- Checked Against Delivery -
Thank you, Madam. President, and welcome back to the Council.
I also thank our briefers for their important contributions and I welcome Their Excellencies, the Foreign Minister of Haiti and Foreign Minister of Dominican Republic to this meeting.
Madam President, as we have heard, Haiti continues to suffer a multifaceted crisis of extraordinary magnitude. Gangs are terrorising the country. Families are being uprooted and displaced. Civilians suffer under dire humanitarian conditions and heinous violations of their human rights.
Against this backdrop, I would like to make three points.
First, addressing security is essential.
Denmark welcomes the progress made in the establishment and expansion of the Gang Suppression Force, with the deployment of new contingents on the ground.
We commend Member States who have pledged their support, and praise the UN for its quick action to establish the UN Support Office.
It is imperative that all national and international efforts aimed at establishing security in Haiti are undertaken in strict compliance with international law. The GSF must operate with the highest standards of conduct and discipline, with robust oversight and transparency. Such conduct is also essential to gain and maintain the trust of the Haitian population.
On this note, we welcome the remarks made by Special Representative Christofides in underscoring the GSF’s accountability framework.
Cutting off the gangs’ supply to arms and ammunitions remains critical to establishing security. We reiterate the need for the full implementation of the UN sanctions regime to stem illicit flows of weapons and target transnational organised crime.
Second, Madam President,
Haiti’s dire humanitarian situation and human rights crisis must be urgently addressed.
More than 6.4 million Haitians are in need of humanitarian assistance, while internal displacement rises by the day and the healthcare system is on the verge of collapse.
We pay tribute to UN personnel and humanitarian partners who continue to provide assistance to those in need in such dangerous circumstances.
And we call for the urgent scaling-up of humanitarian aid and funding for Haiti’s humanitarian response plan.
At the same time, the human rights situation continues to deteriorate, with women and children bearing the brunt. Sexual and gender-based violence, including collective rape, is rampant. Children suffer grave violations and abuses of their rights at the hands of gangs. These assaults must stop immediately, and we condemn them in the strongest terms.
Ensuring safe exit of children from gangs is also crucial. We welcome the Secretary-General’s letter on 29 May outlining options for a Haitian-led Disarmament, Dismantlement, and Reintegration programme, and call on the Haitian authorities to continue advancing nationally-owned DDR efforts.
We further call on the authorities to urgently address the systemic impunity by accelerating progress towards a functional justice system.
Third, Madam President,
There must be progress on the political process, including efforts to advance trust-building amongst Haitians.
An inclusive transition through credible elections is the only legitimate path to restoring constitutional order and democratic institutions.
In this regard, we welcome the recent budget agreement for holding elections, and urge the authorities to accelerate the process.
In closing,
Let me reiterate Denmark’s steadfast support to the people of Haiti.
The Haitian authorities, with support from the UN and the international community, must continue the current momentum to re-establish security and make meaningful political progress.
Denmark remains committed to working with all partners to this end.
I thank you.
