We welcome the reports of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights and the Independent Expert on Haiti.
Haiti’s crisis has reached catastrophic levels, with criminal groups carrying out large-scale, coordinated attacks against the population and state infrastructure, paralyzing much of the country and worsening an already dire humanitarian and human rights situation.
Criminal groups continue to commit widespread abuses, including rape against women and girls, recruitment of children, and other atrocities that have displaced thousands of Haitians. In recent weeks, attacks have intensified in several areas surrounding Pétion-Ville, one of the last zones of Port-au-Prince not yet under control of criminal groups. Criminal groups have also forced the suspension of humanitarian activities and the relocation of government offices, judicial institutions, and embassies from Port-au-Prince to other departments or the Dominican Republic.
Meanwhile, the Multinational Security Support (MSS) faces personnel and financial constraints and has been unable to fulfill its mandate to restore security in the country.
The international community should support a comprehensive, rights-based response to address urgent humanitarian needs, restore security and the rule of law, and to pave the way for a return to democratic governance. We urge members to call on the UN Security Council to transform the Multinational Security Support mission into a full-fledged UN mission with human rights safeguards, monitoring, and accountability mechanisms to address past abuses and deter future crimes.
Human Rights Watch also calls for the renewal of the Independent Expert’s mandate and the strengthening of the High Commissioner’s office in Haiti, whose role remains critical at this moment of crisis.
