S/PV.9368 Security Council

In accordance with rule 37 of the Council’s provisional rules of procedure, I invite the representatives of Barbados, the Dominican Republic, Haiti and Jamaica to participate in this meeting. On behalf of the Council, I welcome His Excellency Mr. Andrew Holness, Prime Minister of Jamaica; His Excellency Mr. Jean Victor Généus, Minister for Foreign Affairs and Worship of Haiti; and His Excellency Mr. Roberto Álvarez Gil, Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Dominican Republic. In accordance with rule 39 of the Council’s provisional rules of procedure, I invite the following briefers to participate in this meeting: Ms. María Isabel Salvador, Special Representative of the Secretary- General and Head of the United Nations Integrated Office in Haiti; and Ms. Marie-Yolène Gilles, civil society representative. The Security Council will now begin its consideration of the item on its agenda. At this meeting, the Council will hear briefings by Ms. Salvador; Ambassador Michel Xavier Biang, Permanent Representative of Gabon, in his capacity as Chair of the Security Council Committee pursuant to resolution 2653 (2022), concerning Haiti; Ms. Gilles; and Mr. Holness, on behalf of the Caribbean Community. I now give the floor to Ms. Salvador. Ms. Salvador: Tomorrow, 7 July, marks the second anniversary of the assassination of President Jovenel Moïse. The call for those responsible for that heinous crime to be brought to justice continues. His assassination plunged Haiti into a deeper political crisis, which has been exacerbated by an unprecedented breakdown of security, with criminal armed gangs imposing a regime of terror and violence in most parts of Port-au-Prince. This grave situation is compounded by the humanitarian, human rights and socioeconomic crises the country is facing. (spoke in French) As the Secretary-General said during his recent visit to Haiti, “there can be no lasting security without a restoration of democratic institutions  — and it is impossible to achieve lasting and fully representative political solutions without a drastic improvement in the security situation”. (spoke in English) Since my first briefing to the Council, two and a half months ago (see S/PV.9311), some progress has been made on the implementation of the 21 December agreement, which defines the framework for our engagement with national authorities and other stakeholders. Within that framework, the High Transitional Council organized a forum in May that brought together representatives from across the country from the political, civil society and private sector, including non-signatories to the 21 December agreement. The forum provided an opportunity for all Haitian stakeholders to discuss key issues concerning constitutional and electoral reforms, good governance and socioeconomic issues. The forum adopted a joint declaration that included a call for the deployment of robust international support to the Haitian National Police. As part of the Haitian political dialogue, I want to highlight the initiative of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), through its Eminent Persons Group, to organize a meeting last June in Jamaica of Haitian stakeholders, which brought together Prime Minister Henry, political parties and civil society groups. Upon his return from Jamaica, Prime Minister Henry committed to changes in the Cabinet to make it politically more inclusive, to the enlargement of the High Transitional Council and to expediting the submission of candidates for the Provisional Electoral Council. I hope those commitments will soon materialize. Through my good offices, I will spare no effort to continue supporting dialogue initiatives on the way forward. As parties engage in continuous dialogue, I look forward to the visit to Haiti of CARICOM’s Eminent Persons Group in continued support to furthering inter-Haitian consultations under the auspices of the High Transitional Council. The Secretary-General’s solidarity and working visit to Haiti cast the limelight on the imperative of action by Haitians and the international community. The Secretary-General met with Prime Minister Ariel Henry, the High Transitional Council, a cross-section of the political parties and civil society organizations. He impressed upon all the need to move forward with dialogue and his unwavering support for the deployment of a robust international force to assist the Haitian National Police. There is widespread backing for the deployment of such a force. While it is true that talk of the presence of an international force in Haiti could elicit mixed reactions, as the Secretary-General heard during his visit to Haiti, I too have heard appeals for international security support since my arrival. The robust international force that Haiti needs must complement and strengthen — not replace — the Haitian National Police, with full respect for Haiti’s national sovereignty. When discussing Haiti at the CARICOM Conference of Heads of Government held this week in Trinidad and Tobago, the Secretary-General reiterated the urgent need for a robust international force authorized by the Security Council, a call he reiterated earlier today. While the political transition and the fight against gangs should remain on separate tracks, the two are inextricably linked. Improved security and continuing political dialogue could create the possibility of holding elections, which is a critical step on the path to re-establishing democratic institutions and elected officials at all levels of Government. The justice sector continues to face severe challenges, but there are some glimmers of hope, including the adoption of a decree against corruption, money-laundering and the illegal arms trade. I am also made hopeful by the national authorities’ ongoing efforts to improve the vetting and certification process within the judicial system. The dire security situation in Haiti has become worse since my first briefing to the Council. The violence continues and has intensified, moving beyond Port-au-Prince, as noted in the Secretary-General’s report (S/2023/492). The appearance of vigilante groups adds another layer of complexity. Since April, the United Nations Integrated Office in Haiti (BINUH) has documented the killing of at least 264 alleged gang members by vigilante groups. Gangs continue to use sexual violence, including collective rape and mutilation, to terrorize and inflict pain on populations and neighbourhoods under the control of rivals. In addition to physical and mental harm, gang violence also has a deeply detrimental impact on economic and social rights. Access to education, food, water, sanitation and health-care services has been severely limited by gang activity. In areas affected by gang violence, economic activity is periodically if not permanently paralysed. At the end of June, the Independent Expert on the situation of human rights in Haiti completed his first visit to the country. I heard directly from him about the dire human rights situation. Among his greatest concerns are the inhumane detention conditions, the staggering levels of pretrial detentions, widespread gender-based violence and some countries’ mass deportations of Haitians. The humanitarian situation is increasingly grim and likely to deteriorate even further. Today 5.2 million people, including almost 3 million children, require urgent humanitarian support and protection. Haiti has one of the highest levels of food insecurity in the world, with 4.9 million people suffering from it. The increased violence in the Port-au-Prince metropolitan area has displaced almost 128,000 people from their homes, leading to further migration. Haiti’s health-care system is close to collapse. The country also remains highly vulnerable to climate change and natural disasters. In early June, deadly floods, followed by an earthquake, killed 58 people and affected 45,000 households. The situation has been exacerbated by soaring inflation and the depreciation of the Haitian gourde, which has eroded people’s purchasing power. However, despite the difficult security situation and the related constraints, the United Nations continues to have access to hard-to-reach areas so that it can serve the communities most impacted by the crisis, and it remains fully mobilized to support all Haitians. The Chair of the Committee pursuant to resolution 2653 (2022) concerning Haiti and the Committee’s Panel of Experts visited Haiti in June. The Executive Directors of UNICEF and the World Food Programme have jointly visited the country. Last weekend, we also had an important visit by Ms. Rosemary DiCarlo, the Under-Secretary-General for Political and Peacebuilding Affairs, who had fruitful meetings, including with Government officials, the Director General of the Haitian National Police and women and other civil-society groups. All of those important visits create momentum for and general international interest in the complex situation in Haiti. As the Council is aware, BINUH’s mandate renewal is upon us. I ask for the Council’s support in ensuring that BINUH is adequately resourced to effectively and efficiently deliver on its mandate and help Haiti out of its crisis, while ensuring the safety and security of United Nations personnel. I want to recognize the courage and commitment of all the national and international personnel of the United Nations system in Haiti for their work and commitment in such a hostile security environment. This is a critical moment that we cannot afford to waste. It is a time for international solidarity and immediate action.

I thank Ms. Salvador for her briefing. I now give the floor to Ambassador Biang.

It is an honour for me to address the members of the Security Council, in my capacity as Chair of the Security Council Committee established pursuant to resolution 2653 (2022) concerning Haiti, to provide a brief overview of my most recent visit to Haiti and the Dominican Republic, from 12 to 16 June. Due to the exceptional circumstances, I was not accompanied by members of the Committee during the visit, but that will not create a precedent for future field visits by Security Council Sanctions Committees. The visit took place almost seven months after the adoption on 21 October 2022 of resolution 2653 (2022), at a moment when Haiti is facing major political, economic, security and humanitarian challenges. Its main purpose, as set out in the terms of reference adopted by the 2653 Sanctions Committee, was to obtain first-hand accounts of the situation on the ground following the United Nations-imposed sanctions on Haiti. I believe the visit helped to reaffirm the 2653 Committee’s engagement and commitment to working for the restoration of peace and stability in Haiti. In Port-au-Prince, I met with the Minister for Justice and Public Security as well as with the Minister of Economy and Finance and Customs, the Director General of the Haitian National Police, the Director General of the General Customs Administration and the members of the High Transitional Council. I was also able to meet with Ms. María Isabel Salvador, the Special Representative of the Secretary-General and Head of the United Nations Integrated Office in Haiti, and her leadership team. I met with the United Nations country team in Haiti, representatives of the diplomatic corps based in Port-au-Prince and members of civil society, including women’s groups. I am deeply grateful to all of them for their support regarding the organization and execution of the visit and for the open and informative exchanges that we had. In the Dominican Republic, I had the honour of meeting with President Abinader Corona, the Ministers for Foreign Affairs and Defence and the Deputy Ministers of the Interior and Police. In Santo Domingo, I was able to meet with the United Nations country team led by the Resident Coordinator ad interim. I also met with the diplomatic corps and members of civil society, including women’s groups. I visited Elías Piña and Dajabón, two major crossing points between Haiti and the Dominican Republic, where the Dominican authorities told me about the main problems their country faces as a result of the current context of insecurity and instability in Haiti. Almost everyone with whom the delegation met in Port-au-Prince welcomed the adoption of resolution 2653 (2022) and expressed their full support for the implementation of the United Nations sanctions regime. Some of the people I met told me that they hoped other individuals would be designated by the 2653 Sanctions Committee. Some of the people we met felt that addressing the current designated individuals was alone not enough to solve the many problems facing the country. What was needed, they argued, was an integrated management of the crisis, including an inclusive political process, restoration of democratic institutions, institution-building and reform of the justice and security sectors. With regard to the last point, the Haitian National Police told us directly about their lack of capacity and technology. Along these lines, several of the people we met asked me about the prospects for a multinational force to help restore peace and security in Haiti. I replied that this question did not fall within the scope of the mandate given to me by the 2653 Sanctions Committee for the visit. I believe that the adoption of resolution 2653 (2022) was a welcome initiative and that the Haitian people agree that the imposition of sanctions was an encouraging first step with a positive impact on the security situation. A number of the people I met expressed their expectation that the United Nations sanctions list would be expanded. Some of my interlocutors consider that United Nations sanctions could have a considerable impact on the behaviour of individuals who pose a threat to peace and stability.

