiti. We must act now. The international community has the responsibility to ensure that the measures it takes produce the expected results. It is time to be critical of ourselves in order to avoid repeating the mistakes of the past in Haiti. In the chaos of today, we must not allow new problems to make us forget the old problems that remain unresolved. The Haitian people demand to live their lives in peace. They deserve to be able to hope for a better future, and the Security Council is equipped with the mechanisms to lead a joint effort by the international community, the Haitian Government and the Haitian people to create a road map leading towards peace and sustainable development. Our history has demonstrated the continued support of the Dominican Republic for the Haitian people and the solidarity of our people remains unwavering. We reaffirm that we would like to see a prosperous Haiti that can meet all the needs of its citizens, offer them opportunities for progress and ensure their welfare in their own country. Lastly, we must recall that there is not  — and there will never be  — a Dominican solution to the Haitian problem.

I will now adjourn the meeting so that the Council can continue its discussion on the subject in closed consultations.