Statement by the Republic of Slovenia at the joint meeting of the Economic and Social Council and the Peacebuilding Commission on “Building and Sustaining Peace in Haiti”

Thank you, Mr. President, and the Chair of the Peacebuilding Commission, for convening this joint meeting.

The crisis in Haiti is multifaceted and protracted, and must therefore be addressed through a comprehensive approach aimed at building and sustaining peace.

At the heart of this crisis lies the unprecedented violence perpetrated by armed gangs exploiting ongoing political uncertainty, and it is becoming increasingly clear that the international community will need to step up its support on the security front.

Mr. President,

Amid the horrific numbers of people killed, injured, displaced, or going hungry as a result of gang violence, children have been bearing the brunt of the insecurity.

As we discussed in ECOSOC last December, children who are starving and out of school are easy prey for forced recruitment and exploitation by armed gangs, and protecting their rights and safety must be a priority for both the Haitian authorities and the international community.

In this respect, we echo the Advisory Group in underscoring the importance of developing and implementing plans for the disarmament, demobilization, and reintegration of child gang members, including through Community Violence Reduction and Weapons and Ammunition Management programmes, to ensure their safe handover to civilian actors.

Mr. President,

Another concerning trend is the widespread use of sexual and gender-based violence by armed gangs to instil fear and control communities.

We welcome the recent decision by the Haitian authorities to establish specialized judicial units to address serious human rights violations and abuses, including SGBV, as a promising step toward bringing perpetrators to justice and combating widespread impunity in accordance with the rule of law.

To build and sustain peace, it is crucial for the Peacebuilding Fund to continue supporting the establishment of offices that provide not only critical legal and judicial assistance, but also psychosocial support to victims and survivors, who, amid a deepening humanitarian crisis, often lack access to justice, basic services, and adequate medical and psychosocial care.

Mr President,

To conclude, Slovenia will continue to support Haiti on its path to stability and building and sustaining peace, as well as Sustainable Development, including through our membership in the Security Council, ECOSOC and the Peacebuilding Commission.

Thank you.

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