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The Sustainable Development Goals in Haiti
The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), also known as the Global Goals, are a universal call to action aimed at eradicating poverty, protecting the planet and ensuring peace and prosperity for all people. These are also the objectives of the UN in Haiti.
Speech
26 November 2023
Déclaration de la Coordonnatrice résidente des Nations Unies en Haïti, à l'occasion de la commémoration de la Journée Internationale pour l'élimination des violences à l'égard des Femmes et des Filles
Madame la Ministre à la Condition Féminine et aux Droits des Femmes,
Monsieur le Ministre de L’Éducation Nationale et de la Formation,
Madame la Ministre de la Jeunesse, des Sports et de l'Action Civique,
Madame la Présidente du Haut Conseil de la Transition,
Madame la Représentante Spéciale du Secrétaire général de l'ONU en Haïti,
Mesdames, Messieurs, les cadres des Ministères sectoriels présents,
Chers partenaires de la société civile, des organisations de défense des droits des femmes,
Mesdames et messieurs les membres du corps diplomatique,
Mesdames, Messieurs, Représentantes et Représentants d'agences de coopération,
Chers Collègues chefs d'agences des Nations Unies,
Mesdames, Messieurs de la presse écrite, audio-visuelle et en ligne,
Mesdames et Messieurs, en vos rangs, grades, titres et qualités.
Je suis très honorée d'être en votre compagnie pour commémorer la journée internationale pour l'élimination de la violence faite à l'égard des femmes, qui aussi marque le début de 16 jours d’activisme.
Cette journée est un appel à l'action. Pour toute la société haïtienne. Pour nous toutes et tous. Alors que je vous parle, le monde fait face à une régression des droits des femmes, marquée par des atteintes graves à leur dignité, la violence physique, la violence sexuelle et les féminicides.
En Haïti, presque une femme sur trois entre 15 à 49 ans est victime de violences physiques. Dans les quartiers les plus défavorisés, et parmi les communautés déplacées dans la capitale, Port-au-Prince, et dans les régions marquées par l'insécurité, particulièrement l’Artibonite, la prévalence de la violence faite aux femmes et aux filles est encore plus répandue. Une violence sexuelle, souvent très brutale.
Depuis mon arrivée dans le pays, je n'ai eu de cesse d'aller à la rencontre de survivantes. Dans des centres spécialisés, des écoles, etc. Et j’ai rencontré une jeune fille de 14 ans, qui déjà était mère à la suite d’un viol par des membres d’un gang armé.
J'ai pu constater de près leur douleur. J'ai pu écouter leurs histoires, leurs douloureux périples vers la reconstruction.
J'ai pu aussi ressentir leur espoir et aspiration à une vie meilleure. Et j'ai été impressionnée par leur résilience, leur courage et leur résistance, sans égale.
Et cela ne doit pas être négligé. Elle nous appelle à agir, maintenant, et de façon décisive.
Aujourd'hui, je veux témoigner de ma solidarité auprès de toutes ces femmes, mères, soeurs, filles, épouses, citoyennes et professionnelles de tout genre, qui ont été touchées, mais sont toujours debout.
La violence à l'égard des femmes et des filles en Haïti n'est pas récente.
Elle est ancrée dans des décennies d'injustice structurelle et de systèmes patriarchaux qui n'ont pas été bousculés. Dans toutes les sphères de la société.
En effet, on est tous engagés dans des cages qui obligent la société à agir en tant que femme ou en tant que fille ou garçon.
Mais ne nous y méprenons pas. Quand une femme ou une fille haïtienne est victime de violence, toute la société haïtienne est impactée. Nous en payons toutes et tous le prix. La violence a un coût dévastateur pour les femmes et les filles victimes. Elle limite leur participation dans toutes les sphères de la vie et les prive de leurs droits et libertés fondamentales. Mais la violence a également un coût tangible et intangible pour leur famille, leur communauté, leur entreprise, l'État entier.
Non seulement la violence à l'égard des femmes est légalement et moralement répréhensible, mais elle est un frein certain au développement durable et à tout progrès dans une société. Elle entrave la reprise économique équitable et la croissance durable dont le pays a pourtant tant besoin. Nos sociétés sont ainsi moins pacifiques, nos économies moins prospères, notre pays moins juste. Il est dès lors de notre devoir commun de mettre fin à ce fléau, à ce crime.
Je tiens à reconnaitre l'action du Gouvernement, particulièrement le Ministère à la Condition Féminine et aux droits des femmes, et des institutions publiques pour leur leadership visant à éliminer la violence faite aux femmes et aux filles en Haïti.
Je souhaite également saluer l'engagement des organisations de base, de femmes et de défense des droits des femmes dont les actions ont permis des avancées certaines dans cette lutte en Haïti. Les acteurs de la société civile et particulièrement les organisations féministes et féminines constituent nos meilleures armes pour une action plus intégrée entre les acteurs de développement, de la consolidation de la paix et les acteurs humanitaires.
Je souhaite également apprécier l'engagement de l'Union Européenne et de tous les partenaires techniques et financiers pour leur action aux côtés des agences des Nations Unies et du peuple haïtien dans ce combat, notamment au travers de l'initiative Spotlight.
Dans cette optique, une réunion s'est tenue mercredi dernier avec le gouvernement, la société civile et nos partenaires de développement pour réfléchir au renforcement de la réponse nationale à la problématique de la violence faite aux femmes et aux filles.
Mesdames et messieurs,
Aujourd'hui, je renouvelle l'engagement total des Nations Unies à continuer à soutenir chaque femme et fille en Haïti, ainsi que le Gouvernement, et à s'attaquer aux causes profondes de la violence sexuelle.
Un monde différent est possible. En Haïti, une société différente est possible.