I thank Ambassador Biang for his briefing. I now give the floor to Ms. Gilles.

The Fondasyon Je Klere (FJKL), which I have the honour of representing in this Chamber, is pleased to participate in today’s Security Council meeting on the United Nations Integrated Office in Haiti and the situation in Haiti. In responding in the affirmative to the invitation to today’s briefing on the general human rights situation in Haiti, under the presidency of the United Kingdom, I am living up to the values defended by the FJKL. Indeed, the Fondasyon Je Klere is a Haitian organization committed to the defence of human rights, which prepares every Haitian man and woman to become a responsible leader participating in public life for the renewal of a nation-State founded on the principles of human rights and sustainable development. To that end, the FJKL runs a nationwide human rights training programme in which reflection and debate are encouraged across the territory on such issues as State reform, the effectiveness of human rights, the State’s obligations, the fight against corruption and the realization of human rights, good governance and transparency in the management of public affairs. Human rights are an important issue in public debates on the rule of law, democracy and even social justice and equity. In the context of twenty-first century globalization, it must be admitted that the affirmation of human rights remains a major challenge for public authorities. Human rights are defined as prerogatives that uphold human freedom and dignity and benefit from institutional guarantees. What is the current human rights situation in Haiti? Haiti is facing systematic human rights violations. State authorities are failing in their duty to protect, respect and ensure respect for human rights. Freedom and dignity are the foundations of human rights. They are the thermometer that measures the temperature of the reality of human rights. Today this thermometer indicates that the reality of human rights in Haiti is 99 per cent degraded, and that no measures are being taken to avoid the high degree of lawlessness in Haitian society. Fundamental freedoms are greatly threatened by the proliferation of gangs throughout the country. For more than two years, it has been very difficult to reach the south of Haiti by land from Port-au-Prince. Gangs have been kidnapping, raping, holding to ransom and beating up people travelling along route nationale 2. Nowadays, access to national route 1 is almost impossible. In some cases, victims are abducted from their homes, as was the case with journalist Marie Lucie Bonhomme, and, a few days later, her husband was also abducted. Over the last 24 months, more than 2,000 cases of kidnapping have been recorded across the country, with the majority of those kidnapped being released after payment of a ransom. The number of kidnappings is on the rise. Reality shows that from July to December 2021, there were 625 reported kidnappings; from January to December 2022, there were 1,005 reported kidnappings; from January to June 2023, there were 457 cases if kidnapping. For the past two years or so, the Haitian population has been unable to peacefully move from one town to another or from one department to another. The country is controlled by gangs. In many parts of the capital, people are fleeing their homes and taking up residence in public squares and other places. This is the case for the population of Martissant, Fontamara, Bel Air, Cité Soleil, Carrefour Feuilles and Croix-des-Missions, and residents of Solino, Pernier and Tabarre have suffered the same misfortune. To date, the State has not taken any action to return the displaced to their homes. What about access to justice? The doors of the courts in Port-au-Prince, the country’s largest jurisdiction, have been closed since June 2021. It was not until June 2023 that attempts were made to organize correctional and criminal hearings without the help of juries. This situation has led to a marked increase in illegal pretrial detention. Indeed, figures up to 26 June 2023 show that out of a prison population of 11,802 inmates, only 1,820 have actually been sentenced; some 84.57% are therefore in extended pretrial detention. We live in a country where the right to life is trivialized. Despicable crimes are perpetrated every day with total impunity. From July 2021 to date, more than 2,929 people — police officers and civilian members of the population — have been executed in the streets, in their homes or in their neighbourhoods, and this is not an exhaustive number. The State no longer has a monopoly on legitimate violence. Entire areas are controlled by armed gangs, some of which are better armed and equipped than public forces. More than 155 armed gangs are active throughout the country. Port-au-Prince alone is home to 26 of them. The most ferocious are Village-de-Dieu, Grand Ravine, Tibwa and the G9 an fanmi e Alye coalition. In Pétion-Ville, there are 30 gang hot spots; the most fearsome are in the Kraze Baryè and the Laboule 12. Croix-des-Bouquets has 17 gangs, the most active being Baz Chen Mechan and 400 Mawozo. In Artibonite, 29 gangs are active, the most powerful being Baz Gran Grif and Kokorat San Ras. All this is to inform Council members that almost a third of the national territory is controlled by armed gangs. What is the current state of women’s rights in Haiti? During armed attacks in 2022 and 2023 in Cité Soleil, Butte-Boyer, Canaan, Source-Matelas, Carrefour Feuille and Petite-Rivière de l’Artibonite, more than 130 women and girls were gang-raped. The stories of women and young girls who have been kidnapped, beaten and raped are legion. Few kidnapped girls have not been beaten, abused and raped. Before being raped, they are humiliated by derogatory remarks. Reprehensible scenes are sometimes filmed and posted on social networks by members of armed gangs with their faces uncovered, as if to defy the forces of law and order, who watch helplessly as the acts of cruelty escalate sharply. In Haitian culture, gang rape and anal rape are the worst crimes a woman can suffer, and at times leave her infected with HIV/AIDS. In today’s briefing, the Fondasyon Je Klere believes that it has provided a broad picture of the reality of human rights in Haiti, marked by systematic violations of freedom and dignity. To reduce human rights violations in Haiti, the Fondasyon Je Klere proposes strengthening public governance, with an emphasis on the fight against corruption. The scandal of the mismanagement of PetroCaribe funds is flagrant proof of corruption. The managers of those funds have not yet been brought to trial and are preparing to return to power to continue their crimes of corruption. Some 89.23 per cent of the 232 public figures subject to the 2008–2018 declaration of assets did not declare their assets when they left office. According to a survey report published by the Fondasyon Je Klere in 2019, some 93 per cent of Haiti’s senators and 93 per cent of its deputies did not file a declaration of assets upon leaving office. With that in mind, the Fondasyon Je Klere recommends that the Security Council help Haiti to strengthen its political governance to reform the State, reform the Constitution and create a safe and stable climate for the organization of proper and clean elections. We recommend that it help to create a specialized unit to combat armed gangs within the Haitian National Police, while strengthening the intelligence service and identifying and arresting the perpetrators of serious human rights violations, with a view to bringing them to trial in an exemplary manner. We recommend that the Council help to support the Haitian State in conducting trials relating mainly to the PetroCaribe funds, the killings in La Saline, Carrefour- Feuilles, the Cul-de-Sac plain and Artibonite, and the cases of rape; effectively assist the State in combating corruption by strengthening its normative and institutional framework for the fight against corruption; and audit the Haitian National Police to make the police force more credible with the population and better able to carry out its mission to protect and serve. As the previous speaker said, I apologize for my lengthy statement; it could not be short.

I thank Ms. Gilles for her briefing. I now give the floor to the Prime Minister of Jamaica.

It is indeed an honour for me to address the Security Council on behalf of the 14 Member States of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM). Let me express our gratitude to those who have presented before me for their support for the people of Haiti towards a solution to the ongoing crises. CARICOM remains gravely concerned about the rapidly deteriorating situation in Haiti. The Integrated Food Security Phase Classification report lays bare the severity of Haiti’s food crisis. Nearly half of the population is grappling with acute food insecurity, and approximately 19,000 people fall within the most severe classification, phase 5 — catastrophe. Each of those figures represents a face and a name. There can be no peace among people who are hungry. To provide immediate relief, it is imperative that the humanitarian response plan be properly funded. We urge humanitarian partners to massively scale up financial assistance, including by investing in Haiti’s agricultural capabilities for food security and resilience strengthening. The humanitarian situation is being further compounded by the security situation, including the illicit flow of arms and ammunition and gang-related violence. That perpetual state of insecurity has not just impeded access to health care, education and other basic goods and services, but has also resulted in a rise of vigilante justice, which threatens to worsen the already alarming surge in violence. The situation is undermining efforts to find a lasting solution to the seemingly insurmountable humanitarian, political and security challenges, all of which are inextricably linked and must be addressed in tandem. For any solution to be successful, it must not only be comprehensive, focusing on both security and socioeconomic challenges, but also Haitian-led, Haitian-owned and Haitian-focused. To that end, while we recognize the international community’s shared concern about the grave situation in Haiti, we emphasize that all efforts oriented towards contributing positively to addressing the situation in Haiti must be undertaken in good faith, prioritize the needs and circumstances of the Haitian people and be free from the influence of geopolitics or political expediency. During the recent special meeting of the Economic and Social Council on Haiti’s food security, CARICOM cautioned against allowing the notion of “Haiti fatigue” to take root. We once again reiterate that warning. It is critical that the international community remain steadfast in its support to the people of Haiti. To that end, it is important to ensure that the mandate of the United Nations Integrated Office in Haiti (BINUH) is not just extended for another 12 months, but also that the Office is sufficiently equipped to provide robust support to the Haitian National Police so that it can combat the rising violence and restore order. In that context, we underscore that BINUH must work closely with Haiti to ensure that its mandate is responsive to the needs and priorities of the people of Haiti. CARICOM established the three-member eminent persons group, which comprises former Prime Ministers of the Bahamas, Jamaica and Saint Lucia. Through that mechanism, CARICOM will continue to use its good offices to work with Haitian national stakeholders, civil society and all partners to contribute to the achievement of an inclusive, intra-Haitian dialogue. Our efforts are intended to form part of a larger framework and, therefore, be complementary to the ongoing processes taking place at various levels. Our aim has been to widen consensus around a Haitian-determined path to peace, stability and democracy. In that context, I had the honour, alongside my colleague, the Prime Minister of the Bahamas, to welcome to Jamaica more than 50 Haitian stakeholders for three days of talks in Kingston, during which they were able to address the core issues of interim governance and transition. Our engagement with Prime Minister Henry, during our just-concluded regular meeting of the Conference of Heads of Government of CARICOM, held in Trinidad and Tobago, was frank and direct about the need for deliberate and urgent steps towards political solutions among stakeholders. CARICOM called on the Government of Haiti to honour its commitments announced in Kingston and urged the cooperation of stakeholders. We therefore anticipate further progress on the political front. The eminent persons group is now scheduled to visit Haiti within the coming week. CARICOM will offer support to Haiti in key priority areas, which will include humanitarian support, security and election organization. Additionally, CARICOM will offer personnel, training and capacity-building to the Haitian National Police. Peace, stability and prosperity are not mere aspirations for the Haitian people but their inherent right. The international community must continue to do its part to assist them as they endeavour to find a lasting solution. It is imperative that we move beyond the rhetoric of solidarity with Haiti to implementing strategic and targeted action that will enable Haiti to make tangible progress. I have led a CARICOM mission to Haiti and have seen first-hand the challenges and heard the cries of the Haitian people. We have taken note of the report of the Secretary-General (S/2023/492) and his assessment following his visit to Haiti, and we note the many offers of support to Haiti. We acknowledge the imposition of sanctions on gang members as a good and important step. However, sanctions are inadequate to addressing the local insecurity and transnational impact of the gangs. We have noted the Government of Haiti’s request for security support to address the urgent and deteriorating security situation. We therefore underscore the urgency of pursuing multinational security efforts with an appropriate jurisdictional mandate aimed at restoring peace and stability in Haiti. CARICOM calls for a Security Council resolution to that effect as soon as possible. It is our duty to give hope to those suffering in Haiti. While we all express our solidarity with them, it is meaningless without urgent action. Let us help our brothers and sisters in Haiti to finally achieve the peace, stability and prosperity that they deserve. I thank Council members for their attention and urgent action.

