United Nations Security Council Resolution 2645 – The question concerning Haiti (BINUH)
Resolution 2645 (2022)
The Security Council,
Recalling all its previous resolutions on Haiti, including resolution 2600 (2021),
Reaffirming its strong commitment to the sovereignty, independence, territorial integrity and unity of Haiti,
Recalling in particular its resolution 2476 (2019), which established the United Nations Integrated Office in Haiti (BINUH) beginning on 16 October 2019 based on the report of the Secretary-General of 1 March 2019 (document S/2019/198),
Reaffirming its condemnation in the strongest terms of the assassination of the President of Haiti Jovenel Moïse on 7 July 2021, and urging the Government of Haiti to hold the perpetrators accountable in a timely manner,
Acknowledging the letter of the Secretary-General of 29 April 2022 (document S/2022/369) recommending adjustments to the mandate and resources of BINUH to increase its effectiveness, including its efforts to support and facilitate engagement between the Haitian national authorities, civil society and other stakeholders to strengthen the rule of law; and to promote respect for human rights,
Emphasizing the importance of empowering BINUH to carry out its good offices role, to engage all sectors of Haitian society, in particular political actors, civil society, women and religious leaders, including communities living in areas controlled by gangs, in support of political consensus, as well as in the necessary reforms to scale up advisory police support to the Haitian National Police (HNP) and re-open police commissariats in response to armed gang violence,
Noting with deep concern the protracted and deteriorating political, economic, security, human rights, humanitarian and food security crises in Haiti and reaffirming the commitment of the international community to continue to support the people of Haiti,
Expressing grave concern about the extremely high levels of gang violence and other criminal activities, including kidnappings and homicides, and sexual and gender-based violence, as well as ongoing impunity for perpetrators, and the implications of Haiti’s situation on the region,
Stressing that addressing the root causes of instability in Haiti requires political solutions,
Urging the Haitian authorities to address such violence and its root causes in a comprehensive and urgent manner, including through strengthened rule of law, socio-economic measures, violence reduction programs, including specific programs focused on sexual and gender based violence, weapons and ammunition management, and bolstering national accountability and protection mechanisms, as well as through any initiatives to assist the functioning of the judiciary,
Concerned that illicit trafficking and diversion of arms and related materiel of all types undermine the rule of law and human rights, and can impede the provision of humanitarian assistance and have wide ranging negative humanitarian and socioeconomic consequences,
Further acknowledging the urgent need to address the challenge of illicit financial flows to Haiti enabling armed gangs to operate and posing a growing threat to the country’s stability, including by prioritizing breaking links between political and economic actors and gangs,
Welcoming the establishment of the Basket Fund for security assistance for Haiti developed with the support of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and BINUH, acknowledging BINUH’s advisory support for the HNP, and encouraging BINUH to play a coordination role with regard to external security assistance to Haiti through this fund,
Welcoming the launch of technical programs by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) to assist national authorities to promote border and ports control, trace illicit financial flows, collaborate across borders to combat transnational crime, corruption, and drug and arms trafficking, including through the UNODC-World Customs Organization (WCO) Container Control Programme in Haiti and border management programs, and further welcoming CARICOM’s regional roadmap to combat the trafficking of firearms,
Recognizing that BINUH requires adequate mobility and security, both inside Port-au-Prince and outside the capital, including through adequate situational awareness and monitoring capacity,
Recognizing the important role of neighboring countries, regional and subregional organizations such as the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), and other international partners, and calling on the international community to remain committed to Haiti’s efforts in overcoming the ongoing political stalemate and security situation, welcoming further efforts from member states to augment training, mentor, and improve the operational capacity of the HNP as well as encouraging the support and financing of activities to address Haiti’s humanitarian, stabilization, reconstruction, disaster risk reduction and resilience and sustainable development challenges, including in the agricultural, industrial, and education sectors,
Welcoming the agreement of the Heads of Government of CARICOM for a high level political mission to Haiti and its readiness to assist,