Le thème choisi pour la campagne « Tous UniS » cette année - « Investir pour prévenir la violence à l'égard des femmes et des filles » - appelle chacun et chacune d'entre nous à agir.
Cela signifie :
Appuyer des lois et des politiques qui renforcent la protection des droits des femmes dans tous les domaines ;
Renforcer les investissements dans la prévention et le soutien aux organisations de défense des droits des femmes ;
Investir dans l’éducation civique ;
Écouter les survivantes et mettre fin à l'impunité des auteurs de violences, où qu'ils se trouvent ;
Garantir les droits sexuels et reproductifs de chaque femme ;
Soutenir les militantes et mettre en avant le rôle clé des femmes à tous les stades de la prise de décision ; et
Plus que jamais, garantir la voix et la participation active des femmes dans l'espace politique dans l'optique de la tenue d'élections dans un futur proche. Chères femmes, engagez-vous !
Chères femmes, engagez-vous !
Alors que la Déclaration Universelle des Droits de l'Homme célèbre ses 75 ans cette année, levons-nous et exprimons-nous. Osons construire un monde qui refuse de tolérer la violence à l'égard des femmes, où que ce soit et sous quelque forme que ce soit. Une fois pour toutes.
Merci
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Story
20 October 2023
50 jeunes ambassadeurs de la paix par le sport
« Tout ce que j’ai appris ici ne restera pas enfermé dans un tiroir. Je vais le partager dans les coins de rues pour aider tout le monde et former beaucoup d’enfants afin qu’Haïti puisse sortir de ce qu’elle est. Quand naitra la nouvelle Haïti, nous serons déjà prêts ! », a indiqué Géraldine Calixte, coach et professeure d’éducation physique et sportive, désormais ambassadrice de la paix par le sport.
Cinquante jeunes, issus de quartiers en proie à la violence, ont reçu leurs certificats d’ambassadeurs de la paix par le sport, au cours d’une cérémonie organisée par l'Observatoire national du sport haïtien (ONASH) en collaboration avec le ministère de l'Éducation Nationale et de la Formation Professionnelle, ainsi que le système des Nations Unies en Haïti. Cet événement a eu lieu le mercredi 18 octobre 2023 à l'Hôtel Karibe.
Résultat du partenariat entre l'ONASH, l'École normale Pestalozzi, l'UNESCO, la Direction Santé Scolaire, l'Office de la Protection du Citoyen (OPC), et les fédérations haïtiennes de handball, de football, de volleyball et de basketball, la formation de ces jeunes récipiendaires sur l'Éducation Physique et Sportive et la Réduction des Violences dans les Communautés s'est déroulée du 17 juillet au 21 septembre.
Cette formation a permis aux participants, parmi lesquels figuraient 13 filles et 4 personnes à mobilité réduite, d’être des « acteurs engagés, des agents de transformation sociale, des médiateurs de la paix à travers le sport », comme l'a souligné Tatiana Villegas, Cheffe du Bureau de l'UNESCO en Haïti, lors de la cérémonie.
« Je félicite nos 50 jeunes futurs ambassadeurs de la paix, pour le choix qu’ils ont fait de s’engager pour promouvoir la paix à travers le sport » a déclaré, au nom de la Représentante spéciale du Secrétaire général et Cheffe du BINUH, Maria Isabel Salvador, le Commissaire de police des Nations Unies en Haïti, Papa Samba.
Ces jeunes sont désormais dotés de compétences essentielles en matière de coaching en football, basketball, et handball, de l'éthique et de la déontologie du sport, ainsi que de la planification des interventions en éducation physique et sportive. De plus, elle leur a enseigné des notions de gestion de conflits, de droits humains et de citoyenneté, les engageant ainsi à devenir de jeunes acteurs de paix et de stabilité à travers le sport.
L'initiateur de cette formation, le président de l'ONASH, Me. Edwing Charles, a félicité et encouragé les récipiendaires. Il a rappelé l'importance du sport en tant que vecteur de paix, de tolérance et de réconciliation, exprimant sa fierté d'honorer « ces jeunes dévoués à cette noble cause : celle de travailler à la réduction de la violence par le sport. »
Mesurant l’honneur, mais également la responsabilité que lui confère le nouveau rôle d’ambassadeur pour la paix par le sport, Rony Saint-Surin, handi-boxeur, a assuré qu’il compte « transmettre cette formation à mon club, à la fédération haïtienne de boxe, aux écoles, églises, partout où il y a du monde […] Je le partagerai aussi avec les sourds-muets, car je parle leur langue ».
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Speech
31 October 2023
Déclaration à la presse de l'Expert indépendant sur la situation des droits humains en Haïti
Port-au-Prince (31 octobre 2023) Mesye dam bonjou (Bonjour à tous). Permettez-moi de commencer par remercier les autorités pour leur soutien à mon mandat, le BINUH pour l’accueil et le soutien apporté, ainsi que les organisations de la société civile et aux victimes que j’ai pu rencontrer.
Je viens de conclure ma deuxième visite officielle en Haïti. Je continue d’être alarmé par la situation préoccupante qui s'étend rapidement dans d'autres départements, notamment l’Artibonite et le Nord-Ouest. Les meurtres, blessures et kidnappings sont l’apanage quotidien de la population. La violence sexuelle envers les femmes et les filles demeure endémique et aucune avancée concernant l’accès aux services et à la justice pour les survivantes n’a été enregistrée depuis ma dernière visite.
Je suis particulièrement préoccupé par l’impact de l’insécurité et de la violence sur les enfants. Les témoignages reçus sont édifiants. C’est une génération entière qui semble sacrifiée par la violence et l’avenir d’un pays qui est menacé par la situation dramatique de sa jeunesse. J’exhorte les autorités à accorder une attention prioritaire à la situation des enfants.