I thank Mr. Holness for his briefing. I shall now give the floor to those members of the Council who wish to make statements.

I recognize the presence in the Council of the Foreign Ministers of Haiti and the Dominican Republic, as well as the Permanent Representative of Barbados. I am grateful for the briefings by Prime Minister Andrew Michael Holness of Jamaica, speaking on behalf of the Caribbean Community, Ambassador Michel Biang of Gabon, in his capacity as Chair of the Security Council Committee pursuant to resolution 2653 (2022) concerning Haiti and Ms. María Isabel Salvador, Special Representative of the Secretary-General and Head of the United Nations Integrated Office in Haiti (BINUH), whom I also commend for advancing the work of BINUH in three short months. I especially appreciate the briefing by civil-society leader Ms. Marie-Yolène Gilles of the Fondasyon Je Klere, which reflects the precarious situation, the horror in which the Haitian people are living and their cry for help. It was not her first time speaking before the Council, but her briefings are always very informative. Here in the Chamber in April (see S/PV.9311), I asked a question. If we on the Security Council are unable to contribute to overcoming the state of gang-generated violence and cruelty in Haiti, how can we hope to resolve the much larger conflicts around the world? That is why addressing the issue of Haiti is vital to ensuring trust in the United Nations and in multilateralism. In that context, I urged the leaders of the United Nations system to spare no effort in conveying our message of solidarity and in transmitting the voices and cries of the people in Haiti. In that regard, I appreciate Secretary-General António Guterres’s visit of Saturday, 1 July, in solidarity with Haiti, as well as the recent working visits to the country by Ms. Rosemary DiCarlo, the Under-Secretary- General for Political and Peacebuilding Affairs, the Executive Directors of UNICEF and the World Food Programme, the Chair of the Sanctions Committee and Mr. William O’Neill, the Independent Expert on human rights in Haiti appointed by the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights. The Haitian people have indeed received the message. Now they are waiting for concrete action by the Council. In that regard, while I acknowledge that the Council did strengthen BINUH last July with its adoption of resolution 2645 (2022), the speed with which Haiti’s security and humanitarian situation is deteriorating is beyond the institutional capacities of any special political mission. For that reason, I agree with the delegation of China’s assertion in the Council on 15 July last year (see S/PV.9095) that a fundamental adjustment is imperative. BINUH, which is responsible for supporting political stability and good governance and has assisted and encouraged the expansion of the Haitian- led dialogue, needs the capacity to support efforts to strengthen the effective implementation of the political commitments that have been made. In Ecuador’s view, the Secretary-General’s visit to Haiti also demonstrated his support for BINUH, which is a political mission that plays a key role in supporting anti-corruption efforts and in fully restoring the judicial system and the rule of law. Given that Haiti’s transition process has been delayed by the security situation, we must stop repeating the self-contradictory notion that in order to take concrete steps it is first necessary to hold elections, when we all know that organizing an electoral process requires significant protection and security efforts, which are currently impossible to ensure without international assistance through the provision of a support force for the Haitian police. We call on all members of the Council to be guided by the declaration made in January by the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States, in which my region welcomed the signing of the 21 December agreement on a national consensus for an inclusive transition and transparent elections and called on States to consider the possibility of participating in a multinational support force for the Haitian police, whose deployment the Secretary-General recommended nine months ago at the request of the people and Government of Haiti. I should point out that in the context of the implementation of resolution 2645 (2022), the Secretary-General provided recommendations for enhanced security support, specifying in his letter dated 8 October 2022 (S/2022/747) — which for clarity I will cite it in its original language — that (spoke in English) “A return to a more robust United Nations engagement in the form of peacekeeping remains a last resort if no decisive action is urgently taken by the international community, in line with the options outlined, and if the national law enforcement capacity proves unable to reverse the deteriorating security situation.” (S/2022/747, p.8) (spoke in Spanish) In the context of the humanitarian note on Haiti of 23 April by the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, based on the Council’s own request that it be promptly informed when a risk of famine caused by conflict and widespread food insecurity arises, the Council’s action is critical. If we fail to act, the repercussions in Haiti and the Latin American and Caribbean region could be unprecedented, including in terms of persons displaced and in other precarious situations. As of May, the number of children suffering from acute malnutrition has increased by 30 per cent compared to 2022, and half of Haiti’s children depend on humanitarian aid to survive. The need for psychosocial support and mental health care in the context of the situation in Haiti is self-explanatory. I would like to once again acknowledge the work of the humanitarian actors in that regard. Finally, I would like to thank all the members of the Council and to acknowledge the commitment of their delegations in the negotiations we are conducting for the renewal of BINUH’s mandate, with the confidence we need to achieve a more robust mission and more decisive support from our Organization.

I would like to thank Ms. María Isabel Salvador, Special Representative of the Secretary-General, for her briefing. I also thank Ambassador Biang for his briefing in his capacity as Chair of the Security Council Committee established pursuant to resolution 2653 (2022), concerning Haiti. I would also like to thank Ms. Marie-Yolène Gilles for her important account and perspective on behalf of civil society, as someone who has tirelessly promoted women’s rights, advanced the cause of human rights and supported victims of gang violence. I would also like to acknowledge with gratitude the participation of the Foreign Minister of Haiti; the Prime Minister of Jamaica, on behalf of the Caribbean Community,; the Permanent Representative of Barbados, on behalf of the Economic and Social Council’s Ad Hoc Advisory Group on Haiti; and the Foreign Minister of the Dominican Republic. At the outset, let me say the United States would like to express its solidarity with the people of Haiti. As Vice President Harris noted at the United States-Caribbean Leaders Meeting, our hearts go out to those who have lost loved ones and all who have been impacted by the flooding and earthquake last month and, of course, the spiralling violence. The security situation in Haiti remains a great concern. The Sanctions Committee’s Panel of Experts reported increased levels of armed violence and gang encroachment into new territories. The influence of gangs, as we heard, now extends to 80 per cent of Port-au-Prince and increasingly beyond the capital. Criminal gangs continue to commit increasingly flagrant and violent human rights abuses to exert control and intimidate the public. The deliberate use of gender-based violence, especially rape and other forms of sexual violence, is just one horrifying tactic in that regard. The United States strongly condemns the systematic use of sexual violence and recognizes the disproportionate impact this crisis has on women and girls. As we also heard today, conflict-related sexual violence in Haiti continues to fuel further violence, induces displacement and often occurs alongside other abuses against civilians. Survivors lack access to support services and risk reprisals for reporting abuses. The rampant gang violence has also reduced access to livelihoods and health-care services, kept children out of school and created a food security emergency. We welcome the recent visits to Haiti — not only by Secretary-General Guterres, but also by World Food Programme Executive Director Cindy McCain, UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell and the new Independent Expert on Human Rights in Haiti, William O’Neill, which have brought much needed attention to the worsening humanitarian crisis. The United States has provided more than $110 million in humanitarian aid for Haiti this year, and we continue to work closely with partner organizations to meet urgent needs. However, without improved security, the humanitarian situation in Haiti will continue to deteriorate. The illicit flow of firearms enables gangs to carry out their crimes and to stockpile weapons that can surpass the firepower of the Haitian National Police (HNP). We also know that the proliferation of small arms and light weapons can be linked to conflict-related sexual violence. The United States determination to address firearms trafficking led to the creation of a new position in our Department of Justice — Coordinator for Caribbean Firearms Prosecutions — which will maximize information-sharing among countries in the region in order to support the prosecution of traffickers. The United States also stood up a Haiti transnational criminal investigative unit in collaboration with the Haitian National Police in order to facilitate investigation and prosecution of crimes with the United States nexus, particularly firearms and human trafficking. The Security Council will also need to do its part in assisting Haiti, including by advancing additional sanctions against those who finance and foment violence and instability in the country. The Haitian Government and its people have asked for international support — for our help. The United States continues to work with a growing number of international partners to support the urgent security needs in Haiti. For those reasons and, as Secretary- General Guterres requested most recently during his trip to Haiti on 1 July and reiterated today, the United States supports the deployment of a multinational force to Haiti in order to help its police restore security. I will close by reiterating the important work of the special political mission, under the leadership of Special Representative Salvador. The support of the United Nations Integrated Office in Haiti (BINUH) for the national political forum, recruitment support to the HNP and legal assistance to judicial authorities are examples of its invaluable work. Together with our co-penholder, Ecuador, we are addressing ways to strengthen BINUH’s capacities as the Security Council discusses its mandate renewal.

