United Nations Security Council Resolution 2313 – The question concerning Haiti

Resolution 2313 (2016)

The Security Council,

Reaffirming its previous resolutions on Haiti, in particular its resolutions 2243 (2015), 2180 (2014), 2119 (2013), 2070 (2012), 2012 (2011), 1944 (2010), 1927 (2010), 1908 (2010), 1892 (2009), 1840 (2008), 1780 (2007), 1743 (2007), 1702 (2006), 1658 (2006), 1608 (2005), 1576 (2004) and 1542 (2004),

Reaffirming its strong commitment to the sovereignty, independence, territorial integrity and unity of Haiti,

Taking note of the Secretary-General’s report S/2016/753 of 31 August 2016,

Noting the revised electoral calendar which set a first date of 9 October 2016 for a repeat of the 2015 presidential election and partial re-runs of the legislative elections, together with first-round elections for one-third of the Senate seats whose current incumbents will end their term in office in January 2017, and a second electoral round for 8 January, including presidential and senatorial run-offs, if required, and the single-round local elections, although the 9 October date was postponed due to Hurricane Matthew,

Also noting that, according to this calendar, the final results of the presidential election will be announced by 30 January 2017 and the installation of the newly elected President expected to take place on 7 February 2017, in accordance with the Constitution of Haiti,

Underscoring the importance of the Government of Haiti, the Electoral Council and political parties and all political actors in ensuring that the upcoming rounds of elections are conducted in a free, fair, inclusive, peaceful, transparent, credible, and democratic manner and in accordance with the electoral law,

Recognizing that the security situation during the reporting period remained relatively calm but fragile, due to the prevailing political uncertainty,

Recognizing the important role of MINUSTAH in ensuring stability and security in Haiti, and commending MINUSTAH for continuing to assist the Government of Haiti to ensure a secure and stable environment, and expressing gratitude to the personnel of MINUSTAH and to their countries and paying tribute to those injured or killed in the line of duty; commending also the wide range of reconstruction efforts in Haiti and the successful work achieved by MINUSTAH’s military engineering units,Also recognizing the importance of condition-based security-related decisions about the future of MINUSTAH and noting that there were some incidents of violence during the reporting period,

Reiterating the critical role of the Haitian National Police (HNP) to Haiti’s security and stability and welcoming the ongoing strengthening, professionalization and reform of the HNP,

Welcoming that the capacity of the HNP has continued to improve, and they have demonstrated their determination to provide for the safety and security of the Haitian people and noting that they are not yet operationally independent and continue to rely on international support including from MINUSTAH, in fulfilling their constitutional mandate,

Underscoring the importance of adequate funding for the Haitian National Police (HNP) to enhance its logistic, administrative and operational capacities, and encouraging the Government of Haiti to take advantage of the support being provided by the international community to guarantee the provision of adequate security for the Haitian people and calling on all international partners to strengthen their coordination in this regard,

Welcoming the continued efforts of the HNP to patrol and enhance its presence and engagement directly with the population; recognizing MINUSTAH’s continued community policing efforts, in close coordination with camp committees, in sites for internally displaced persons, and welcoming their engagement with the population,

Noting that the HNP continued to implement its 2012-2016 Development Plan, as well as MINUSTAH’s support for development of the 2017-2021 Strategic Plan,

Underlining the need to further strengthen Haitian judicial and correctional systems, in order to support a more integrated and cohesive Haitian security sector, noting the slow progress towards consolidating the rule of law and calling on Haitian authorities to continue to pursue efforts aimed at strengthening rule of law institutions and ending impunity,

Recalling Security Council resolution 2282 (2016) and General Assembly resolution 70/262 and reaffirming Haitian ownership of “sustaining peace” strategies, and in this regard, emphasizing the importance of inclusivity and the role that civil society can play to advance national peacebuilding processes and objectives in order to ensure that the needs of all segments of society are taken into account,

Recognizing also the interconnected nature of the challenges in Haiti, reaffirming that sustainable progress on security, the rule of law and institutional reform, national reconciliation and sustainable development, including the combat against unemployment and poverty, are mutually reinforcing, and welcoming the continuing efforts of the Government of Haiti and the international community to address these challenges, in line with the government’s priorities,

Noting with concern that Haiti continues to suffer humanitarian challenges, underlining the importance and urgency of the Humanitarian Response Plan appeal launched jointly by the Government of Haiti and the United Nations to meet critical humanitarian needs of 1.3 million people, and acknowledging that while important progress has been made, Haiti continues to face significant humanitarian challenges,