Beaucoup ont subi - et continuent de subir -de graves violences et violations de leurs droits. Ils sont aussi victimes de la situation humanitaire catastrophique avec un accès à la santé, à l’eau, à l’alimentation et à l’éducation sévèrement entravés. C’est particulièrement le cas dans les quartiers défavorisés sous contrôle des gangs et désertés par l’Etat. J’ai reçu de nombreux témoignages indiquant que beaucoup d’enfants souffrent d’émaciation, forme de malnutrition la plus mortelle.Plus de 500 000 jeunes n’ont pas accès à l'éducation. De nombreux enfants de ces quartiers sont recrutés par les gangs, faute d’opportunités, ou par peur des représailles.
Le système de justice haïtien demeure dysfonctionnel et nonadapté pour protéger les enfants en danger ou pour juger les mineurs en conflit avec la loi. Le Tribunal pour enfants est paralysé. J’ai visité la prison pour mineurs de Port-au-Prince, le Cermicol et ai fait le constat alarmant de la surpopulation carcérale, avec un taux d’occupation dépassant les 350%, mais aussi de l’insalubrité et du manque d’accès à l’eau potable exposant les enfants aux maladies. 99% des mineurs détenus dans la prison n’ont pas été condamnés, la plupart sont en situation de détention préventive prolongée. Ils sont incarcérés depuis des années pour vol d’une poule, de chaussures ou de téléphone, sans avoir vu un juge. J’ai néanmoins été encouragé par la mise en place d’une Commission intergouvernementale pour permettre de désengorger les prisons.Il nous faut des résultats rapidement.
La situation des déplacés internes me préoccupe également. Il y a au moins 200,000 personnes déplacées en Haïti. Beaucoup se trouvent dans des conditions de vie inhumaines, sans accès aux services de base, survivant dans des camps de fortune. J’ai reçu des témoignages effroyables d’enfants et de personnes âgées qui dorment à même le sol, près de monticules de déchets et sans accès à l’eau potable. J’ai aussi entendu des témoignages de femmes et de filles qui sont victimes de viols à répétition, sans accès aux soins. L’Etat doit prendre ses responsabilités pour prévenir les violations et les abus des droits humains mais aussi pour protéger sa population, en particulier les populations les plus vulnérables.
J’ai entendu un désir fort pour l’arrivée de la Mission Multinationale de Soutien à la Sécurité (MSS) au sein de la population haïtienne. Le déploiement imminent de cette mission dans des conditions strictes de respect et de protection des droits humains, est nécessaire pour soulager les populations en proie à la souffrance. Il est néanmoins fondamental que cette mission anticipe et prenne la mesure des défis actuels pour réussir son objectif sur le long-terme. Beaucoup de ces mesures doivent passer par un retour de la confiance de la population dans ses institutions.
Celles-ci doivent être renforcées, notamment par l’intermédiaire de systèmes de contrôles publics fiables et transparents pour endiguer la corruption et l’impunité. La Police Nationale Haïtienne (PNH) doit notamment accélérer son processus de « vetting » de ses agents et le système judiciaire doit achever la certification de ses magistrats. Les codes de déontologie doivent être mis en œuvre. Je réitère mes encouragements au travail mené par l’Unité de Lutte contre la Corruption (ULCC) pour lutter contre le fléau de la corruption.
Le régime des sanctions internationales a lancé un signal fort pour démanteler les réseaux de corruption qui gangrènent le pays. Il devra aussi être accompagné par des poursuites judiciaires au niveau national pour mettre fin à l’impunité. Je réitère mon appel à la communauté internationale pour mettre fin au trafic illégal d’armes et de munitions qui circulent en Haïti et continue de faire de nombreuses victimes chaque jour.
Un défi majeur concerne le fait que beaucoup de membres de gangs sont des enfants. Il sera nécessaire de mettre en œuvre des programmes de réhabilitation et de réinsertion pour la grande majorité d’entre eux. Selon les acteurs interrogés il est essentiel que l’Etat joue un rôle clef dans la reconstruction du modèle social et économique pour permettre aux plus vulnérables de trouver des opportunités sur place et ainsi éviter les départs massifs de populations en quête de jours meilleurs.
J’ai enfin visité le canal en construction sur la rivière Massacre à Ouanaminthe, ainsi que la frontière avec la République dominicaine. Je continue d’entendre des témoignages faisant état d’un impact désastreux de la fermeture de la frontière sur l’accès à la santé, à l’eau et à l’alimentation. Je réitère mon appel au dialogue et au passage de l’aide afin de protéger les populations vulnérables de l’impact humanitaire dramatique de cette mesure. Je salue par ailleurs le travail de la police à Ouanaminthe et Fort Liberté qui, grâce à une police communautaire et de proximité, a réussi à maîtriser la situation de la violence dans le département. 32 agents de police ont été tués depuis le début de l’année.
Assurer la sécurité et la protection de la population est une priorité. Surmonter les lacunes institutionnelles et renforcer l’Etat de droit restent des prérequis fondamentaux pour un changement sur le long terme. Ne répétons pas les erreurs du passé.
Misyon mwen an fini men travay la ap kontinye. Mèsi anpil. (Ma mission se termine mais le travail continue. Je vous remercie de tout cœur).
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Publication
20 April 2023
Cadre de Coopération des Nations Unies pour le Développement Durable 2023-2027
Le Cadre de Coopération des Nations Unies pour le Développement Durable représente l’engagement collectif de l’ONU en Haïti afin d’accompagner les efforts du pays dans la réalisation de l’Agenda 2030 pour le développement durable et assurer une mise en œuvre du Programme Commun des Nations Unies ainsi que le Nouvel Agenda pour la Paix.
