I will now make a statement in my national capacity.

Like my colleagues, I would like to thank the Special Representative, Madame Salvador, and the Executive Director of UNICEF, Madame Russel, for their statements, and also welcome the presence of the Foreign Minister of the Dominican Republic, Mr. Roberto Álvarez Gil, and the representatives of Haiti and Kenya in this room. I would like to express our special gratitude to Mrs. Auguste Ducéna: I thank you for your ongoing, courageous commitment to your people.

Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Denis Mukwege reminded us that there can be no lasting peace without justice, and that justice is non-negotiable. The ongoing crisis in Haiti, marked by impunity for massive violence, especially sexual violence, shows how far the Haitian people are from living in peace. While we welcome the political progress that has been made, we fear that it is once again under threat. Against this backdrop, Switzerland remains determined to continue its humanitarian support, placing the interests, concerns and aspirations of the Haitian people at the heart of its actions.

I would like to underline the following points:

First, the cycle of violence, insecurity and poverty must be broken. We applaud the courage of humanitarian actors and call for rapid, safe and unimpeded humanitarian access to all those in need. With regard to the fight against insecurity, the implementation of the MSS mandate remains a key factor in supporting the restoration of peace and stability, and we commend Kenya for its leadership.

But it is also essential to protect Haiti's hard-won progress in the face of natural disasters - a country highly exposed to natural hazards that threaten existing vulnerabilities. We must therefore invest more in resilience, particularly in response to the growing impacts of climate change. To ensure a sustainable and effective response, Switzerland is working with local players and Haitian institutions on risk reduction measures in the southern department.

Secondly, impunity must end. Those responsible for human rights violations and abuses, especially against women and girls, must be brought to justice. But in order to bring justice to the victims, it is also essential to address the root causes of this violence. The influx of weapons remains a direct threat to security and peace. It is therefore essential to intensify our efforts to enforce the arms embargo. In this regard, we welcome the unanimous renewal of the sanctions regime and call for its full implementation. With regard to immediate relief, Switzerland has actively supported efforts to provide medical assistance to the victims, while raising awareness and strengthening local actors to help them.

Thirdly, the protection and well-being of children must remain a priority. We are deeply concerned about their increasing recruitment and use by gangs, which constitute serious violations. These children, who are first and foremost victims, need more support to reintegrate them in accordance with international standards. We encourage BINUH to continue its important efforts in this area, and we also welcome MSS's engagement with OHCHR to strengthen its capacity to deal with child victims of gangs. Ultimately, every child shattered by violence calls on us to act with determination to provide them with a peaceful future.

Excellencies, dear colleagues

Mrs. Auguste Ducéna stressed that justice, human rights and responsibility are the foundations on which Haiti can build lasting peace and future prosperity. BINUH remains an essential pillar of the international response to achieve this goal.

Thank you.

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