Statement by the Republic of Slovenia at the UNSC meeting on the question concerning Haiti

Thank you Mr. President.

Let me begin by thanking Panama and the United States for requesting this timely briefing in view of the continuing deterioration of the security, humanitarian, and human rights situation in Haiti.

Of course I also wish to thank the Secretary-General for his remarks and Director Russell for her briefing as well as Mr. Roosevelt for highlighting the risks that children are facing in Haiti on a daily basis.

I welcome the representatives of the Dominican Republic, Barbados and Haiti to the meeting. 

Mr. President,

At the outset, let me express our deep concern over the escalating spread of gang violence beyond the metropolitan area of Port-au-Prince.

The growing presence and activities of armed gangs in Haiti’s key rice-basket region are fueling famine-like conditions and driving record-high displacement, further exacerbating an already dire humanitarian crisis.

We reiterate our call on all actors to allow and facilitate full, safe, and unhindered humanitarian access to these and all other areas, as well as to ensure the respect for and protection of humanitarian personnel.

Furthermore, reducing the territorial control of armed gangs in urban hubs, agricultural areas, and along vital transport routes must be an immediate priority to enable and safeguard food production and its unimpeded transport and delivery.

Mr. President,

We are deeply alarmed that, amid widespread human rights abuses, children continue to bear the heaviest burden of the insecurity.

Many of them, without possibility for an education, are daily exposed to the killing, maiming, abduction, recruitment by gangs, and – particularly for young girls – recurring incidents of sexual and gender-based violence, including gang rapes. We urge on all actors to uphold their obligations under international law, treat every civilian with dignity and to end and prevent grave violations and abuses against children.

At the same time, national authorities, with support from the international community, must prioritize and integrate the safety and protection of all children, including those formerly or currently recruited and used by armed gangs.

In this regard, we welcome the Government’s signing of 2024 Handover Protocol, which rightly recognizes children associated with armed gangs primarily as victims, and we call for the continued full implementation of its provisions.   

Mr. President,

To alleviate the suffering of the most vulnerable – particularly children – Slovenia calls on the international community to contribute urgently to the critically underfunded Humanitarian Needs and Response Plan, which is the lowest-funded response plan in the world.

Ultimately, however, restoring security across the country must be our central focus, as it is the key to Haiti’s economic recovery, democratic stability, and what its resilient population is longing for.

In recent weeks, the Council has demonstrated unity and taken important steps by adding Viv Ansanm and Gran Grif to the sanctions list – gangs, responsible among other things, for committing grave violations affecting children.

Yet this Council needs to do more: now the time has come for us to once again demonstrate unity, heed the numerous calls, and establish a UN Support Office to help Haiti break free from the spiral of deadly violence.

I thank you.

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