I have the honour of making this statement on behalf of the three African members of the Security Council (A3), namely, Ghana, Mozambique and my country, Gabon. I would like to thank Special Representative María Isabel Salvador for her briefing on the situation in Haiti. I also thank Ms. Gilles for her briefing. We welcome the participation in today’s meeting of the Prime Minister of Jamaica, on behalf of Caribbean Community (CARICOM), as well as that of the Foreign Ministers of Haiti and the Dominican Republic. The alarming situation and the multifaceted crisis in Haiti are well known to the Council. There is no need to discuss further the rampant insecurity that continues to seriously undermine the functioning of State institutions and the lack of resources available to the Haitian police to address it. What the Haitian people need today is urgent, concerted, targeted action to transform their daily lives, active international solidarity to break the vicious cycle of violence, large-scale mobilization of resources to implement the humanitarian response plan, estimated at $720 million, to help the 600,000 Haitians in need of humanitarian aid. On the political front, we support the efforts of the High Transitional Council for inclusive dialogue to reach the broadest and most representative consensus possible on the 21 December agreement, in particular through the holding of a national political forum on 23 and 24 May in Port-au-Prince. The participation of non-signatory groups and civil society, as well as that of many women, is the best way of paving the way, including through constitutional reform, towards the restoration of a political climate favourable to the organization of free and credible elections under conditions accepted by all. The A3 take note of the call addressed to the High Transitional Council to set up a group of experts to revise the Constitution and to organize popular consultations, as well as to set up a provisional electoral council with a view to holding elections. The people of Haiti must commit with greater courage and determination to rekindle hope and don the mantle of their historic resilience in a context of multiple crises — security, humanitarian, climate, political and governance. The role of friendly countries, particularly that of CARICOM, is crucial. We welcome the good offices and other solidarity initiatives undertaken by this regional organization, in particular the establishment of a group of eminent representatives to facilitate dialogue among the stakeholders. Those actions must be rooted in the desire to help Haitians take their destiny into their own hands. The worsening violence, particularly in the Ouest department and the daily indiscriminate attacks on the population, including women and children, using snipers and other acts of barbarism, in violation of human rights, are unbearable. The emergence of vigilante groups and the ongoing violence in Port-au- Prince and beyond are equally worrisome. It is essential to combat violence in order to restore the authority of the State, rehabilitate economic conditions, stop human rights violations, rebuild the school and health-care systems and revive the economy. It is unacceptable that the Haitian people, including women and girls, have become the target of fighting between rival gangs. The scale of the violence is causing major population displacements within and outside the country, with more than 127,977 people displaced last March, according to the International Organization for Migration. The appointment of a United Nations expert on human rights is certainly welcome. The A3 calls for priority action to assist vulnerable demographic groups such as women, children, older persons and persons with disabilities. Owing to the current critical state of emergency in terms of security, it is imperative to prioritize the financing of the joint programme to support the professionalization of the Haitian National Police. There is a dire need to raise the $28 million required to guarantee the security of the population. To date, only $17.7 million have been raised for that fund. The A3 calls for greater support for the justice sector, including the certification of judges and the reforms needed to enable the justice system to function properly. The conclusion of prominent court cases, which remain unresolved to date, is essential to regain the population’s trust and renew the social contract among Haitians. The A3 welcomes the holding of a meeting of the Economic and Social Council on 16 June and the presentation of the national plan for the recovery of the Haitian agricultural system, with the aim of bringing the country out of its critical food crisis. Child food insecurity must be tackled head-on in order to prevent it from worsening and to contain any long-term effects thereof. Every effort must be made to avoid sacrificing an entire generation of Haitians. Ghana, Mozambique and Gabon support the initiative by Secretary-General António Guterres to include Haiti in the 30 countries in which the Early Warnings for All initiative will be implemented. In the face of earthquakes, hurricanes, floods, the Ebola epidemic and other threats, supporting Haiti in a sustainable manner requires vigorous, resolute and forward-looking action. The A3 encourages joint initiatives undertaken by the country team and other United Nations stakeholders, including private partners, to implement the five-year cooperation framework for sustainable development signed on 19 April by the Haitian authorities and the United Nations. We are pleased that this framework is based on the link between peace, security and development, with a strategy to prevent sexual exploitation and abuse, capacity-building and risk mitigation. Actions must be aimed at restoring the country’s productive capacity, providing employment opportunities for young people so that immigration is no longer the only way out, and enabling the country to respond to natural disasters and epidemics that cyclically imperil its social fabric. We call on donors to strengthen their commitment to Haiti through coordinated and sustainable actions. Haiti needs solidarity and support from all. We support UNICEF’s international advocacy as lead counsel on Haiti for the Inter-Agency Standing Committee. The multifaceted crisis raging in Haiti must absolutely not be forgotten. To conclude, we reiterate our firm determination to continue to stand with the fraternal people of Haiti, and we encourage all political actors to choose dialogue and consultation in order to overcome their differences, bring peace to Haiti and build their future while also honouring the illustrious history that, in centuries past, made that valiant people proud.

At the outset, I wish to thank Ms. Salvador, Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Haiti, Ambassador Biang, Chair of the Security Council Committee established pursuant to resolution 2653 (2022) concerning Haiti, His Excellency Mr. Holness, Prime Minister of Jamaica, and Ms. Gilles for their valuable briefings. I also welcome the participation in this meeting of the Ministers for Foreign Affairs of Haiti and the Dominican Republic and of the representative of Barbados. Haiti is entering an unprecedented and escalating cycle of violence. Gangs are obstructing citizens’ access to basic services. The country is witnessing soaring food and water insecurity. There is widespread poverty and unemployment, and gangs are expanding their operations. In response, popular groups are addressing gang violence by mutilating and burning alive people suspected to be affiliated with those gangs. To make matters worse, climate-change-related disasters, including natural disasters, such as earthquakes and the floods last month, have ravaged the country. They exacerbated the humanitarian and food crises in Haiti and further exacerbated instability in the country. As the Secretary-General stated in his report on the United Nations Integrated Office in Haiti (BINUH) (S/2023/492), bold and immediate action is needed to address the security situation in Haiti. That was a clear outcome of the visit to Haiti by the Secretary-General earlier this month. It is against that backdrop that I shall focus my comments today on encouraging such action on two main topics. First, we must prioritize addressing growing instability and violence in Haiti. In October last year, the Council took an important step in that regard by establishing sanctions that target criminal gangs and their financiers, who are causing suffering in the country. The Council should now utilize that important tool by ensuring that sanctions are implemented fully and by listing those individuals and entities who meet the sanctions criteria. Furthermore, this effort must be complemented by a response from the international community that strengthens and builds the capacity of the Haitian National Police, thereby enabling them to address the growing and harrowing reports of violence, especially the abhorrent crimes of sexual and gender- based violence, and hold perpetrators accountable. That response should also include continued discussion by the Council of how best to respond to the security situation in Haiti. For its part, the United Arab Emirates will continue to engage constructively in those discussions, including on the renewal of the mandate of BINUH. We reaffirm our full support for BINUH and its efforts to promote security and stability in the country. Secondly, long-term stability in Haiti can be achieved only by simultaneously achieving progress on the political track. That requires the United Nations and the international community to support the process that is Haitian-led and -owned. We welcome the continued efforts of Haiti to broaden inclusive political dialogue and implement the National Consensus for an Inclusive Transition and Transparent Elections, but we also stress that those efforts must be complemented by the constructive engagement of all relevant Haitian stakeholders. In that regard, we reaffirm the important role of BINUH in facilitating that dialogue and welcome the role of the Caribbean Community and the good offices of its eminent persons group to support dialogue among the Haitian parties and assist them in addressing key challenges, including the electoral process and promoting security. I stress that regional engagement is essential to the achievement of peace and stability in Haiti. In conclusion, I note that, since our meetings last year on the situation in Haiti, the Council has continued to hear reports of ever more disturbing developments and horrific atrocities that need an urgent, comprehensive and more effective response from the international community to address those complex challenges and safeguard the people of Haiti and the region as a whole. We cannot allow the escalating spiral of violence and insecurity to continue.

I thank the Special Representative of the Secretary-General, the Chair of the Security Council Committee established pursuant to resolution 2653 (2022) concerning Haiti and Ms. Gilles for their briefings. I would like to welcome the Prime Minister of Jamaica, the Ministers for Foreign Affairs of Haiti and the Dominican Republic and the Permanent Representative of Barbados. France stands in solidarity with the Haitian people, who are suffering on a daily basis. In Port-au-Prince, gangs sow terror, cut off roads and restrict access to basic services and humanitarian assistance. Killings, kidnappings and sexual violence — the list of abuses in Haiti would stir any human conscience and must be condemned in the strongest terms. For that reason, France urges the international community to mobilize as a matter of absolute urgency. France echoes the appeal launched by the Secretary- General during his visit to Haiti. We support the deployment of a force to support the Haitian National Police, including through more robust engagement on the part of the United Nations. The Haitian people are calling for the help of the international community, and collectively we must heed that call. We need to act now if we do not want future generations to suffer from the consequences of violence and social breakdown. Let us face it: without security, there will be no development, no rule of law and no justice for victims. There will be no lasting peace in Haiti without the restoration of institutions. France will therefore continue to encourage an inclusive political dialogue. Everyone must set their personal interests aside and demonstrate a spirit of responsibility. We hail the efforts undertaken to broaden participation in the National Consensus for an Inclusive Transition and Transparent Elections. The goal is still to convene democratic elections once the necessary security conditions have been met. France encourages Haitian political stakeholders to reach an agreement on the appointment of an inclusive Provisional Electoral Council in order to make progress towards that goal. Almost two years to the day since the assassination of President Jovenel Moïse, it is vital to bolster the fight against impunity in Haiti. Rebuilding an effective justice system is a priority if we wish to put an end to violence once and for all. For its part, the Council must expeditiously adopt new sanctions against criminals sowing violence against the Haitian people. Finally, France will remain committed to facilitating humanitarian aid, in particular in terms of health and food assistance. We cannot simply resign ourselves to this vicious cycle, when one out of two Haitian people do not have enough to eat. The countries in the region can play a decisive role, and we commend the engagement of the Caribbean Community in supporting Haiti, as well as the work of the International Organization of la Francophonie. It is high time to take action, and everyone must mobilize. The renewal of the mandate is an opportunity to show our determination. France supports the strengthening of the United Nations Integrated Office in Haiti, in particular in terms of security and justice. Let us not allow Haiti to descend into chaos. Let us not forget the Haitian people.

