Haiti

Haiti must focus on strengthening its rule of law institutions, including its national police and electoral council to consolidate the gains it has achieved in recent years, the United Nations Security Council heard today as it reviewed developments in the Caribbean country.

Haitian Prime Minister Laurent Lamothe and more than 50 national and international non-governmental organisation (NGO) representatives defined today a new roadmap to better coordinate the transition from Haiti’s humanitarian to a long-term development phase, with increased accountability and transparency.

“Haiti is at a crossroads. If the right steps are taken on a number of key issues, there is potential for progress – but at the same time, there are risks of backsliding,” said the Assistant Secretary-General for Human Rights, Ivan Simonovic, who just finished a four-day visit to the Caribbean nation on Saturday.

The report covers major developments from the issuance of the GS report of 29 February 2012 (S/2012/128) until 31 August 2012.

The UN Stabilisation Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH) needs a gradual reconfiguration of its operations prior to a withdrawal, to avoid a security vacuum and give Haiti the chance for sustainable development. “Towards a Post-MINUSTAH Haiti: Making an Effective Transition”, the latest report by the International Crisis Group, assesses the impact of the UN presence in Haiti and analyses the options for MINUSTAH’s eventual departure, as the October 2012 end of its mandate approaches.

Haitian President Michel Joseph Martelly published an amended version of the constitution on Tuesday that created new institutions and granted voting rights to Haitians with dual citizenship.

Mariano Fernández Amunátegui, the Special Representative of the Secretary-General and head of the UN Stabilization Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH), praised Haitian leaders, including President Michel Martelly, and the heads of the Senate and the Lower House of Parliament for the dialogue between the executive and legislative branches that culminated in Mr. Lamothe’s confirmation yesterday.

UN and Haitian government officials are scrambling to find a peaceful way to disarm a rogue group of former soldiers demanding the immediate return of the Haitian armed forces, 17 years after the country's notoriously brutal army was disbanded.

The report covers major developments from the issuance of the report of 25 August 2011 (S/2011/540) until 28 February 2012.

A U.N. Security Council delegation arrived in Haiti on Monday for a four-day visit to Haiti to assess security needs before a decision over reducing the 10,500-member peacekeeping force.