Le Cadre de Coopération des Nations Unies pour le Développement Durable est aligné sur les priorités du Plan Stratégique de Développement d’Haïti (PSDH) et sur la vision du Gouvernement visant à faire d’Haïti un pays émergent. Élaboré sur la base des principes de la réforme du Système des Nations Unies, ce Cadre de Coopération marque un nouvel élan dans le partenariat entre l’ONU et le Gouvernement pour la période 2023-2027. Il repose sur une vision partagée des défis et des opportunités du pays. Il s’aligne aussi sur les recommandations issues de l’Examen périodique universel (EPU) d’Haïti de 2022 et fait écho aux valeurs de justice, de liberté et de dignité portées par la Déclaration universelle des droits de l’homme.
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Story
16 August 2022
First Person: Taking to the sea to deliver aid in Haiti
A shipping officer working for the World Food Programme in Haiti has been explaining why the delivery of humanitarian aid by ship is becoming increasingly critical.
Captain Madeleine Habib, who is from Australia, spoke about her experiences ahead of World Humanitarian Day, which is marked annually on 19 August and the theme for which this year is “It takes a village.”
“I am a Shipping Officer for the World Food Programme in Haiti. I manage the organization’s coastal shipping service to ensure the safe transit of essential humanitarian goods and assets to the northern and southern parts of the country.
A maritime alternative is increasingly critical as gang control over the highways out of the capital continues to grow. This means that the Haitian population and humanitarian actors have limited freedom of movement in and out of the capital.
The situation has a huge impact on the population's income and on the implementation of humanitarian and development projects that should support the community.
This is especially true for the population of the southern peninsula of the country which is still suffering from the devastating impact of the August 2021 earthquake.
One year after the disaster, I recognize that thousands of people, especially in the south, are still struggling to recover and are unable to rebuild their lives because the growing insecurity in Port-au-Prince has shattered their economic prospects. Farmers in the rural south are unable to get their produce to markets so their livelihoods are suffering.
It takes a village and supply chain is an essential part of that village. We might not be on the frontline, but our network of trucks, ships and planes keeps essential humanitarian aid moving towards our beneficiaries.
Our team continues to ensure the transportation of humanitarian aid to these vulnerable populations.”
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Story
30 August 2024
Haiti: Millions of lives on the brink amid multiple crises
Years of underfunding of humanitarian aid and increasing needs have put millions of Haitians at risk of chronic vulnerability, according to a newly released UN report.Reversing the situation will require the international community and donors to increase the funding of UN and non-governmental organization (NGO) relief operations, the UN humanitarian office, OCHA, said in its latest advocacy note.Growing hunger and needsMonths of violence have led to a deterioration of Haiti’s humanitarian crisis. Displacement has tripled in the last year in Haiti as gang violence continues to rock the Caribbean-island nation, with nearly 600,000 people on the run.“The indiscriminate violence of armed groups and the near collapse of basic services have plunged Haiti into a humanitarian crisis unprecedented since 2010,” OCHA reported, referring to the devasting earthquake that struck the nation 14 years ago.Following the spiralling security situation in the capital, Port-au-Prince, and Artibonite in the north in February, the number of displaced persons has soared by 60 per cent, the report showed, using the latest figures from the International Organization for Migration (IOM) data tracking matrix for Haiti.Collapsing basic servicesThe violence continues to target civilian infrastructure, with only 24 per cent of hospitals remaining operational, OCHA reported. The insecurity has also left 1.5 million children shut out of classrooms.Half of the 578,000 displaced people, desperately fleeing the capital in search of safety, had made their way south, where the vast majority are staying with already economically vulnerable host families.However, basic social services, such as education, health and water, hygiene and sanitation, already insufficient to meet the needs of the local population, have been severely strained, OCHA reported.Forced deportationsMeanwhile, forced repatriations of Haitians from countries in the region is continuing.Indeed, deportations of Haitian nationals even increased, particularly from April onwards, when incidents of violence were at their peak, OCHA reported.In the first seven months of the year, nearly 100,000 people were deported from countries in the region to Haiti, according to data from IOM.‘Wave of violence’The violent clashes between gangs and the authorities have also persisted, even as the multinational security support mission arrived in late June to help Haitian police address the ongoing crisis.“This wave of violence continues to have humanitarian consequences on the populations of the affected neighbourhoods and localities, but also in areas far from the capital which have become host lands for hundreds of thousands of people,” OCHA stated in the report.Almost 300,000 malnutrition cases have been documented, and five million people, about 50 per cent of Haiti’s population, face heightened food insecurity, according to a report earlier this year by a global monitoring group, the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC).Fears the crisis will spreadThere are fears that the epicentre of the current humanitarian crisis will gradually shift to an increasing number of areas previously spared by insecurity, according to OCHA.At the same time, the current hurricane season is expected to be active and could cause an additional shockwave on the daily lives of Haitians.Haiti is bracing for between four and seven major storms in the months to come. Calls to fill funding gapsAdditional financial resources are urgently needed to meet the increased needs of the Haitian population affected by this multidimensional crisis, OCHA said in its report.Without additional funds, OCHA fears that these crises will continue.Humanitarian concerns abound that food insecurity will continue to spread, hundreds of thousands of out-of-school children will face the risk of recruitment by armed groups and experience “lost years”, growing up without the skills needed for their future and survival, and that half a million vulnerable children and victims of protection incidents will be deprived of mental health services and psychosocial support, according to OCHA.“While humanitarian assistance is a lifeline for many, it is only part of the solution,” the UN agency said.“The government, political and development actors must work together to find lasting solutions to Haiti’s structural challenges,” OCHA said, echoing a call made last month by a joint UN-European Union mission to the country.Eight months into the year, Haiti’s 2024 Humanitarian Response Plan is 33 per cent funded, having received $162.5 million out of $674 million. This article first appeared in UN News.
