Swedish statement at the UN Security Council Briefing on MINUJUSTH/ Haiti

Thank you, Mr. President,

Let me begin by thanking the SRSG for her update today and for these charts with the mandate implementation dashboard, which really helps to illustrate progress on the mission’s mandate, and on your work in Haiti. Let me also take this opportunity to thank the entire MINUJUSTH for their committed work for Haiti and for its people.

Mr. President,

Sweden commends Haiti for the progress made consolidating democracy and stability over the past two years. We are hopeful that this progress will continue throughout the elections in 2019 and beyond. The last few months have shown that there is a need for renewed broad based political support for reforms.

Accountability must be a key component to deliver on the priorities that the President and his government have set out. The Rule of Law and the respect for human rights, improving economic development, infrastructure, resilience and security are all important for Haiti to further advance on its path towards long-term stability. The benchmarks presented in the Secretary-General’s report will help focus efforts to support these goals.

It is crucial to ensure an integrated Rule of Law approach that encompasses the whole justice chain, from police and corrections to prosecution and courts, with adequate capacity. The Haitian National Police has made good progress, and we also welcome the appointment of a Minister Delegate for Human Rights. Other Haitian authorities, with the support of MINUJUSTH, now need to make similar progress on judiciary and corrections.

Mr. President,

MINUJUSTH will play an important role and it should continue to fully integrate gender throughout its mandate as a cross-cutting issue. This includes not least measures to increase security for women as well as assistance to the government of Haiti in ensuring women’s participation in political processes at all levels. We expect the upcoming strategic assessment of the mission to include gender expertise.

We would also like to underline the importance of efforts to strengthen prevention of sexual exploitation and abuse in the mission. We need to continue ensuring that alleged cases of sexual exploitation and abuse are reported and investigated, and that all necessary steps are taken to apply disciplinary measures and undertake criminal prosecutions to hold perpetrators accountable.  

The Secretary-General’s new approach to eradicate cholera and build resilience in Haiti should also be supported, and we were happy to co-sponsor the General Assembly resolution. Sweden has also supported the UN Haiti Cholera Response Multi-Partner Trust Fund, and we encourage others to also contribute.

Mr. President,

Next year’s election in Haiti will be crucial. We encourage the Haitian authorities to swiftly adopt the new electoral law and take all other steps needed. We welcome of course the Government’s commitment to ensure that the elections are held as scheduled. Credible, transparent and inclusive elections will be a decisive factor for the long-term stability of the country.

MINUJUSTH is one of the first missions making a transition from traditional peacekeeping in the era of sustaining peace. The Peacebuilding Commission could provide a useful platform to explore in this regard. A successful transition would foremost be important for the Haitians but also an example for the UN system. The international community must remain committed to continue supporting Haiti as it moves forward on its path towards peace and prosperity for its people.

I thank you.