I have just presented my credentials to the Secretary-General, António Guterres, and I am honoured to start today as the new Permanent Representative of Brazil. I thank the Special Representative of the Secretary-General Maria Isabel Salvador Crespo and the Permanent Representative of Gabon for their comprehensive briefings. I also recognize the presence of Their Excellencies the Foreign Ministers of Haiti and the Dominican Republic and the Permanent Representative of Barbados. I am grateful for the important participation of Ms. Marie-Yolène Gilles, civil society representative, and His Excellency Mr. Andrew Holness, Prime Minister of Jamaica, on behalf of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM). The dreadful security situation in Haiti has shown no signs of improvement since our previous meeting (see S/PV.9311). Brazil remains extremely concerned about the ongoing human rights abuses in the country, the alarming levels of food and nutrition insecurity and the far-reaching impact of gang violence in nearly all aspects of life in Port-au-Prince and other cities in Haiti. The rise of vigilante groups is further aggravating the situation. It is evident that the Haitian National Police lacks the necessary expertise and resources to respond adequately to its many challenges. Recognizing the multiple appeals from the Haitian Government for the deployment of an international specialized force to aid the Haitian National Police in curbing gang violence, Brazil supports further Council discussions aimed at identifying tangible actions to achieve that goal. The Haitian political stalemate exacerbates the country’s security and humanitarian crises. The re-establishment of institutional normalcy in Haiti demands a comprehensive national political consensus. The Secretary-General acknowledged in his latest report (S/2023/492) that efforts have been made to broaden the political consensus and further implement the National Consensus for an Inclusive Transition and Transparent Elections, signed on 21 December 2022. In that regard, Brazil commends CARICOM’s support of inter-Haitian dialogue, particularly the organization of meetings involving key parties. Prime Minister Ariel Henry’s commitment to put in place a Government of national unity, appoint a Provisional Electoral Council and enlarge the High Transitional Council to include representatives from a broader political spectrum is a positive sign. We must ensure that Haitian crises are not fuelled or exploited for political or economic purposes, either from inside or outside the country. We remain hopeful that the Council’s sanctions regime, adopted last October, can and will play a positive role in facilitating a peaceful political understanding, especially by helping to sever the link between political and economic elites and the Haitian gangs. We take note of the report made by the Chair of the Security Council Committee established pursuant to resolution 2653 (2022) concerning Haiti regarding his recent visit to Haiti and the Dominican Republic and call upon the Committee to initiate its deliberations to impose sanctions with the full support of the international community. As we intensify our negotiations to renew the mandate of the United Nations Integrated Office in Haiti, it is vital to reinforce the mission in terms of security, capacity and resources. Those enhancements are vital for the mission to effectively carry out its mandate to assist Haiti in the current challenging and deteriorating circumstances. Brazil hopes that the Council will shortly reach an agreement, so that the draft resolution can be adopted by the end of next week. In the coming days and months, Haiti must remain at the forefront of our attention. The Council needs to closely follow new developments on the ground, while carefully considering new measures. Any security assistance for Haiti must fully align with Haitian needs and aspirations and be formulated with the comprehensive engagement of Haitian stakeholders. Brazil stands ready to continue working with Haiti and key international partners in that regard. Finally, the escalating crises in Haiti are intensifying the need for humanitarian support. It is imperative that we respond to the immediate humanitarian requirements outlined in the 2023 humanitarian response plan , which is currently only 23 per cent funded. At the same time, we must address Haiti’s chronic food and nutrition insecurity by increasing investment in the country’s food systems. Brazil therefore emphasizes the critical importance of socioeconomic progress for addressing the crisis in Haiti in a sustainable manner. We reaffirm our commitment to place Haiti high in our international cooperation efforts. We encourage the international community to intensify its endeavours to promote economic and social development, preventing Haiti from descending into further violence and instability, and thus really helping it to overcome its present unsustainable situation.

Let me take this opportunity to welcome the Ambassador of Brazil to the Security Council. We look forward to working with him.

Let me also begin by thanking Special Representative of the Secretary- General Salvador Crespo, Ambassador Biang in his capacity as the Chair of the Security Council Committee established pursuant to resolution 2653 (2022) concerning Haiti and Ms. Gilles for their insights. We also appreciate the participation and the briefing of the Prime Minister of Jamaica on behalf of Caribbean Community (CARICOM), and we commend CARICOM for its efforts in extending aid to Haiti. We also welcome the Ministers for Foreign Affairs of Haiti and the Dominican Republic and the Permanent Representative of Barbados to this meeting. We remain extremely concerned by the dire and still worsening crisis in Haiti. We are alarmed by the growing power of gangs, which are spreading insecurity and violence and producing ever-greater political instability that hampers the efforts of the public authorities to respond to extreme poverty and natural disasters. As we have heard, Haitians are in desperate need of help and are asking for it in every way they can. The Council must answer their pleas for help and act swiftly. Haitians need all the help they can get, starting with life-saving humanitarian aid, but the first problem we must resolve is that of security. It is for that reason, in line with the Secretary- General’s call for urgent assistance to Haiti after his visit and participation in the forty-fifth regular meeting of the Conference of Heads of Government of the Caribbean Community, held in Trinidad and Tobago, that Albania supports the deployment of a multinational force to assist the Haitian National Police in defeating and dismantling the gangs and in restoring security across the country. We agree with the Secretary-General that the conditions are desperate, but solutions are possible if we act now. That non-United Nations international force will be crucial to allowing the country to restore order and the rule of law, revitalize the judicial system, address impunity and create an environment conducive to the holding of future elections. We also welcome the efforts of the Security Council Committee established pursuant to resolution 2653 (2022) to manage the situation in Haiti and once again thank its Chair, Ambassador Biang, for sharing his experience and insights from his recent visit to Haiti and the Dominican Republic. The international community must work in synergy with the Haitian authorities towards their common goals and aspirations. We can succeed only if we empower the Haitian people to restore their domestic sovereignty and govern themselves democratically in peace and harmony. We acknowledge the commendable endeavours of the High Transitional Council to consolidate consensus on navigating the political transition through its recent national political forum. We believe that inclusive dialogue and implementing transitional arrangements are crucial preconditions to restoring democratic rule and institutions. We implore all stakeholders to foster unity and inclusivity and include women and young people in all relevant deliberations. It is also urgent to address the violence against girls and women, and we urge for more sanctions in that regard. Albania remains hopeful that, in a spirit of national unity, solidarity and urgency, positive change and sustainable reform can be achieved in Haiti. In conclusion, Albania reaffirms its full support for the United Nations Integrated Office in Haiti and looks forward to the renewal of its mandate.

I thank Special Representative Salvador and Ms. Gilles for their briefings. I also welcome the briefings by Prime Minister Holness of Jamaica on behalf of the Caribbean Community and by Ambassador Biang in his capacity as Chair of the Security Council Committee established pursuant to resolution 2653 (2022). I further welcome the participation of Ministers for Foreign Affairs Généus of Haiti and Álvarez Gil of the Dominican Republic and of the Permanent Representative of Barbados in this meeting. Malta remains gravely concerned about the security and humanitarian situation in Haiti. The suffering of the civilian population continues to escalate, with the situation on the ground having reached levels comparable to an armed conflict. As detailed in the report of the Secretary-General (S/2023/492), gang violence has continued to escalate and spread in Port- au-Prince and beyond. Murders and kidnappings rose for the fifth consecutive year, with well over 2,000 homicides registered by the Haitian National Police since the beginning of 2023. We are deeply concerned by the new cycle of violence that began in recent months between gangs and vigilante justice groups, and fear further escalation though mobilization, arming and recruitment. It is clear that the current situation demands urgent international attention and support. Local authorities are overstretched and require assistance in dealing with the huge security challenges they are facing. The Council must use all its influence to address the underlying drivers and root causes of instability and insecurity. Updating the list of those sanctioned through the 2653 Committee constitutes an important step towards achieving concrete results on the ground. As members of the Council, we must also work to prevent the illegal flow of arms into Haiti and identify and prosecute those facilitating and benefiting from the situation. We recognize the request made by the Haitian authorities and the recommendation of the Secretary- General regarding the need for an international specialized force to complement and strengthen the Haitian National Police. The international community must work together to find innovative, sustainable and safe solutions for Haiti’s security crisis. Any such initiative must have a clear, fully defined mandate and objectives that are both achievable and measurable. Furthermore, principled humanitarian programming must remain separate from any such initiative. The dire humanitarian situation continues to be exacerbated by multiple factors. Nearly 5 million Haitians, or half the population, are acutely food insecure, and many more than 100,000 children expected to suffer severe wasting from malnutrition. Gang control over critical road networks has disrupted the distribution of food, curtailed the population’s freedom of movement and prevented access to essential services. Humanitarian actors must be given safe, rapid and unimpeded access to those in need, and armed gangs must ensure that basic humanitarian standards are met. The number of targeted attacks against medical staff in Haiti over the past number of months is alarming. We call on Member States to support the scaling-up of humanitarian organizations on the ground and for further contributions to Haiti’s 2023 humanitarian response plan. Malta is greatly disturbed by the reports of conflict-related sexual violence. Sexual violence against women and girls by armed groups is abhorrent and must be condemned in the strongest possible terms. The international community should also enhance the capacity of Haitian institutions to prevent and eliminate sexual and gender-based violence and ensure the punishment of perpetrators and reparations for victims. Malta is also deeply concerned by the grave violations against children, as noted in the most recent annual report of the Secretary-General on children and armed conflict (S/2023/363). Children continue to suffer extreme abuse at the hands of gangs, including kidnapping, sexual violence, injury, death and forced recruitment. The international community must work to build a safe environment for children, removing them from harm’s way and putting them back into schools. In conclusion, we reaffirm our support for efforts to overcome the multidimensional crisis. We echo the Secretary-General’s call during his recent visit to Haiti for new, integrated approaches, combining various priorities. The Haitian authorities must build an inclusive and broad road map to strengthen institutions and the rule of law to allow for a successful democratic transition and an inclusive electoral framework. We reiterate our support to Special Representative Salvador and the United Nations Integrated Office in Haiti, and we will continue to work with the Security Council for a timely renewal of the mission’s mandate.