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31 July 2024
Global education fund announces $2.5 million grant for Haiti
A UN-backed global fund that supports education in emergencies will provide $2.5 million to ensure that thousands of children affected by gang violence in Haiti can attend school in safety. Yasmine Sherif, Executive Director of Education Cannot Wait (ECW), announced the grant on Friday in the capital, Port-au-Prince, during a high-level UN mission to the Caribbean country.The aim is to reach nearly 75,000 children and adolescents in the hard-hit departments of Ouest, home to the capital city, and Artibonite.The power of educationMs. Sherif urged world leaders not to turn their backs on the boys and girls of Haiti.“With the power of education, we can protect these girls and boys from the grave risks of sexual violence, forced recruitment in armed groups and other human rights violations,” she said.“With the power of education, we can lift up an entire nation from a never-ending cycle of hunger, poverty, economic uncertainty and violence.”The UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) will deliver the grant in collaboration with the UN World Food Programme (WFP), and other local and international partners.The funding will support back-to-school incentives, school feeding programmes, early childhood education, disability inclusion, mental health and psychosocial support, cash transfers to families in need, and other support, to enable children’s access to safe learning environments.Dire humanitarian needsHaiti is experiencing unprecedented levels of lawlessness and brutality at the hands of coalitions of armed groups. The situation is compounded by climate change, recurring cyclones and earthquakes, including a devastating one in 2021 that claimed over 2,300 lives and caused severe damage. Nearly half the population, some 5.5 million people, are dependent on humanitarian aid, while five million are facing acute hunger. Nearly 580,000 Haitians are displaced, a 60 per cent increase since the end of February.The armed groups are targeting schools and hospitals, with concerning reports of ruthless forms of sexual violence, including gang rape. They are also accused of forced recruitment of children, with estimates that 30 per cent to 50 per cent of their members could be children.Education crisis unfoldingFurthermore, estimates indicate that 1.2 million school-aged children urgently need quality education.Schools are being closed or used as displacement centres across the country. Around 919 schools are closed in Ouest and Artibonite departments alone, representing 10 per cent of all schools in these areas.“The education crisis unfolding in Haiti is seriously close to becoming an education tragedy,” said Bruno Maes, UNICEF Representative in the country.“While enrolment rates were already low before the latest escalation of violence, school closures and mass displacement are robbing thousands more children of their opportunity to learn.”Expanding investment globallyThe grant brings total ECW funding in Haiti to more than $15.8 million.Despite the urgent needs, ECW said the $30 million requirement for education response in Haiti – part of an overall humanitarian plan for the country - is less than 30 per cent funded, according to the UN humanitarian affairs office, OCHA.ECW supports quality education for refugee, internally displaced and other crisis-affected children. The fund and partners are calling on world leaders to urgently mobilize an additional $600 million toward its three-year strategic plan.These new resources will allow the fund to expand investments in Haiti and other crisis regions, to reach 20 million girls and boys. This article first appeared in UN News.
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26 July 2024
‘Entire social fabric’ unravelling in Haiti as displacement continues
The entire social fabric of families is unraveling in Haiti as displacement in the country reaches record numbers due largely to insecurity and gang-related violence, according to Abdoulaye Sawadogo, head of the UN’s humanitarian coordination office, OCHA, in the Caribbean island nation.The number of people forced to flee their homes has jumped from 362,000 in early March when violence spiked in the capital Port-au-Prince to over 578,000 in June, a 60 per cent increase in just three months.So, what happens in Haiti when people are displaced and how is the UN responding?The first step of any crisis response is assessing the extent of the displacement and responding to the immediate humanitarian needs of the people forced to flee their homes, often at short notice and with few possessions.No aid in the middle of a gunfightOCHA coordinates the response mechanism with the Haitian Government, local non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and international partners, but it is not a straightforward task in Haiti, according to Mr. Sawadogo.“The violence which has displaced people is the same violence that poses a challenge in responding,” he told UN News. “Aid cannot be delivered in the middle of gunfight.”The UN’s International Organization for Migration (IOM) works with Haitian NGO partners who have teams on the ground to reach out to people and to find out more about their individual situations. Protecting individualsPeople, especially women and children, are at their most vulnerable when their lives are upended by an event such as fleeing for their lives. They risk violence, sexual assault, exploitation, abuse and family separation. There is also evidence of children being coerced into working for gangs.The UN works to make sure they are protected by supporting the Haitian Government in providing legal documentation and social protection to these people, helping them access services and protection from exploitation and abuse.IOM, the UN sexual and reproductive health agency, UNFPA, the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and such Haitian NGOs as Fondation Toya and Kay Fanm are among the organizations providing psychosocial support to traumatised people, including children.Preparing for displacementOne of the key elements of any response to displacement is being prepared to respond at short notice in often unstable and dangerous environments.Having “financial resources, sufficient staff, access to the places to which people have fled as well as government support” are also crucial, according to Mr. Sawadogo.The logistics of supplying relief aid plays an important part. In June, the World Food Programme (WFP) airlifted more than 55 tonnes of medicines and shelter materials for displaced people as well as for the prepositioning of stock for the hurricane season.The international NGO Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), known as Doctors Without Borders, also airlifted 80 tonnes of medicine to sustain its operations in the capital Port-au-Prince.The assistance provided is situation-specific, but broadly speaking it focuses on health, shelter, food, water and sanitation alongside psychosocial support.Tag team assistanceSince March, the UN has distributed over 21 million litres of water to displaced people in Port-au-Prince, more than 60,000 people had been transferred from WFP’s hot meal programme to its cash-based transfer initiative and thousands of Haitians have received medical aid and psychosocial support.IOM, UNICEF and their local implementing partners have supplied emergency shelter materials and such essential non-food items as blankets, cooking utensils and hygiene kits. They have also ensured access to clean water, sanitation facilities and hygiene promotion to prevent the outbreak of diseases.The UN’s Pan American Health Organization (PAHO)/World Health Organization (WHO) and other health agencies have established temporary health facilities, provided medical care and conducted vaccination campaigns.Last month, UNICEF also bolstered its presence in Léogâne to the west of Port-au-Prince where some 33,000 people fled following an outbreak of gang violence in May. The agency reported that two thirds of these displaced people were women and children. The influx of people has put immense pressure on local education, health and other essential services.