Note by the Secretariat

The Independent Expert on the situation of human rights in Haiti continues to consider the situation to be complex but not irremediable, provided that all efforts to improve it pull in the same direction.

First and foremost, the Independent Expert emphasizes the importance of his recommendations, which are aimed at increasing the population’s literacy rate within a reasonably short space of time, improving inhumane detention conditions, particularly those of persons held in prolonged pretrial detention, establishing a commission on truth, justice and redress for human rights violations committed in the past and guaranteeing decent housing for displaced persons.

These recommendations are based on the Independent Expert’s call for Haiti to overcome the extreme structural inequality affecting the country’s society and institutions by focusing on the five priority areas indicated in his previous reports: economic, social and cultural rights; detention conditions; the rule of law and institutional integrity; the functioning of the administration of justice; and the environment, housing and Haitian migration.

In the present report, the Independent Expert highlights the progress made in two specific areas: elections, which appertain to the rule of law, and cholera, which appertains to the rights of people affected by factors not related to the Haitian State. He also emphasizes the urgent need to ensure a stable government and provide redress to the victims of cholera.

The Independent Expert visited the prisons of Croix-des-Bouquets and Cabaret. He reiterates the urgent need to put an end to prolonged pretrial detention. He also visited a camp of returnees from the Dominican Republic. Their situation is very precarious and they are at risk of becoming stateless.

The Independent Expert travelled to Grand’Anse Department, where he visited a shelter in Jérémie and witnessed the plight of those affected by the hurricane. He calls for renewed efforts to address the most urgent needs of the victims of the disaster.