Mr President,
I would also like to begin by thanking the Special Envoy, Ms Salvador, not only for her statement, but also for her commitment and the commitment of the entire Mission and team. I would also like to welcome the presence of the Prime Minister of Haiti and the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Dominican Republic, as well as the representatives of Canada and Saint Kitts and Nevis on behalf of CARICOM.
The multidimensional crisis in Haiti — and we have heard it — persists, as confirmed by the Secretary-General's report. However, there are some positive signs. On the one hand, we are encouraged by the deployment of the first members of the Multinational Security Support Mission (MSS) under the leadership of Kenya. To restore the stability and security that Haiti urgently needs, it is essential that the mission achieves its objectives in accordance with its mandate and with full respect for international law, in particular human rights. We also welcome the forming of a new government. This is an essential step towards a more stable and prosperous future for the country, and should pave the way for the holding of free, fair and secure elections. At the same time, we reiterate the importance of including women in all political processes — what we heard today was encouraging — and of implementing the constitutional minimum of 30% quotas for women in the civil service.
I would like to highlight three further points:
Firstly, we urge full, safe, rapid and unimpeded humanitarian access to all people in need. We salute the unwavering commitment of humanitarian organisations in Haiti and remain concerned about the security risks and access restrictions their staff face every day. We must continue our joint efforts to substantially increase humanitarian aid in order to meet the urgent needs of the population. The start of the tropical storm season, including the worrying development of Hurricane Beryl and its impact on the whole region, is also a reminder that the humanitarian situation can deteriorate rapidly. Haiti is particularly vulnerable to the adverse effects of climate change, especially extreme weather events. These effects, combined with the humanitarian crisis, intensify the security and economic risks in the country. We must therefore invest in building resilience, in particular through disaster preparedness and risk reduction measures.
Secondly, crimes related to gang violence, particularly against women and girls, must not go unpunished. Perpetrators must be held accountable. To achieve this, the Haitian National Police and the judicial and penitentiary systems continue to need the support of the international community on a long-term basis. In addition, the flow of arms and ammunition continues to fuel violence, including endemic sexual and gender-based violence. We must all redouble our efforts to implement the arms embargo and halt the proliferation of weapons in Haiti.
Thirdly, the regrettable, shocking and increasing recruitment of children by gangs - UNICEF estimates that 30-50% of gang members are children - will require greater efforts to disengage and reintegrate them in accordance with international standards. Children affiliated to gangs must be treated first and foremost as victims. The relevant national authorities must be provided with adequate capacity to address their educational, physical and psychological needs. We encourage BINUH to continue its efforts in this area. In addition, we call on the MSS to make children's rights and safety one of its priorities by ensuring that deployed forces put in place robust child protection and safeguarding measures.
Mr President,
A joint and coordinated effort by all the forces involved - BINUH, the MSS, the government, the national police force and civil society - is needed to manage Haiti's complex crisis in a sustainable manner. BINUH remains a central element of the international response in Haiti. Its human rights monitoring mechanism and its commitment to reducing violence within the community continue to respond to increasingly urgent needs. Switzerland salutes its work and thanks its staff for their efforts in very difficult circumstances. We therefore support the renewal of its mandate in order to contribute to security and stability for the Haitian people.