“We could do more if we had more resources,” said Mr. Sawadogo. “However, this year’s humanitarian appeal for $674 million, seven months into the year, is less than 25 per cent funded, which poses a challenge.” Unravelling social fabricAccording to IOM, nationally, 80 per cent of displaced people are living with host families while the remaining are sheltering in makeshift sites, many in gang-controlled or high-risk areas. In the south of the country, the agency estimates that 99 per cent of those displaced live with host families.Many people are unable or unwilling to go home and may stay in temporary sites for extended periods.As a result, “the entire social fabric of families is unravelling as family members become separated, jobs are lost, schools are closed and health services collapse,” said OCHA’s Mr. Sawadogo.In these situations, the UN has focused on providing longer term support to ensure that, for example, children go to school. In some cases, livelihood programmes to help displaced people regain their self-sufficiency are provided. These can include vocational training and income-generating activities as well as seeds, tools and training for farmers. Returning homeThe ultimate goal is to facilitate the return of displaced people to their homes as long it is safe and they are willing.In cases where return is not possible, the UN assists those displaced in the new locations where they have settled.“Each crisis comes with its own specificities, its own trauma,” Mr. Sawadogo said. “Regardless of the crisis, we aim to be as fast as possible to provide aid and assistance to those who need it and help them to return to their normal lives.”Find out more about how the UN is helping here. This article first appeared in UN News.
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Story
02 July 2024
Haiti: Violence displaces one child every minute, reports UNICEF
Continued violence and instability in Haiti has resulted in the displacement of over 300,000 children, with an estimated one child being displaced every minute since March, the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) said on Tuesday.Catherine Russell, UNICEF Executive Director, highlighted the horrific impact of violence on children and adolescents.“The humanitarian catastrophe unfolding before our eyes is taking a devastating toll on children. Displaced children are in desperate need of a safe and protective environment, and increased support and funding from the international community,” she said.Across the country, an estimated three million children are in need of humanitarian assistance, against a backdrop of years of political turmoil, widespread poverty, rampant disease and multiple disasters.Facing heightened risksDisplaced children in Haiti face heightened risks of violence, including sexual assault, exploitation, abuse and family separation. Their access to essential services such as safe spaces, healthcare, and clean water and sanitation is severely disrupted.Poor hygiene conditions in camps and makeshift settlements increase their susceptibility to diseases like cholera, while school closures and economic constraints driven by the violence have forced many children to abandon their education.Furthermore, with few other means of survival or protection, children are increasingly forced to join armed groups – a clear violation of their rights and a breach of international law, UNICEF stressed.Dangers continue to growCompounding these challenges, devastating hazards wreaking havoc across the country.Haiti’s National Emergency Operations Center has warned of a “hyperactive” cyclone season, further threatening the already vulnerable displaced population. Last month, a tornado in Bassin Bleu, Northwest Department, destroyed the homes of 650 children.The crippled healthcare system that was barely able to cope with demand before the latest escalation of violence will have to contend with a rainy season that is expected to continue to worsen the situation, threatening to spike water-borne diseases, UNICEF warned.“The needs in Haiti continue to grow, alongside the dangers for children,” Ms. Russell said, adding that everyone has a role to play to change the trajectory, and ensure that children are protected, have education and can access basic services.“Children should not be paying with their lives and their futures for a crisis created by adults,” she said. This article first appeared in UN News.
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28 June 2024
Haitian capital’s crippled health system ‘on the brink’
The health system in the Haitian capital Port-au-Prince is “on the brink” and “crippled by escalating violence” according to the UN’s Pan American Health Organization’s (PAHO) representative in the Caribbean island nation, Dr. Oscar Barreneche.The Haitian health ministry estimates that almost 40 per cent of facilities providing beds for treatment, including the country’s main university hospital, have shut down in the last two months alone because of insecurity and looting, mainly perpetrated by gangs.Haiti, and in particular Port-au-Prince, continues to witness unprecedented levels of lawlessness and brutality as gangs continue to fight for influence and territory.Meanwhile, some 580,000 people are displaced within the country.Here are five things you need to know about the current health situation in Haiti and what the United Nations is doing to help.1. Healthcare access is scarceThe security crisis is having a huge impact on an already fragile healthcare system.Access to healthcare - as well as essential social services, hygiene facilities and psychological assistance in Haiti - is scarce and capacity, especially in the capital, remains extremely limited. Health facilities have closed or have drastically reduced their operations because they are running out of medicine and vital medical supplies, some of which have been looted.In the Artibonite department just north of the capital, where gangs have recently become dominant, only a quarter of health facilities are functional.The number of available medical staff, who often cannot get to work because of security concerns, is also decreasing. UNICEF estimates that around 40 per cent of healthcare providers have left the country recently “due to extreme levels of insecurity.”2. Women and children are sufferingThe closure of hospitals and health facilities has left an estimated 3,000 pregnant women struggling to access maternal health services according to the UN sexual and reproductive health agency, UNFPA. The neonatal, pediatric, and nutritional units that are still functioning are overwhelmed and the few still