United Nations Security Council Resolution 2699 – The question concerning Haiti (MSS)

Resolution 2699 (2023)

The Security Council,

Recalling all its previous resolutions and press statements, and reaffirming resolution 2692 (2023), on the situation in Haiti,

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

Emphasizing that the Government of Haiti has the primary responsibility for the provision of security, ensuring stability and respect for the rule of law and human rights, and for the protection of civilians across the territory of Haiti, and expressing great concern at the increasingly violent actions taken by armed groups and criminal networks,

Reaffirming the importance of a professional, self-sustaining, fully functioning Haitian National Police of adequate size, structure and equipment, able to conduct the full spectrum of police functions, for the maintenance of public safety, respect for human rights, consolidation of democracy and the revitalization of Haiti’s system of justice and encouraging Haiti to pursue actively its plans in these respects,

Condemning in the strongest terms the increasing violence, criminal activities, and human rights abuses and violations which undermine the peace, stability, and security of Haiti and the region, including kidnappings, sexual and gender-based violence, trafficking in persons and the smuggling of migrants, homicides, extrajudicial killings, as well as arms smuggling,

Strongly condemning and expressing deep concern over the gravity and numbers of violations and abuses committed against children in Haiti; and urging all actors, especially gangs and criminal networks, to immediately end and prevent all violations and abuses against children, including those involving killing and maiming, recruitment and use, rape and other forms of sexual and gender-based violence, particularly against girls, attacks on schools and hospitals, abduction, and denial of humanitarian access,

Urging all actors, including Haitian gangs and their supporters, to cease their destabilizing and criminal activities, and further urging those with the ability to influence the gangs to act to stop the blocking of roads required for the supplying of and access to local markets and the damaging of sources of food, including crops and livestock, as well as medical, and humanitarian supplies, and highlighting the link between violence and food insecurity, that has reached unprecedented levels,

Stressing the need to create a safe and secure environment in Haiti and the region that enables respect for human rights, in particular women’s rights, and the protection of children, is conducive to the rule of law, functional state institutions and an effective judicial system, and facilitates the humanitarian delivery of life -sustaining water, fuel, food, and medical supplies,

Recalling its resolution 2653 (2022), which established sanctions measures in response to the threat to international peace and security in the region posed by the high levels of gang violence and other criminal activities, as well as of illicit arms and financial flows, and further recalling resolution 2664 (2022) which supersedes the asset freeze exception set forth in paragraph 10 of resolution 2653,

Reaffirming the commitment of the international community to address the security and humanitarian needs in Haiti, including through offering continued support to the United Nations Integrated Office in Haiti (BINUH),

Stressing that addressing the root causes of instability in Haiti requires political solutions, and in this regard further emphasizing the urgent need to encourage wider participation and forge the broadest possible consensus in the political process, with, as soon as necessary security conditions are met, a view to holding transparent, inclusive, and credible electoral processes and free and fair elections, and restoring democratic institutions,

Reiterating the need for all Haitian stakeholders, including with BINUH’s support, to continue to facilitate a Haitian-led, Haitian-owned political process to permit the organization of free and fair legislative and presidential elections, with the full, equal, meaningful, and safe participation of women and the engagement of youth, civil society, and other relevant stakeholders through an inclusive inter-Haitian national dialogue, and further requests all Haitian stakeholders to urgently reach an agreement on a sustainable, time-bound and commonly accepted roadmap for elections,

Taking note of the recent visits by the Eminent Persons Group of Caribbean Community (CARICOM) to Haiti and welcoming its continued commitment to supporting the political dialogue,

Recognizing the key role of countries in the region, as well as regional and subregional organizations such as the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), and other international partners, in particular the key role of CARICOM and its Eminent Persons Group in facilitating the political dialogue, and calling on the international community to remain committed to Haiti’s efforts in overcoming the ongoing political stalemate and security and humanitarian situation,

Taking note of the direct appeal of 6 October 2022 of Haiti’s Council of Ministers for the deployment of a specialized international force and technical assistance to support the Haitian National Police’s efforts to address high levels of gang violence and re-establish security, further taking note of the letter dated 8 October 2022 of the Secretary-General (S/2022/747), the report of the Secretary-General (document S/2023/274) dated 14 April 2023, and Jamaican statement on behalf of CARICOM before the Security Council on 6 July 2023 to authorize multinational security efforts with the appropriate mandate to support the Haitian National Police,

Gravely concerned by the continued and significant deterioration of the humanitarian situation in Haiti, including the forced displacement of persons, and urging all parties to immediately cease violations and abuses,

Taking note of the need to coordinate, as appropriate, with BINUH and UNODC to reduce gang and community violence, as well as to ensure respect for human rights and build child protection capacity, and the need to further strengthen training efforts by BINUH and international partners to expand the overall capacities of the national police beyond security operations, including expanding the number of national police officers, continued vetting, enhancing community-oriented policing skills, strengthening capacity to prevent and respond to sexual and gender-based violence, ensuring the full, equal, and meaningful involvement and representation of women at all levels, ensuring respect for the rule of law, and restoring police stations that have been destroyed in gang-controlled areas,

Underscoring the need for broader efforts beyond the work of the Multinational Security Support (MSS) mission to sustainably address the root causes of gang violence, which emanate from political, institutional, and socio-economic instability and, in this regard, reiterating its call to the international community, including international financial institutions, to enhance support for long-term economic, social and institutional development in Haiti even after its stability is restored,

Underscoring the need for the international community to work with the people of Haiti in a long-term effort to promote the rebuilding of democratic institutions, including the organization of free and fair elections,

Welcoming the announcement of 29 July by the Government of Kenya to positively consider leading a multinational mission at the invitation of Haiti and in response to the appeal by the UN Secretary-General, following consultations with Haiti and the unanimous encouragement of security support to Haiti by the Security Council in resolution 2692 (2023), and further welcoming the positive responses to participate made by several Member States,

Taking note of the letter dated 26 September 2023 from the Secretary-General addressed to the President of the Security Council (S/2023/726), strongly expressing the desire to obtain authorization from the Security Council under Chapter VII, and which expresses hope, following an assessment visit by a Kenyan delegation, that the Multinational Security Support mission would help ensure the security of the country’s critical infrastructure and would be able to carry out targeted operations, in close collaboration with the Haitian National Police,

Recognizing the importance and urgency of curbing the illicit trafficking of arms and ammunition to Haiti to the creation of a safe operating environment for international security support, including the deployment of a multinational security support mission,

Taking note of the call made by the Government of Kenya on 21 September 2023 urging the United Nations to urgently deliver an appropriate framework to facilitate the deployment of Multinational Security Support as part of a holistic response to Haiti’s challenges, calling on the Security Council to approve a resolution under Chapter VII that tailors the security support mission to the specific needs of Haiti and its people,

Determining that the situation in Haiti continues to constitute a threat to international peace and security and to stability in the region,

Acting under Chapter VII of the Charter of the United Nations,

Adopted by the Security Council at its 9430th meeting, on 2 October 2023.