Stressing the primary responsibility of the Government of Haiti to address longstanding drivers of instability and inequality, and to engage with other stakeholders, including civil society, youth, and the private sector, and the full, equal, and meaningful participation of women, to deliver durable solutions to Haiti’s immediate and long-term challenges,
Emphasizing the need to address the loss of livelihoods, food security and nutrition, health security, displacement of residents, and access to social infrastructure, including that caused by the earthquake that struck Haiti on 14 August 2021 and the passage of Tropical Storm Grace on 16 August 2021, and further emphasizing that progress in the recovery, reconstruction, and resilience-building of Haiti is crucial to achieving lasting stability, security and socio-economic development, and in this regard acknowledging the multi agency collaboration to this end,
- Decides to extend, to 15 July 2023 the mandate of BINUH in accordance with its resolution 2476 (2019), headed by a Special Representative of the Secretary‑General of the United Nations, and the reporting requirements specified in resolution 2476 (2019) adjusted to 90 days;
2. Further decides that BINUH’s police and corrections unit will include up to 42 civilian and seconded personnel to serve as police and corrections advisors and led by a UN Police Commissioner and that BINUH’s human rights unit will include dedicated capacity to address sexual and gender-based violence, including the identification of women’s protection advisers, as applicable;
3. Reiterates the need for all Haitian stakeholders, including with BINUH’s support, to reach an urgent agreement on a sustainable, time -bound and commonly accepted framework for a political process led by Haitians to permit the organization of inclusive, peaceful, free, fair, and transparent legislative and presidential elections as soon as security conditions and logistical preparations permit, and with the full, equal and meaningful participation of women and the engagement of youth, civil society, and other relevant stakeholders through an inclusive inter-Haitian national dialogue, and in this regard requests the Government of Haiti to provide an update to the Security Council by 17 October 2022;
4. Calls upon Member States to prohibit the transfer of small arms, light weapons, and ammunition to non-State actors engaged in or supporting gang violence, criminal activities, or human rights abuses in Haiti, as well as to prevent their illicit trafficking and diversion, and encourages cooperation between Member States to prevent illicit arms trafficking and diversion, including through providing and exchanging timely and up to date information in order to identify and combat illicit trafficking sources and supply chains;
5. Demands an immediate cessation of gang violence and criminal activities, and in this regard expresses its readiness to take appropriate measures, as necessary, that could include assets freeze or travel ban measures, against those engaged in or supporting gang violence, criminal activities, or human rights abuses or who otherwise take action that undermines the peace, stability, and security of Haiti and the region, within 90 days from the adoption of this resolution;
6. Encourages continued close collaboration and enhanced coordination between BINUH, the United Nations Country Team in Haiti, regional organizations and international financial institutions with a view to helping the government of Haiti to take responsibility to realize the long-term stability, sustainable development, and economic self-sufficiency of the country and further encourages enhanced public strategic communication regarding BINUH’s mandate and specific role;
7. Encourages Member States, international financial institutions, and other entities to contribute to the Basket Fund for security assistance to Haiti with a view to supporting coordinated international assistance, and further encourages Member States, as well as relevant international organizations in a position to do so to further provide Haiti with capacity building, technical support, and the training of national customs, border control, and other such relevant authorities;
8. Requests BINUH to work with the UNODC and other relevant UN agencies to support Haitian authorities in combating illicit financial flows as well as trafficking and diversion of arms and related materiel and in enhancing management and control of borders and ports;
9. Reiterates the importance of the engagement of UNODC and other relevant UN agencies in support of efforts against armed gangs, to enhance port security, to improve customs revenue collections, and to curtail illicit financial flows, and further reiterates the importance of securing voluntary funding in support of these efforts;
10. Requests the Secretary-General to consult with the Government of Haiti, relevant countries, and regional organizations regarding possible options for enhanced security support for the HNP’s efforts to combat high levels of gang violence, and to submit a written report to the Security Council regarding these consultations by 15 October 2022;
11. Decides to remain actively seized of the matter.
Adopted by the Security Council at its 9095th meeting, on 15 July 2022