operating in areas controlled by armed groups lack adequate human resources, equipment, and medicines to provide essential health and nutrition services.The UN is concerned that a child health and nutrition crisis could cost the lives of countless children. Insecurity in Port-au-Prince has made it virtually impossible for supplies to reach at least 58,000 children suffering from severe wasting in the metropolitan area. The UN’s International Organization for Migration (IOM) has also warned that violence and insecurity is affecting the mental health of displaced people including women, leading to distress and even suicidal behaviour.3. The healthcare system is still functioningThe UN says that two out of every five Haitians need urgent access to care and despite the many challenges the country faces, the healthcare system is still functioning and some patients are receiving the treatment they need.The Hôpital Universitaire de La Paix, in Port-au-Prince, which is supported by PAHO is on the frontline of providing services - including treating gun-shot wounds among other emergency care needs. The hospital director, Dr Paul Junior Fontilus, told PAHO that an emergency plan had been activated “to better manage the influx of seriously injured people. Our priority is to ensure that all victims receive the immediate care they need.”4. There are some positive developmentsThe international airport in Port-au-Prince had been closed because of gang activity but it has resumed operations, a positive development according to PAHO’s Dr. Oscar Barreneche: “The reopening of the airport has offered a lifeline, allowing us to restock critical medical supplies and equipment. Yet, the battle is far from over, with humanitarian conditions gradually worsening for an increasing number of Haitians.”The arrival in Haiti of the Multinational Security Support (MSS) Mission (which although backed by the UN Security Council is not a UN operation), will provide operational support to the Haitian police in countering gangs and boost security around critical infrastructure like hospitals.The UN Security Council also called on the MSS, through its support to the police, to help ensure unhindered and safe access to humanitarian aid for the people receiving assistance.5. UN agencies continue to respondTogether with local partners, the United Nations and other humanitarian organisations are providing life-saving assistance on a daily basis.In places were displaced people have fled, PAHO is providing support along with IOM, UNFPA and the World Food Programme (WFP). UNFPA and PAHO are supporting three hospitals in Port-au-Prince to provide maternal health services, including emergency obstetric care. It is also providing medicines and supplies, including for the clinical management of rape survivors, to 13 health facilities in the capital and surrounding region. It has deployed mobile clinics to seven displacement sites to support women’s and girls’ sexual and reproductive health, reaching close to 4,500 people so far.Thousands of dignity kits containing hygiene and other essential supplies have also been distributed to the most vulnerable.PAHO’s Dr. Oscar Barreneche said: “We face ongoing challenges that demand unwavering support and action to ensure stable and accessible life-saving healthcare for the people in need."Read The UN humanitarian office, OCHA’s latest emergency situation report here. This article first appeared in UN News.
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Press Release
15 April 2024
Statement attributable to the Spokesperson for the Secretary-General - on the establishment of the Transitional Presidential Council in Haiti
The Secretary-General welcomes the publication on 12 April of the decree formally establishing the Transitional Presidential Council and urges all Haitian stakeholders to continue making progress in putting in place transitional governance arrangements, including the timely appointment of an interim Prime Minister and government, and the nomination of the members of the Provisional Electoral Council. The Secretary-General takes note of the functions of the Transitional Presidential Council, including working with all members of the international community to accelerate the deployment of the Multinational Security Support (MSS) mission authorized by Security Council Resolution 2699 (2023). He reiterates his call on all Member States to contribute to the MSS.Stéphane Dujarric, Spokesman for the Secretary-General
New York, 13 April 2024
New York, 13 April 2024
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Press Release
12 March 2024
Statement attributable to the Spokesperson for the Secretary-General – on Haiti
The Secretary-General takes note of the agreement reached yesterday by Haitian stakeholders on a transitional governance arrangement, including the establishment of a Presidential Council and the appointment of an interim Prime Minister. He also takes note of Prime Minister Ariel Henry’s announcement that he would resign immediately upon the installation of a Transitional Presidential Council.The Secretary-General expresses appreciation to CARICOM, and other international partners, for facilitating a way forward to resolve Haiti’s political crisis and calls on all Haitian stakeholders to act responsibly and to take steps towards the implementation of the agreement in order to restore the country’s democratic institutions through peaceful, credible, participatory and inclusive elections. The United Nations, through its mission, will continue to support Haiti on its path towards elections.The Secretary-General reiterates his unwavering solidarity with the people of Haiti who are in need of safety, shelter, food and medical care, and to live their lives in dignity.Stéphane Dujarric, Spokesman for the Secretary-General
New York, 12 March 2024
New York, 12 March 2024
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Press Release
08 December 2023
Statement attributable to the Spokesperson for the Secretary-General – on Haiti
New York, 07 December 2023 - The Secretary-General is concerned over the limited progress in the inter-Haitian dialogue towards a lasting and inclusive political solution to restore the country’s democratic institutions.
The Secretary-General extends his full support to the efforts of the CARICOM Eminent Persons Group and to BINUH to facilitate sustainable and nationally-owned solutions to Haiti’s political crisis.
He looks forward to the continued preparations for the deployment of urgently needed security support to the Haitian National Police, through a Multinational Security Support mission, as authorized by resolution 2699 (2023).
The Secretary-General underlines the importance of an agreement on the restoration of democratic institutions - providing for credible, participatory and inclusive elections - to achieving sustainable rule of law and security. He appeals to the full range of political actors and stakeholders in Haiti to come together and reach a broad consensus as a matter of priority.
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Press Release
01 December 2023
Leadership Communautaire : Clé de Voûte de l'Éradication du SIDA en Haïti
Port-au-Prince, Haiti, December 1st, 2023 – On World AIDS Day, celebrated each year on 1 December, UNAIDS is calling for action to further strengthen community leadership in Haiti, which represents a crucial element in defeating the pandemic by 2030.
