Good afternoon and thank you for being here.
I have just returned from a 10-day visit to Haiti to assess the human rights situation in the country.
I saw glimmers of hope: some territory liberated from gang control, a motivated and more visible police presence and a determined and more unified political leadership.
Yet I also am alarmed by an on-going human rights crisis that creates massive suffering for the Haitian people, especially the most vulnerable.
Violence has forced at least 1.4 million people to flee their homes, an unprecedented level of internal displacement in Haiti. Many families live in extremely precarious conditions, often without access to health care, clean water, toilets, food, schools or adequate shelter. In camps and makeshift settlements, people struggle every day simply to survive. Sexual violence is rife in these sites.
Meanwhile, thousands remain trapped in areas controlled by gangs or along shifting frontlines. Young people in these communities live under constant threat. They are also frequently stigmatized or suspected simply because of where they live — sometimes by security forces, sometimes by others in the population. This places them in an impossible situation, caught between violence and suspicion.
As a young girl told me, young people in Haiti face many invisible borders in their lives — and for girls those borders are even greater. They face discrimination for being girls, for living in gang-controlled neighborhoods, and for being poor. “I just want to live well and safely,” one girl told me, “because this is my country.”
The security situation is fragile. I heard serious concerns about police operations and the reported use of drones that have resulted in deaths and injuries. Efforts to restore security are essential and desired by many, but they must fully respect international human rights law.
Many Haitians have high expectations for the Gang Suppression Force. Yet many told me they do not understand its role, mandate and who will comprise the force. Greater transparency will be important to build public trust.
But security measures are never enough. Haiti must also invest urgently in violence reduction and prevention, particularly for young people. I was encouraged to hear the Prime Minister’s commitment to programmes focusing on rehabilitating young gang members.
Many children and adolescents have been recruited or coerced by gangs and are growing up in communities where violence has become part of daily life. Haiti urgently needs rehabilitation and reintegration programmes for children associated with gangs, as well as real alternatives for all young people through education, employment and access to basic services. Institutions responsible for child protection, including the Institut du Bien-Être Social et de Recherches (IBESR), must receive greater support to respond to the urgent needs of children and youth affected by violence.
I also believe that the creation of a Haitian Youth Corps could offer young people a constructive role in rebuilding their communities and contributing to the future of their country. This would help prevent gangs from re-emerging.
Another critical issue is the psychological and social trauma caused by years of violence. Haiti has talented professionals who can help address this challenge. Haitian psychologists, social workers and community leaders should be mobilized to support victims, promote reconciliation and help rebuild trust within communities. They can help repair what many Haitians told me is a “shredded social contract.”
I remain deeply concerned about corruption, impunity and the weakness of accountability mechanisms. During my visit, I visited the prisons in Port-au-Prince and Cap-Haïtien. The conditions I observed were inhuman and degrading. Adults and children, as well as women and men, are being held in the same facilities, often in extremely overcrowded and unsanitary conditions. Such treatment is unacceptable and reflects deeper structural failures within the justice and detention systems.
Strengthening accountability will be essential. I welcome initiatives such as the new Pôle Judiciaire, which offers hope for progress in the fight against corruption and human rights violations, including sexual violence. The Unité de Lutte Contre la Corruption must receive the support necessary to combat corruption and the Haitian justice system must prosecute these cases vigorously. The UN Security Council should impose sanctions against those responsible for corruption and human rights abuses and Member States should enforce the Council’s arms embargo on Haiti.
I met many courageous Haitians — human rights defenders, journalists, community leaders, health care workers, educators and ordinary citizens — who continue to work tirelessly for their country.
Their commitment is remarkable. We can’t let them down.
Haiti is facing a difficult yet promising moment. If we can help Haiti address insecurity, fight corruption and impunity, and protect human rights, then everyone will prosper.
There is no more time to lose. Kembe fem, pa lage.
Thank you