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HRC54: Deputy High Commissioner for Human Rights, Nada Al-Nashif on Haiti 10 October 2023
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8:13
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Teleprompter
Your Excellencies, dear colleagues, I am deeply concerned by the continued and widespread deterioration of the human rights situation in Haiti and its impact on the region.
The magnitude of armed violence, which has exacerbated since President Moise's assassination in July 2021, now effects all communes in the metropolitan area of Proctopraz, including those considered safe until recently, spilling over into neighbouring regions.
Gangs are threatening the authority of the state at an unprecedented scale, having access to sophisticated **** calibre firearms and ammunition trafficked into Haiti, with brutal attacks committed against the population including killings, mutilations and kidnappings.
This is happening with complete impunity, destroying any prospect for stability and undermining Haiti's social fabric.
Between the 1st of January and the 30th of September of this year, we have recorded 5599 cases of gang related violence including 3156 killings, 1159 injuries and 1284 kidnappers, a sharp increase compared to the same period last year.
Individuals accused of petty crime or suspected association with gangs continue to be lynched to death or burned alive by members of the population or the so-called Self Defence Brigades as part of the Vigilante Justice Workale movement.
This year, our office in Haiti has recorded at least 420 cases of lynching, with most recorded in the capital.
Bacali is a symbol of the failure of the state to respond to the violence, further weakening the rule of law.
Furthermore, gangs are increasingly using sexual and gender based violence to still fear among the population.
Collective **** of women and girls is endemic and limited if no progress has been made by the authorities to title this problem.
This year to date, victims of sexual violence, mostly women and girls survivors, continue to lack protection and access to adequate healthcare, psychosocial counselling and economic support.
While impurity remains the norm, the cycle of violence will never end unless there is accountability.
This past July marked the two year commemoration of the killing of President Moise.
Investigations into his assassination, as well as into other cases, have made very limited progress so far, illustrating the general inertia of the competence authorities, in particular the judiciary, towards accountability.
A significant number of National police personnel are reportedly associated with gangs, notably in the capital.
Widespread compared combined with poor oversight has penetrated most of the state's entities, including those in charge of law enforcement.
This, together with an inadequate domestic legal framework, insufficient resources and limited technical expertise, constitutes structural impediments to effectively tackling impunity and AIT.
Another issue of concern is the truly is the sharply deteriorating humanitarian situation on the ground, with widespread insecurity impeding access to basic services, including health and education.
Staggering levels of violence have also forced people to flee their homes, with almost 200,000 registered internally displaced people, a tenfold increase in two years.
The recent closure of the border by the Dominican Republic already has a deleterious impact on healthcare centres in community.
Several hospitals have raised as they are running out of essential medicines and other health products previously imported from the Dominican Republic.
I welcome humanitarian exemptions granted for UN agencies funds of programmes in Haiti following the closure of the border, and yet this measure is not enough.
I reiterate the **** Commissioner's request to the Dominican Republic to reconsider its decision and adopt all necessary measures to avoid the further deterioration of already alarming crisis.
Mr Vice President, increased rates of attrition continue to hinder efforts to expand the capacities of the Haitian National Police.
Security is desperately needed.
The recent adoption of Resolution 2699, authorising Member States to deploy a multinational security support machine to Haiti to help the established security in the country, offers a glimpse of hope in this very grim landscape.
I welcome this positive development.
We need to ensure that all safeguards are in place for a successful mission, including its strict compliance with international human rights law and standards, from planning to the conduct of operations through to deployment.
We must guarantee that the necessary oversight mechanisms are indeed in place to prevent and respond to sexual exploitation and ***** and other types of misconduct.
In this context, our office stands ready to work with the Multinational Security Support Mission in developing a human rights compliance framework.
[Other language spoken]
President, President of the Session, while restoring security is a priority, any long lasting change requires addressing the root causes of the crisis.
The deployment of an MSS submission must be accompanied by measures supporting the rapid and sustainable re establishment of State institutions, as well as a profound reform of the judiciary and the penitentiary systems in line with international human rights law and standards.
The Haitian Government, with the cooperation of the international community, must urge to invest in socioeconomic development to enable the people of Haiti, notably the most vulnerable who have disproportionately suffered from gang violence, to access better living conditions and ensure lasting stability and prosperity in Haiti.
The organisation of elections will be crucial to restore faith in state institutions.
There is no democratically elected representative in Haiti today.
The Legislative Assembly has been inoperative since January 2020, when the terms of all delegates of the lower chamber and of most senators expired.
[Other language spoken]
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