28.08.2025 Denmark's statement for Briefing on Haiti

Checked Against Delivery

Thank you, Mr. President,

And let me also thank the Secretary General and Executive Director Russell for their briefings. Time and again, you have sounded the alarm and drawn the world’s attention to the dire situation in Haiti. And Denmark commends your leadership.

Jean Jean Roosevelt, I also want to thank you for your passionate call for action for the children of Haiti and I welcome the representatives of Haiti, the Dominican Republic and Barbados to the meeting.

Mr. President,

Today’s briefings leave no room for doubts: Haiti is a country consumed by crisis. Its people, in particular its children, endure daily insecurity, deprivation and despair. 

Allow me to focus on three key areas.

First, the humanitarian situation remains dire and requires urgent, collective action.

Insecurity has spread beyond the capital and across the country. As we have heard, 1.3 million people - more than half of who are children - have been forcibly displaced.

Women and girls face widespread patterns of conflict-related sexual and gender-based violence at the hands of gangs as a way to control and instil fear into communities.

Hunger plagues more than half of the population, with 2 million people in emergency-level food insecurity, and thousands in famine-like conditions.

Denmark commends the heroic efforts of the UN and humanitarian partners on the ground. Even in the most difficult circumstances, they continue to deliver. But their resources are strained, their environment is increasingly dangerous and needs continue to grow.

We call on the international community to urgently scale-up funding for Haiti’s humanitarian response plan, currently funded at around 10%, as we also heard from the Secretary General. Humanitarian workers must be granted access to those in need and protected in line with the principles of civilian protection and humanitarian law.

Second, Mr. President,

As Executive Director Russell clearly outlined, the toll of these crises has disproportionately impacted Haiti’s children.

Three million children – the highest number on record – require humanitarian support, with many suffering severe malnutrition.

Every day, children bear the brunt of insecurity. The latest Secretary-General’s report on Children and Armed Conflict is particularly alarming, and as we heard again from Executive Director Russell, we have a staggering increase of almost 500% in grave violations against children just from 2023 to 2024.

Children associated with armed gangs must always be treated as victims. We call on the authorities to facilitate the safe exit of children from gangs and reintegration into the community, and to implement the Handover Protocol from January 2024.

More must also be done to investigate these crimes and end impunity. Accountability must be ensured.

Third, Mr. President,

Tackling this multifaceted crisis requires a concerted and coordinated response. The international community, including this Council, can and must do more.

Denmark strongly supports the Multinational Security Support mission, and commends Kenya’s leadership role, and other contributing countries. However, the MSS does not have the capacity to meet the scale of threat and complexity on the ground. We believe there must be greater UN involvement.

It is beyond time for this Council to urgently consider the recommendations put forward in the Secretary-General’s letter to better support the MSS in fulfilling its mandate. And we welcome efforts to this end as presented today and led by Panama and the United States.

Greater use and implementation of UN sanctions is also critical to combat criminal activity destabilising Haiti. We welcome the Council’s recent additions to the Haiti sanctions lists. More individuals could be added, particularly those funding gang activity. 

The flow of weapons into Haiti remains a key driver of instability, and we call for Member States to scale-up their efforts to stem the illicit trafficking of arms.

In closing, Mr. President,

A sustainable and lasting peace must be Haitian-led and Haitian-owned.

With 6 months left in the roadmap to restore Haiti’s democratic institutions, we strongly urge the Transitional Presidential Council, Prime Minister and key stakeholders to accelerate their work and prioritise establishing security.

The international community must stand with Haiti now, to support stability, prosperity and a life of dignity the people of Haiti deserve.

I thank you.