PRST/19/2 Situation of human rights in Haiti

GE.12-13419 (E) 090512 210512

Human Rights Council Nineteenth session Agenda item 10 Technical assistance and capacity-building

President’s statement*

PRST 19/2 Situation of human rights in Haiti

At the nineteenth session of the Human Rights Council, held from 27 February to 23 March 2012, during consideration of agenda item 10, entitled “Technical assistance and capacity-building”, the President of the Council made the following statement:

“1. The Human Rights Council welcomes the latest legal and political developments in Haiti, which have been marked by:

(a) The recent peaceful transfer of power from one democratically elected president to another who is from an opposition party, and stresses the importance of ensuring that forthcoming local and parliamentary elections are carried out under proper conditions;

(b) The appointment and investiture of 11 of the 12 judges of the Court of Cassation, including the chief justice, and progress towards placing sufficient material and human resources at the disposal of the justice system to permit the implementation of the judicial reform adopted in 2007, and underscores the need to improve the operation of the Haitian prison system.

2. The Council also welcomes the Haitian authorities’ plans to build housing for victims of the earthquake of 12 January 2010. It further welcomes the establishment of a special fund for children’s schooling in Haiti.

3. The Council applauds the reaffirmation of the Haitian authorities’ commitment and determination to improve the living conditions of Haitian women and men by, inter alia, devoting greater attention to respect for human rights.

4. The Council also applauds the priorities set by the President of the Republic, which include the rule of law, education, the environment and employment, and urges donors to honour their commitments without delay.

* This statement will be reproduced in the report of the Council on its nineteenth session (A/HRC/19/2), chap. I.

United Nations A/HRC/PRST/19/2

General Assembly Distr.: General 3 May 2012 English Original: French

2 GE.12-13419

5. The Council emphasizes that the strengthening of national human rights institutions, such as the Office of Citizen Protection, as well as respect for human rights and due process of law, the fight against crime and its causes, and the effort to combat impunity are essential in order to ensure the rule of law and security in Haiti.

6. The Council invites the Government of Haiti to continue to adopt the necessary political and legal measures, including measures to combat the trafficking of children, in order to guarantee the rights of members of vulnerable groups.

7. The Council also invites the Government of Haiti to continue to adopt the necessary political and legal measures to increase women’s participation in political affairs and to continue to combat gender-based violence and discrimination.

8. The Council is aware of the many obstacles to development in Haiti and the difficulties encountered by its leaders following the earthquake of 12 January 2010. It recognizes that the full enjoyment of civil and political, economic, social and cultural human rights is a factor in peace, stability and development in Haiti.

9. The Council encourages the international community as a whole and, in particular, international donors, the Group of Latin American and Caribbean States, the group of countries known as the Friends of Haiti and United Nations specialized agencies to step up their cooperation with the Haitian authorities with a view to the full realization in Haiti of civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights, including the right to development.

10. The Council welcomes the request of the Haitian authorities for a one- year extension of the mission of the independent expert on the situation of human rights in Haiti, whose mandate concerns technical assistance and capacity-building, and decides to approve this request.

11. The Council encourages the independent expert to work with international institutions, donors and the international community to raise their awareness of the need to provide their expertise and sufficient resources to support the Haitian authorities’ efforts to rebuild the country in the wake of the earthquake of 12 January 2010.

12. The Council also encourages the independent expert to continue to work with Haitian non-governmental organizations and civil society organizations in Haiti.

13. The Council invites the independent expert to assist the Government of Haiti to act upon the recommendations made in the course of the universal periodic review. He will also provide his experience, expertise and contribution to the cause of human rights, including civil and political rights and with particular emphasis on economic, social and cultural rights, in Haiti.

14. The Council also invites the independent expert to submit his report at the twentieth session, to pursue his mission in Haiti in the near future and to report to the Council thereon at its twenty-second session. It encourages the Haitian authorities to continue to cooperate with the independent expert.”

55th meeting 23 March 2012

[Adopted without a vote.]