Noting that the ongoing return or entry of Haitians and persons of Haitian descent from the Dominican Republic has tested the capacity of the State to provide assistance,

Noting with concern that as a result of the ongoing drought, 3.6 million suffered from food insecurity, of whom 1.5 million from acute food insecurity, which could impact the humanitarian situation and stability, Noting an increase in suspected cases of cholera and cholera-related deaths,

Welcoming the ongoing efforts by the Government of Haiti to control and eliminate the cholera epidemic, as well as the intensified efforts of MINUSTAH and United Nations agencies in support of the implementation of the National Plan for the Elimination of Cholera and urging the United Nations country team in coordination with other actors to continue to support the Government of Haiti in addressing the structural weaknesses, in particular in the water and sanitation systems,

Underscoring the importance of strengthening the Haitian national health institutions, and recognizing United Nations efforts to combat cholera, including through the Secretary-General’s initiative to support the National Plan for the Elimination of Cholera,

Taking note of the intention of the Secretary-General to develop a package that would provide material assistance and support to those Haitians directly affected by cholera,

Emphasizing that progress in the reconstruction of Haiti, as well as in Haiti’s social and economic development, including through effective, coordinated, commendable international development assistance and increased Haitian institutional capacity to benefit from this assistance, are crucial to achieving lasting and sustainable stability, and reiterating the need for security to be accompanied by social and economic development, including efforts in risk reduction and preparedness that address the country’s extreme vulnerability to natural disasters, efforts in which the Government of Haiti plays a leading role,

Welcoming the increased joint programming of the United Nations country team in Haiti in alignment and coordination with the Government-endorsed Integrated Strategic Framework, and welcoming also the commitment to foster greater alignment of international assistance with national priorities, increase transparency and strengthen mutual accountability, as well as the need for stronger coordination,

Urging donors to complete their pledges in order, inter alia, to help promote access to services and jobs for the most vulnerable, and underlining the Government of Haiti’s responsibility to provide clear guidance to donors on its priorities and to facilitate delivery of assistance to those most in need,

Expressing concern that social inequalities remain highly visible, that over the past year core inflation has risen to about 10 per cent, and that insufficient investment, required to boost economic growth, and generate employment, combined with political uncertainty and lack of transparent and effective governance systems, have continued to impact negatively on development and the implementation of the Strategic Development Plan of Haiti,

Emphasizing the role of women and youth in the economy and the importance of promoting economic empowerment for these stakeholders,

Emphasizing the role of regional organizations in the ongoing process of stabilization and reconstruction of Haiti and calling on MINUSTAH to continue to work closely with international financial institutions, regional and subregional organizations, and other stakeholders, in particular the Organization of the American States (OAS), Union of South American Nations (UNASUR), and the Caribbean Community (CARICOM),

Expressing serious concern that sexual and gender-based violence, especially against women and children, remains a substantial problem, particularly in marginalized districts of Port-au-Prince, remaining internally displaced persons sites and remote areas of the country,

Noting with concern the slow progress towards consolidating the rule of law and calling on the Haitian Government to address the deficiencies in the justice and corrections systems, prolonged pretrial detention, prison overcrowding, widespread corruption, and denial of human rights including fair trial guarantees,

Recognizing that strengthening national human rights institutions as well as respect for human rights, including of children, and due process and combating criminality, sexual and gender-based violence, and putting an end to impunity and ensuring accountability are essential to ensuring the rule of law and security in Haiti, including access to justice,

Taking note that the Government of Haiti has failed to assign the human rights portfolio to a specific Ministry and that Judicial authorities have not made significant progress in the investigation and in the prosecution, as appropriate, of crimes involving serious human rights violations,

Reaffirming the authority of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General in the coordination and conduct of all activities of United Nations agencies, funds and programmes in Haiti, and reaffirming also its support to the Special Representative of the Secretary-General’s role in ensuring optimal coordination and collaboration between MINUSTAH and the United Nations country team in connection with the aspects of their respective mandates that are correlated particularly as part of MINUSTAH’s condition-based consolidation plan,

Mindful of its primary responsibility for the maintenance of international peace and security under the Charter of the United Nations,

Acting under Chapter VII of the Charter of the United Nations, as described in section 1 of operative paragraph 7 of resolution 1542 (2004),

Adopted by the Security Council at its 7790th meeting, on 13 October 2016.