I thank Special Representative of the Secretary-General Salvador for her insightful briefing. I also thank Ms. Gilles for her enlightening statement. I extend a warm welcome to the Prime Minister of Jamaica, Mr. Holness, speaking on behalf of the Caribbean Community; the Minister for Foreign Affairs of Haiti, Mr. Généus; the Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Dominican Republic, Mr. Álvarez Gil; and the Permanent Representative of Barbados. I also thank Ambassador Michel Biang, Chair of the Security Council Committee established pursuant to resolution 2653 (2022), for his briefing. Japan takes note of the desire expressed by many actors for an expansion of the sanctions list. Haiti continues to face multifaceted challenges, including violence, corruption, human rights abuses and health and economic crises. In that regard, Japan appreciates the efforts of the United Nations Integrated Office in Haiti (BINUH) to support Haiti’s endeavour to restore security, strengthen the rule of law and promote respect for human rights. We also welcome BINUH’s collaboration with the relevant stakeholders, including the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, notably in its recent anti-corruption efforts. Such a holistic approach is essential to tackling the interrelated root causes of Haiti’s struggles. As the role that BINUH plays in ensuring peace and security in Haiti remains essential, Japan fully supports the extension of its mandate, which is due to end on 15 July. My delegation will engage constructively in the mandate negotiations to enable BINUH to continue its operations effectively. At the same time, BINUH’s work can only complement Haitian-led efforts. Japan welcomes the Haitian Government’s efforts to implement the national consensus agreement for an inclusive transition and transparent elections. While acknowledging the forum organized by the High Transitional Council, we strongly encourage the Government to take further action to intensify the forging of a broader consensus on the agreement through dialogue among all Haitian actors. Elections must be conducted in a free, fair and transparent manner, with inclusive participation, for Haiti’s medium- and long-term stability. Institutional reform across Haiti, especially in the security and judicial sectors, is also key. Strong, effective and trusted institutions are essential to combating corruption and impunity. Japan reaffirms the call to strengthen and assist the Haitian National Police, including through the possible deployment of a non-United Nations specialized international force. For its part, Japan will continue its support through bilateral and multilateral initiatives such as the United Nations basket fund. The active involvement of regional organizations is also commendable. The recent meetings of the Organization of American States and the Caribbean Community have reaffirmed their significant engagement for Haiti’s security, democracy, promotion and protection of human rights and for the holding of free and fair elections as soon as possible. At the Group of Seven Summit held in Hiroshima in May, leaders reiterated their commitment to strengthening their coordination with Latin American and Caribbean partners and other actors to meet Haiti’s humanitarian and security needs. That was further emphasized in May by our State Minister for Foreign Affairs when he met with Haiti’s Foreign Minister, Jean Victor Généus, and expressed Japan’s continuing support, in coordination with international and regional partners, with a view to stabilizing Haiti. Let me conclude by reiterating Japan’s unwavering support for and solidarity with the Government and the people of Haiti as they pursue Haitian-led solutions.

I thank the Special Representative of the Secretary-General and Ambassador Biang for their briefings. I welcome the participation and statement of the Prime Minister of Jamaica on behalf of the Caribbean Community. I also welcome the Foreign Ministers of Haiti and the Dominican Republic and the representative of Barbados to this meeting. The situation in Haiti has continued to deteriorate since the Council’s previous meeting on the subject (see S/PV.9311). The political stalemate continues. Gang violence is rampant. The circumstances surrounding the assassination of former President Moïse remain unclear, while at the same time the humanitarian crisis, including food shortages and a cholera epidemic, continues to worsen. The tragic plight of the Haitian people is heartbreaking. China supports United Nations agencies and regional and international partners in continuing their coordinated action to provide humanitarian assistance and support to Haiti. It is therefore important to make greater efforts to advance the political process. Without a legitimate, effective and responsible Government in place, any external efforts to address the crisis are hardly likely to have any lasting effect. The real way out of the Haitian crisis lies in advancing the political transition process, which in the current circumstances is more urgent than ever. It is imperative to end the current political stalemate as soon as possible on a basis of full respect for the choices of the Haitian people. The Haitian political parties should act in the true interests of the people, conduct political consultations with a sense of urgency, bridge their differences, reach the broadest consensus possible on transitional arrangements and create the conditions necessary for holding free, fair, transparent and credible elections as soon as possible. China expects the United Nations Integrated Office in Haiti (BINUH) to play its role based on its mandate under resolution 2476 (2019) in promoting inclusive dialogue among all Haitian parties and factions and supporting the country in finding a Haitian-owned and -led solution. We also welcome the continued efforts of the Caribbean Community and other regional organizations in promoting a political solution to the crisis in Haiti. Curbing the rise in gang violence and creating a security environment that ensures the most basic level of safety and security are vital prerequisites for alleviating the humanitarian situation and advancing the political process. The sanctions regime established in accordance with resolution 2653 (2022), adopted last year, provides an important tool for fighting gang violence and should therefore be fully implemented. We commend the Chair of the Committee established pursuant to resolution 2653 (2022) concerning Haiti for his recent visit there. As his briefing indicates, all the Haitian parties generally believe that the Security Council’s imposition of sanctions on Haitian gangs and their supporters has helped improve the security situation on the ground. We hope that the Sanctions Committee and the Panel of Experts will step up their efforts, update and expand the sanctions list as soon as possible, further develop other sanctions measures and ensure their monitoring and implementation in order to create the necessary deterrent to gang violence. BINUH and the countries concerned should step up their support for the work of the Sanctions Committee. The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime and relevant countries of the region have repeatedly pointed out the strong correlation between the illicit trafficking of arms and ammunition to Haiti and extreme levels of gang violence. The Secretary-General’s report (S/2023/492) stresses that the international community must support the work of addressing the trafficking and illicit flows of arms. As the Independent Expert on the situation of human rights in Haiti appointed by the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights also noted after a recent visit to the country, no weapons are manufactured in Haiti and the arms embargo must be implemented immediately. There have long been intensive discussions and consultations surrounding the Haitian authorities’ request for the deployment of an international security force, and we have listened to many fervent expressions of support for that initiative, including at this meeting. Regrettably, however, we have not heard any country announce any concrete action. For now, it therefore seems that a more in-depth study is required before a viable and concrete proposal can be developed. Given the current circumstances, the Security Council should prioritize taking further measures based on the arms embargo. If large quantities of weapons continue to flow unchecked into the hands of Haitian gangs, the international community’s efforts to further support the Haitian police will be futile. China believes the Council should immediately request that all countries take all necessary measures to stop arms trafficking at the source and to work together to cut off Haitian gangs’ access to firearms and ammunition. Any country that sincerely sympathizes with the suffering of the Haitian people and is genuinely willing to lend a helping hand to Haiti should have no difficulty or hesitation in doing so. Just as Secretary-General Guterres said during his recent visit to Haiti, it is up to the Haitian people to solve Haitian problems. Any external support plans should be based on the wishes and consensus of the Haitian people and should fully respect the ownership of the Haitian people. China hopes that the Haitian authorities will effectively shoulder their responsibilities and, with the support of the international community, find a feasible solution to achieve long-term peace, stability and sustainable development in Haiti.

