Security Council Extends Mandate of United Nations Integrated Office in Haiti, Unanimously Adopting Resolution 2692 (2023)
The Security Council today extended the mandate of the United Nations Integrated Office in Haiti (BINUH) until 15 July 2024, deciding that its police and corrections unit will include up to 70 civilian and seconded personnel serving as police and corrections advisers to scale up its strategic and advisory support to the training and investigation capacities of the Haitian National Police, and that its human rights unit will include dedicated capacity to address sexual and gender-based violence including the identification of women’s protection advisers.
Unanimously adopting resolution 2692 (2023) (to be issued as document S/RES/2692(2023)), the Council reiterated the need for all Haitian stakeholders to continue to facilitate a Haitian-led, Haitian-owned political process to permit the organizing of free, fair and credible legislative and presidential elections, and with the full, equal, meaningful and safe participation of women and the engagement of youth, civil society and other relevant stakeholders through an inclusive inter-Haitian national dialogue. It further requests all Haitian stakeholders to urgently reach an agreement on a sustainable, time-bound and commonly accepted road map for elections.
On the security front, the Council demanded cooperation between Member States to prevent illicit arms trafficking and diversion, including through inspecting cargo to Haiti, and through providing and exchanging timely and up to date information to identify and combat illicit trafficking sources and supply chains. It also strongly urged them to, without delay, prohibit the supply, sale or transfer of small arms, light weapons and ammunition to non-State actors engaged in or supporting gang violence, criminal activities or human rights abuses in Haiti, as well as to take all appropriate steps to prevent their illicit trafficking and diversion.
Council members also requested BINUH to take fully into account child protection as a cross-cutting issue throughout its mandate and to assist the authorities in the protection of children including through prioritizing advisory support on child protection. As well, they requested BINUH to provide information on cases of gang violence, criminal activities and human rights abuses in Haiti, collected in carrying out its mandate, as an annex to the Secretary-General’s report to the Council.
In addition, the text requested the Secretary-General to submit a written report to the Council, in consultation with Haiti, within 30 days, outlining the full range of support options the United Nations can provide to enhance the security situation, including support for combating illicit trafficking and diversion of arms and related materiel, additional training for the Haitian National Police, support for a non-United Nations multinational force, or a possible peacekeeping operation, in the context of supporting a political settlement in Haiti.
Linda Thomas-Greenfield (United States) said the resolution submitted by her delegation and Ecuador, reauthorizing BINUH’s mandate, represents an important step towards the goal articulated by Secretary of State Antony Blinken at the recent Caribbean Community (CARICOM) plenary: to “help the Haitian people shape their future, and restore the country’s democratic order through free and fair elections”. BINUH remains a positive force in Haiti, supporting the Haitian National Police in addressing the gang violence plaguing the country. The text encourages Member States to extend security support to the Haitian National Police through a specialized force, acknowledging Haitians’ repeated calls for help, she said, noting that it also asks the Secretary-General for a written report outlining ways to effectively enhance the security situation, including through training for Haitian National Police and support for a non-United Nations force. She stressed, however, that while the adoption of the resolution is a positive step, the Council must do more, in concert with BINUH, Haiti’s Government and the international community, to help the country’s people achieve a just and peaceful future.
Geng Shuang (China) said that Haiti is deeply mired in humanitarian and political crises. Today’s adoption of resolution 2692 (2023) shows that the international community is committed to finding a Haiti-owned, Haiti-led solution. The fundamental solution to the Haitian crisis lies in advancing its political process. The resolution calls on all parties and factions in Haiti to advance the political process with a sense of urgency and in the fundamental interest of the country. No amount of support for Haitian police will make any difference unless the flow of weapons into the country stops. All countries must immediately stop providing arms and munitions to Haitian gangs and their supporters. He called on Council Members to master political determination and demonstrate political will. He warned against “quick fixes implemented from the outside” which have long failed to deliver long-term results.
Guilherme Marquardt Bayer (Brazil) said that throughout the negotiations, his country’s main objective was to help Haiti overcome its economic, political and security crisis. Enhancing BINUH’s capacity to support national authorities, prevent and respond to gender-based violence and protect children represent improvements, he stressed, while noting that additional measures to prevent the illicit trafficking and diversion of small arms, light weapons and ammunition could also serve as a crucial step in curbing the violence. “In the upcoming days and months, the situation in the country must remain at the forefront of our attention,” he stressed, adding that the Council should monitor the situation on the ground, while considering potential new measures. Any possible security assistance should fully align with the needs and aspirations of the Haitian people and be developed in close collaboration with other relevant actors, he emphasized, pointing out that the effectiveness of such assistance will depend on the will of key stakeholders to set aside differences to address the root causes..........
https://press.un.org/en/2023/sc15356.doc.htm
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