Ministry Statements & Speeches:
Mr President,
Aotearoa New Zealand thanks the High Commissioner for his update and welcomes the report provided by his Office.
New Zealand is deeply concerned about the increasingly dire human rights situation in Haiti. As noted in the report, there has been an escalation in gang violence since the beginning of the year, including killings, sexual violence, public lynchings and kidnappings. New Zealand is particularly troubled by the use of sexual violence, in gang-controlled areas as a weapon to spread fear and punish the population. We endorse the report’s recommendations that Haiti must increase its efforts to prevent sexual violence and to support services for survivors.
The rise in violence, and other overlapping crises, have left large parts of the population without access to nutrition services and clean water, and in urgent need of humanitarian assistance. We emphasise the report’s recommendations that the Government of Haiti, with the support of the international community, allocate its maximum available resources to achieve progress in relation to access to clean water, food, education, and health care.
We strongly support the High Commissioner’s call for the international community to keep the situation in Haiti high on the international agenda.
We ask the High Commissioner and his Office, how can the international community help to support the transition to a strengthened system of governance in Haiti?
Thank you