PRST/22/2 Technical assistance and capacity-building in human rights in Haiti

GE.13-15660

Human Rights Council Twenty-second session

Agenda item 10 Technical assistance and capacity-building

Statement by the President**

PRST 22/2.

Technical assistance and capacity-building in human rights in Haiti

At the fiftieth meeting, held on 22 March 2013, the President of the Human Rights Council read out the statement below:

1. The Human Rights Council takes note of the report of the Independent Expert on the situation of human rights in Haiti,1 and welcomes the latest legal and political developments in Haiti, which have been marked by progress in civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights:

(a) The implementation of the universal, free and compulsory education programme through the National Education Fund launched on 26 May 2011, with a sum of approximately $360 million over five years, for 1.5 million children;

(b) The implementation of the strategic development plan to identify immediate reconstruction needs in a long-term development perspective;

(c) The implementation of social programmes for the most disadvantaged, “Ti Maman chéri”, “Aba grangou” and “Ede pep”, which form part of the national strategy on the rule of law;

(d) The inclusion of women in political affairs, with a quota of 44 per cent in Government posts.

2. The Council welcomes the commitment of the Haitian authorities to set up a structure to organize the next legislative and municipal elections in Haiti.

3. The Council applauds the reaffirmation of the commitment and determination of the Haitian authorities to improve the living conditions of Haitian women and men by,

 Reissued for technical reasons on 19 July 2013. ** The resolutions, decisions and statements by the President adopted by the Human Rights Council will

be contained in the report of the Council on its twenty-second session (A/HRC/22/2), chap. I. 1 A/HRC/22/65.

United Nations A/HRC/PRST/22/2

General Assembly Distr.: General 16 April 2013 Original: English and French

inter alia, paying greater attention to respect for human rights, and welcomes the efforts of the Government of Haiti in that regard.

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

5. In that context, the Council welcomes the decision of the Government of Haiti to pursue the strengthening of the rule of law, notably by combating impunity, crime and the causes of crime, so as to ensure the functioning of institutions and public services and the enjoyment of all human rights, and encourages the Government to take all necessary measures to achieve that goal.

6. The Council applauds the efforts made by the Government of Haiti to strengthen national human rights institutions, in particular the Office of Citizen Protection.

7. The Council invites the Government of Haiti to continue to adopt the political and legal measures necessary to safeguard the rights of members of vulnerable groups, including the victims of child trafficking, 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, United Nations agencies and, in particular, the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, 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 mandate of an Independent Expert on the situation of human rights in Haiti, which concerns technical assistance and capacity-building, and decides to approve that request.

11. The Council encourages the mandate holder 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 efforts of the Haitian authorities to rebuild the country and pursue sustainable development.

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

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

14. The Council invites the mandate holder to assist the Government of Haiti in acting upon the recommendations made by the special procedures, in particular those of the Special Rapporteur on adequate housing as a component of the right to an adequate standard of living, and on the right to non-discrimination in this context.

15. The Council also invites the mandate holder to undertake a mission to Haiti and to report to the Council at its twenty-fifth session. It encourages Haiti to continue to cooperate with the mandate and is ready to support Haiti in establishing a national human rights plan.