This year, World AIDS Day is commemorated under the theme "Let Communities Lead". Indeed, the new UNAIDS report highlights that achieving the 2030 goal of ending AIDS as a public health threat, is only possible if communities on the frontlines obtain the full support they need from governments and donors.
With an estimated HIV prevalence of 1.7% among adults (15-49 years) in 2022, Haiti has made significant progress in its response to the pandemic, reducing new infections by 21% and AIDS-related deaths by nearly 75%, between 2010 and 2022. These achievements are a result of the determination of civil society organizations and community associations, social workers, and activists whose invaluable commitment has been instrumental in combating stigma and discrimination at national level.
The United Nations System in Haiti is calling for support to communities of people infected and affected by HIV and AIDS, and who are fully committed to and engaged in the response. "It is with them and their commitment that we can succeed in eliminating the threat of AIDS. Eliminating inequalities is equally critical to changing the lives of people living with HIV and the communities most vulnerable to HIV infection", stated Maria Isabel Salvador, Special Representative of the Secretary-General of the United Nations in Haiti.
"Community-based organizations have for a long time represented the backbone of the HIV response in Haiti. Their unwavering support is fundamental to eradicating the AIDS pandemic and achieving the Sustainable Development Goals ", highlights Ulrika Richardson, Resident Coordinator of the United Nations System in Haiti and Humanitarian Coordinator, simultaneously stressing the critical role of health in Haiti's development.
Recognizing the 20th anniversary of the U.S. Government President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), which coincides with this internationally-celebrated annual event, Dr. Christian Mouala, UNAIDS Country Director in Haiti, said: "PEPFAR has been a key partner for Haiti, establishing solid partnerships across key national and international stakeholders. We celebrate this dynamic collaboration and call for its continued strengthening to achieve our common goal.”
Since its first commemoration in 1988 by the United Nations General Assembly, 1 December has symbolized a day of global reflection, assessment of progress made and strategic readjustment in the global response to HIV/AIDS. UNAIDS' ambitious 95-95-95 targets for 2025 highlight the importance of accurate knowledge of HIV status, universal access to antiretroviral treatment, and viral load suppression among people on antiretroviral therapy.
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En savoir plus sur la Journée mondiale 2023 (ONUSIDA)
Pour plus d'informations, veuillez contacter :
Wegbert Chery, Conseiller Egalité et Droit pour Tous et Toutes (ERA) à l’ONUSIDA en Haïti ; Tél : +509 46512125; Courriel : cheryw@unaids.org
Igor Rugwiza, Responsable communication du Bureau de la Coordonnatrice Résidente ; Tel : +509 48084749 ; courriel : rugwiza@un.org
Béatrice Nibogora, Responsable communication du Bureau intégré des Nations Unies en Haïti ; Tel : +509 36537043 ; Courriel nibogorab@un.org
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Press Release
14 June 2023
MEDIA ADVISORY - SAVING LIVES: ADDRESSING FOOD SECURITY NEEDS OF HAITI
Special Event http://bit.ly/HaitiFreeOfHunger
Friday, 16 June 2023, 10:00am – 1:00pm
WHERE: Trusteeship Council Chamber, United Nations Headquarters, New York
WHAT: Nearly half of the population in Haiti doesn’t have enough to eat. In rural areas, 76 percent of people are affected by food insecurity. Restoring livelihoods is fundamental to the humanitarian response. Launched in April 2023, the UN Humanitarian Response Plan for 2023 called for an unprecedented $719 million - almost double from 2022. To date, the plan is only 20% funded. The recent floods and earthquake have shown that Haiti’s humanitarian needs remain considerable and will continue to grow as the hurricane season starts. Building on the work of ECOSOC Advisory Group on Haiti, ECOSOC will convene a special meeting to mobilize action and resources in support of food security in Haiti and to call on the international community to show solidarity with the Haitian people and contribute to the funding appeals.
WHO:
Opening will include:
· President of the United Nations Economic and Social Council, H.E. Lachezara Stoeva
· Prime Minister of Saint-Vincent and the Grenadines and Chair of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC), H.E. Ralph Gonsalves
· Prime Minister of Jamaica, H.E. Andrew Holness
· Minister of Planning and External Cooperation of Haiti, H.E. Ricard Pierre
· Chair of the ECOSOC Ad Hoc Advisory Group on Haiti and Permanent Representative of Canada to the United Nations, H.E. Bob Rae
· Executive Director of the World Food Programme, Ms. Cindy H. McCain
· Executive Director of UNICEF, Ms. Catherine Russell
Followed by a roundtable:
· Permanent Representative of Rwanda to the United Nations, H.E. Claver Gatete (moderator)
· Vice Minister of Bilateral Affairs of the Dominican Republic, H.E. José Julio Gómez
· Deputy Special Representative of the Secretary General and Resident Coordinator and Humanitarian Coordinator in Haiti, Ms. Ulrika Richardson
· Ms. Edem Wosornu, Director, Operations and Advocacy Division, OCHA
· Mr. Guangzhou Qu, Director, Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) Liaison Office with the United Nations
· Ms. Patrizia Tumbarello, Mission Chief for Haiti, International Monetary Fund (IMF)
· Mr. Laurent Msellati, Country Manager for Haiti, World Bank Group
· Mr. William O’Neill, Independent Expert on the situation of human rights in Haiti For a full programme, please visit http://bit.ly/HaitiFreeOfHunger
WEBCAST: The event will be streamed live on https://media.un.org
HASHTAG: #HaitiCantWait
ACCESS: The event is open to all UN accredited media.
MEDIA CONTACT: Paul Simon, Office for Intergovernmental Support and Coordination for Sustainable Development, Department of Economic and Social Affairs E: simonp@un.org
T: +1 917 367 5027 | M: +1 347 267 5618
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