We welcome the participation in today’s meeting of the Prime Minister of Jamaica, Mr. Andrew Holness, who spoke on behalf of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), and the Minister for Foreign Affairs of Haiti, Mr. Jean Victor Généus, and the Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Dominican Republic, Roberto Álvarez Gil. We also thank the Special Representative of the Secretary-General, Ms. María Isabel Salvador, for her briefing, and the Chair of the Committee established pursuant to resolution 2653 (2022), the Permanent Representative of Gabon, Mr. Michel Xavier Biang. We listened very carefully to the briefing by Ms. Gilles. The situation in Haiti continues to deteriorate across the board. The statistics presented in the Secretary- General’s report (S/2023/492) demonstrate a worrisome trend towards growing numbers of abductions, murders, sexual violence and other crimes this year. Direct clashes between gangs and peaceful civilians continue, and these peaceful civilians who, when they lost all hope of receiving assistance from the Government, are organizing themselves to protect their lives. Armed to the teeth and well-organized armed gangs feel at ease in the areas of the capital that they control, at a time where the understaffed and unmotivated police is afraid even to enter. The national institutions of governance show that they have almost completely lost their capacity to act, and this is compounded by the long-standing crisis of legitimacy of the elective bodies. We note with concern that progress in implementing the National Consensus for an Inclusive Transition and Transparent Election, signed 21 December 2022, has de facto been limited to creating a High Transitional Council and then sponsoring a political forum on the key issues the country is facing. The main opposition parties did not participate in this forum. We are convinced that finding lasting solutions to the political crisis in Haiti is only possible on the basis of a genuine and truly broad national consensus. Including the word “consensus” in the title of a document, forcing those who disagree with the consensus to agree it and then believing that consensus has been achieved is far from being the best strategy. We expect that the Special Representative will continue her efforts to broaden a genuine political dialogue. We can see that there is still a lot that remains to be done in that regard. We welcome the mediation efforts by CARICOM as well as the efforts by regional actors to bring the positions of the Government and the opposition closer together. It is important to make sure that the Haitian crisis does not become a challenge to the stability and security of the Caribbean as a whole. The systemic crisis in Haiti has been, to a large degree, fuelled by many years of destructive external interference in the form of direct interventions and manipulations in the form of political engineering. The nefarious practice of imposing political models that are removed from local realities on the Haitians does not take into account their national interests, undermines the fragile foundations of Haitian Statehood and exposes the political elite’s loss of a culture of conducting a dialogue. We are concerned by the fact that the killing of President Moïse, which was committed with foreign interference, remains uninvestigated. Tomorrow will be the second anniversary of that crime, which has unquestionably become the starting point for a spiral of lawlessness and violence and the creation of a power vacuum in the country. We call on the national authorities and all States that can exert influence in this regard to ensure that this crime is investigated in a transparent manner and that the outcome of the investigation is shared with the international community so as to make sure that all real perpetrators are brought to justice. As a permanent member of the Security Council, Russia has traditionally advocated establishing responsible international assistance for Haiti, with emphasis on a political settlement based on the objective internal needs of the Haitians themselves and finding solutions that are acceptable to the parties in conflict. We note the appeal by Port-au-Prince for providing assistance to respond to the range of security challenges faced by the country. In this regard, we support the proposal to strengthen the capacity of the United Nations Integrated Office in Haiti (BINUH) to help assist and train the national police. At the same time, the objectives of the mission should be commensurate with its capacity, and priority needs to be given to looking for political solutions. Sustainable models for a political settlement need to be accompanied by what we have in resolution 2653 (2022), namely, studying the sources and routes of smuggling firearms, including through the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, as well as cutting off the channels of funding and supplies to local criminal gangs. So far, we have not seen practical steps taken in this area on the part of those States from which most of the illegal weapons, drugs and money flow into Haiti. We advocate a responsible and well-founded selection of candidates for the inclusion in the sanctions list established by the 2653 Sanctions Committee, with the understanding that this is the kind of work that needs to be conducted in the interest of stabilizing the situation in the country and not so as to situationally clean up the political landscape in Haiti in the interest of some actors. We have outlined a number of areas where the international community can and should already today focus as it extends assistance to the long-suffering people of Haiti. We do not entirely understand why, given that political dialogue is stalled in the country, that there is a legitimacy crisis and a lack of control of weapons trafficking, and that the humanitarian plan is underfinanced, some circles consider that the panacea for all Haitian issues would be to send a multinational armed force to the island. The history of foreign interventions in Haiti proves that templates imposed from outside do not take root in Haitian society, that they bring more harm than good and that they are only used as a cover under which to promote the interests of other States. It is therefore not a coincidence that, even now, despite all of the problems, there are voices in Haiti against any kind of foreign interference, and it is our duty to heed these voices and not try to play them down or ignore them.

I would like to thank His Excellency Mr. Andrew Holness and the Special Representative of the Secretary-General, Ms. María Isabel Salvador, for their briefings. My thanks also go to Ms. Marie-Yolène Gilles, Executive Director of the Fondasyon Je Klere, for her briefing, and to the Foreign Ministers of Haiti and the Dominican Republic, whose presence in the Chamber today I welcome. I thank Ambassador Biang for his briefing on the work of the Committee established pursuant to resolution 2653 (2022). We call on all States Members of the United Nations to respect and implement the sanctions set out by the Committee. All measures must be taken to prevent the illicit proliferation and diversion of arms and munitions. The report of the Secretary-General (S/2023/492) bears witness to the extent of the deterioration in the security and human rights situation in Haiti. As he stressed during his visit to the country, “every day counts”. Switzerland is ready to work with the other members of the Council towards a support force for the Haitian National Police. In this respect, I would like to highlight the following three points. First, Switzerland strongly condemns sexual and gender-based violence against Haitian women and men. It is essential to strengthen the capacities of the United Nations Integrated Office in Haiti (BINUH) so as to combat this scourge, notably through additional specialized human resources in the renewal of its mandate. Victims and survivors of such violence must have access to care, and those responsible must be brought to justice. Secondly, given the number of serious violations of children’s rights, Haiti is on the list of situations of concern in the Secretary-General’s most recent report on children and armed conflict (S/2023/363). Children are particularly vulnerable, as they are victims of recruitment, abduction, murder, rape and other forms of sexual violence, as well as of attacks on schools and hospitals and the denial of access to humanitarian aid. Switzerland therefore supports the inclusion of child protection measures in the renewal of BINUH’s mandate. Thirdly, safe, rapid and unhindered access to humanitarian assistance remains essential for the population in need. The international community must stand by the Haitian people. Basic services are still inaccessible and almost half the population is food insecure, while thousands of hectares of arable land have been abandoned as a result of gang violence and crops destroyed by natural disasters. In that regard, early-warning mechanisms and resilient agricultural systems are essential to mitigating the impact of climate change on food security. A response to the complex crises affecting the country can be found only through an intra-Haitian dialogue. We encourage the quest for compromise on the part of all parties with a view to proposing a collective and inclusive political response and the continuation of regional dialogue, in particular dialogue led by the countries of the Caribbean Community. Switzerland also calls for restoring the rule of law, especially through reform of the judicial and penitentiary systems, which would effectively combat impunity and lay the foundations for lasting peace. The Council must show unity in renewing BINUH’s mandate so that it can fulfil its mission effectively.

I shall now make a statement in my capacity as the representative of the United Kingdom. Let me thank Special Representative of the Secretary-General Salvador, Ambassador Biang, Ms. Gilles and Prime Minister Holness for their briefings and statements. I also welcome the participation of Foreign Minister Généus, Foreign Minister Álvarez and the Permanent Representative of Barbados in today’s meeting. As we have heard today, the people of Haiti are facing a dire humanitarian, security and political crisis. Gangs have taken over entire neighbourhoods. There is killing, burning, kidnapping and severe restrictions of movement. We hear chilling accounts of the widespread use by armed gangs of sexual violence, including collective rape, as a weapon to instil fear in communities. Nearly half the population are in need of humanitarian assistance. We need to look seriously at what the Council can do to address the cycle of violence. The United Kingdom recognizes the Haitian Government’s calls for urgent international security assistance, and today’s meeting is an important part of our discussion on the way forward, following the recent visit of the Secretary-General. In addition to addressing the security crisis, the people of Haiti need political stability. We welcome the recent Caribbean Community-hosted stakeholder meeting held in Jamaica. We hope that regional support will encourage the ongoing domestic efforts. We call on all actors to engage constructively to prepare for the holding of inclusive, free and fair legislative and presidential elections as soon as the local security situation permits. To complement the regional and national action, we should ensure that the United Nations Integrated Office in Haiti (BINUH) has the right capabilities to deliver on its mandate. Ms. Salvador and her team are doing vital work in incredibly difficult circumstances. We look forward to concluding our discussions on BINUH’s mandate renewal in the coming days. The United Kingdom will continue to support the efforts of the Government of Haiti and the international community to address this pressing crisis. I now resume my functions as President of the Council. I give the floor to the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Worship of Haiti.

I thank you, Mr. President, for convening today’s meeting to discuss the Secretary-General’s report on the situation in Haiti (S/2023/492). I congratulate the United Kingdom on its presidency of the Security Council for the month of July and express my warm greetings to the members of the Council, as I do to Prime Minister Andrew Holness of Jamaica, whose participation in today’s meeting attests to its importance and to the leaders of the region’s renewed interest in Haiti and their clear desire to contribute positively to finding a rapid and lasting solution to my country’s multidimensional crisis. I also welcome the presence at today’s meeting of my Dominican Republic colleague and fellow Minister for Foreign Affairs, Roberto Álvarez, as well as Ms. María Isabel Salvador, the Special Representative of the Secretary-General and Head of the United Nations Integrated Office in Haiti (BINUH), who has spared no effort in carrying out her mandate since her arrival in the country. We are very grateful to her. I welcome the participation of Ms. Marie-Yolène Gilles and thank her for her statement on the deterioration of the human rights situation in Haiti, as I do Ambassador Biang of Gabon for his briefing. Secretary-General António Guterres came to Haiti last weekend to show his solidarity with the Haitian people and to call for the rapid deployment of a robust force to combat gangs. We are very pleased that he repeated that call on 4 July in Trinidad and Tobago, at the forty-fifth Regular Meeting of the Conference of Heads of Government of the Caribbean Community, which coincided with the fiftieth anniversary of the Community’s creation. He urged the Security Council to authorize the deployment of that force and asked contributing countries to be ready. In the same vein, it is worth highlighting the visit to the country a week earlier by the United Nations Independent Expert on the human rights situation in Haiti, who painted a very bleak picture of the security and humanitarian situation and called for the formation of a specialized international force. The Secretary-General’s report being considered by the Council today has been submitted at a very critical moment in the life of Haiti, marked by an unprecedentedly complex crisis — an acute security, political, humanitarian and food crisis, which has been described to the members of the Council many times. It cannot fail to shock our universal conscience through the violence it has engendered and by the suffering and the terrible consequences it is inflicting on the Haitian people. The humanitarian crisis is affecting almost half the population, suffering as they are from hunger and a resurgence of cholera. The recent flooding and earthquakes in Grand’Anse and the south of the country have exacerbated the already precarious living conditions of a majority of my compatriots, who are enduring immense hardship. As BINUH’s mandate is coming to an end and will soon be renewed, the Council’s expectations for the mission entrusted to it have not been fulfilled. The Government hopes that BINUH’s new mandate will be adapted and will make it possible, in agreement with the competent national authorities, to find concrete responses to promote and strengthen political stability in order to move towards an intra-Haitian political process that will enable the organization of inclusive, peaceful, free, fair and transparent elections as soon as the security conditions and logistical preparations allow. For his part, Prime Minister Ariel Henry has set to work and intends to make major political advances to break the deadlock. He continues to engage in dialogue with all the important forces of the country, urging them to overcome the impasse and to unite for the benefit of our collective welfare. In that regard, following the establishment of the High Transitional Council and the reopening of the Court of Cassation, the country’s highest judicial body, the Prime Minister intends to continue the political dialogue, move towards the establishment of a provisional electoral council, enlarge the High Transitional Council and form a Government of national unity as soon as possible with a new political governance process aimed at addressing the major challenges facing the State. On behalf of the Government and the people of Haiti, I would like to thank our international partners who have committed to supporting Haiti in these difficult times. They have always believed that finding a lasting solution to the crisis is non-negotiable. I would especially like to express our gratitude to our brother countries in CARICOM and to the Dominican Republic, as well as to the Secretary-General, for their unfailing commitment alongside us. Haiti is once again calling for urgent action for the country’s sake. The greater United Nations family cannot continue to ignore the requests of one of its Member States, which is beset by serious security, political, socioeconomic and humanitarian challenges. In that regard, the Government is flexible and open to any options that the Council deems appropriate in order to address and find a lasting solution to this grave crisis, which has gone on for far too long and is plunging the families of Haiti into mourning on a daily basis. We hope that the Security Council will reach a broad consensus on a draft resolution on Haiti. The Council fully understands the unprecedented and catastrophic situation in the country, and now all it needs to do is act. The Haitian people are eagerly awaiting the Council’s adoption of a consensus text in that regard. The Charter of the United Nations, the fundamental document of our global Organization, contains appropriate provisions for accompanying Haiti on the road to peace, security and socioeconomic progress. The United Nations, through the Security Council, has a moral responsibility to prevent Haiti from collapsing. The Council’s action is critical to restoring hope in Haiti and enabling its people, especially the suffering silent majority, to hope for a better tomorrow. The Government is committed to its renewed request for robust international assistance to support the efforts of the Haitian National Police in its fight against armed gangs.

I now call on the Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Dominican Republic.

I would like to thank Ms. María Isabel Salvador, Special Representative of the Secretary- General for Haiti, and Ambassador Michel Xavier Biang, Permanent Representative of Gabon and Chair of the Security Council Committee established pursuant to resolution 2653 (2022) concerning Haiti, for their briefings. I also welcome the presence of and the briefings by Prime Minister Andrew Holness of Jamaica, on behalf of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), Mr. Jean Victor Généus, Minister for Foreign Affairs and Worship of Haiti; and Ambassador François Jackman, Permanent Representative of Barbados. Finally, I want to recognize Ms. Marie-Yolène Gilles, the representative of civil society, for her important and brave contribution. I would like to begin by acknowledging Secretary- General António Guterres’ important and long-awaited visit to Haiti on 1 July, as well as his statement today in which he called attention to the urgent need to respond to the humanitarian, insecurity and political crisis that the Haitian people are going through. The Secretary- General’s visit underscores the importance that the Organization attaches to the situation in Haiti and the Secretariat’s commitment to resolutions 2645 (2022) and 2653 (2022). We look forward to the next steps to be taken in the context of the situation. We have repeatedly and clearly stated before the Security Council — and as was emphasized today by the Special Representative, Mr. Holness and others — that finding a definitive and lasting solution to the crisis in Haiti is the primary responsibility of the Haitian people. However, without international support, it is impossible to envision the possibility that the necessary security conditions can be created so as to bring about a feasible solution for resolving the crisis. Today’s meeting is taking place on the eve of the second anniversary of President Jovenel Moïse’s assassination. We express our solidarity with his family and the Government and the people of Haiti. However, it is not enough to pay respectful homage to the departed President or to mourn the thousands of lives lost. We need to see a positive response to the continuing request by Prime Minister Ariel Henry and his Government for a multinational force to support the Haitian National Police. That is the only measure that will make it possible to restore security and ensure the environment needed to stabilize the country and make it possible to hold democratic elections. I want to put on record our strong support for maintaining a solid and strengthened United Nations Integrated Office in Haiti (BINUH). That presence guarantees that a certain level of attention will be paid to this situation, which has reached the limit of what can be endured. It is well known that BINUH alone is not a response to the current crisis in Haiti — because even the security of the Mission itself has been affected, which is weakening its effectiveness and the image of the United Nations itself. It is the responsibility of the Secretary-General to continue strengthening his leadership role with a view to establishing the kind of force I mentioned, which has not been achieved so far. For its part, my country is contributing actively in terms of trade, the supply of fuel and many other logistical and humanitarian aspects. Based on the recommendations of resolution 2645 (2022), several countries and institutions have taken concrete action. In that regard, we note the timely efforts of Prime Minister Holness, whom we commend for promoting an inclusive dialogue among Haiti’s representative organizations. With the support of CARICOM and its recently appointed Eminent Persons Group, made up of three former Prime Ministers, we are hopeful that the necessary consensus can be reached among Haiti’s political class in order to move steadily towards stability and democracy. We also recognize the importance of the various initiatives announced by other Governments, such as El Salvador, Trinidad and Tobago, Canada and the United States. In that regard, we welcome the recent statements by United States Secretary of State Antony Blinken supporting sending an international force to help to stabilize Haiti. All of those initiatives aimed at restoring security and democratic governance in Haiti are essential and must continue to be developed. I would also like to highlight the significant impact of the Security Council Committee established pursuant to resolution 2653 (2022), concerning Haiti, whose Chair, Ambassador Michel Biang, of Gabon, we recently received in our country. The Committee is responsible for establishing sanctions to be enforced by all Member States against persons or entities that, in one way or another, encourage and make use of the activities of criminal organizations. Ambassador Biang was able to experience first-hand the Haitian reality and its impact on our country. He was also able to observe the cost to the Dominican Republic of maintaining security in the border area. The levels of insecurity in Haiti have led many important companies to close permanently or limit their operations, thus reducing the rate of formal employment and affecting the daily life of its inhabitants. One example is the case of the CODEVI industrial park, in the town of Juana Méndez, located right on the border with our country. This industrial park provides direct employment to some 20,000 Haitians, indirectly impacting another 100,000 people. This important company has had to close its doors several times due to violence and lack of security. A few days ago, it had to close for two weeks. This situation of insecurity, which was recently highlighted by the heads of UNICEF and the World Food Programme after their visit to Haiti, is having grave consequences, as is the case of the almost 3 million children in need of humanitarian support. The state of calamity affecting the people of Haiti is also reflected — as noted by the Economic and Social Council’s Ad Hoc Advisory Group on Haiti — in the fact that it is one of the most food insecure countries. That is an alarming fact, and it is deplorable that, as the Group points out, only 23 per cent of the funds needed to respond to this tragedy have been disbursed. We are at a turning point for a solution to the crisis in Haiti. It is the inescapable duty of Haiti’s elites to rise to the occasion; they must seize the historic moment and act in the Haitian national interest and for the common good of the entire nation. We hope that in the next 90 days, when we meet again in the Chamber, we will have begun to take the necessary measures, mentioned time and again in the Council, to overcome the severe crisis that the Haitian people are experiencing.

I now give the floor to the representative of Barbados.

I am honoured to speak on behalf of the Economic and Social Council’s Ad Hoc Advisory Group on Haiti. The Advisory Group is composed of 22 member States committed to accompanying Haiti’s long-term socioeconomic development. We are friends, neighbours and partners of Haiti. Over the past year, our Group has expanded to include Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Kenya, Saint Kitts and Nevis and my own country, Barbados. We hope to welcome Jamaica to the Group very soon. On behalf of the Advisory Group, I wish to express my appreciation to today’s briefers and to acknowledge the participation of the Prime Minister of Jamaica and the Ministers for Foreign Affairs of Haiti and the Dominican Republic. On behalf of the Group, I wish to underscore four points. First, the international community must move, without further delay, to support Haiti in restoring security. Haitians require security to safely leave their homes without fear of being killed, kidnapped or raped; to enable children to safely get to school; to ensure that the most vulnerable can access essential services; to allow businesses to resume commerce; and to create the space for free and fair elections. That requires curbing the flow of arms and ammunition; strengthening the Haitian National Police, the justice system and the rule of law; protecting human rights; addressing sexual and gender-based violence; working at the community level to reduce violence; and putting direct pressure, through the implementation of sanctions, on those who foment violence and instability. Secondly, adopting a comprehensive approach that includes urgent measures regarding security, humanitarian aid and development is critical for Haiti. Immediate actions to assist Haiti in restoring security must be accompanied by efforts to address the root causes of violence in the country — extreme poverty, corruption, impunity and collusion between the political and economic spheres. We heard from Haitian youth who described their daily struggle to eat. A 17-year-old living in Cité Soleil told us that it is easier to get a gun than it is to find a meal. Humanitarian needs have doubled in the past year. Despite its considerable agricultural potential and the fact that, until recently, it was able to produce most of the rice it consumed, Haiti is now among the countries with the highest levels of food insecurity. We need to urgently address the immediate humanitarian needs of Haitians, as set out in the 2023 humanitarian response plan — less than 23 per cent of which is funded. At the same time, we must invest in Haiti’s sustainable development in order to strengthen its resilience, including the resilience of its food systems. Thirdly, the 21 December political accord and the establishment of the High Transitional Council are steps to build a national consensus for an inclusive transition and transparent elections. We continue to encourage intensified efforts among Haitian stakeholders to ensure a broad and inclusive national political dialogue that includes women and youth in order to chart a way forward to re-establish democracy and accelerate the country’s sustainable development. Fourthly, at this critical time, the active support and expertise of the United Nations across these areas is essential. We strongly urge the Council to renew the mandate of the United Nations Integrated Office in Haiti (BINUH) for the next 12 months. Given the severity and deterioration of the situation in Haiti, we urge the Council to ensure that BINUH is adequately equipped, in terms of personnel and resources, to engage with Haitian stakeholders and to effectively assist Haiti through this crisis. Haiti is experiencing a complex, multidimensional and extremely serious crisis — one that continues to deteriorate at an alarming rate. The significant impact it is having on the young people of Haiti, in particular, is compromising the country’s future. Let us not therefore only speak of solidarity with Haiti; we must also urgently step up our coordinated support.

There are no more names inscribed on the list of speakers. I now invite Council members to informal consultations to continue our discussion of the subject.