Statement on the situation in Yemen
13 February 2025 – Statement by the Republic of Slovenia at the meeting on the situation in the Middle East, Yemen
Statement by the Republic of Slovenia at the meeting on the question concerning Haiti
Thank you Mr. President.
I wish to thank SRSG Salvador and Executive Director Waly for their briefings.
I also welcome the participation of the Foreign Ministers of Haiti, the Dominican Republic, and Colombia and representatives of Canada, Suriname and Kenya in today’s meeting.
Mr. President,
Ten days ago, Haiti commemorated the fifteenth anniversary of the devastating earthquake that claimed hundreds of thousands of lives and continues to affect the Haitian population to this day.
In addition to almost perpetual political crisis, man-made catastrophe of armed gang violence has been shaking the foundations of the country.
Reports of more than five thousand people killed in 2024, along with millions suffering from acute hunger or displacement, or both, paint a grim picture of the ongoing human tragedy that remains an everyday reality for Haitians.
In this regard, we condemn in the strongest possible terms the attack carried out by the Wharf Jérémie gang in early December of last year in Cité Soleil, which resulted in over 200 civilian casualties, primarily among older persons.
We note the heightened risk that older persons face in conflict situations such as Haiti.
Mr. President,
Effectively combating armed gangs and preventing illicit flows of weapons and ammunition that fuel their activities requires decisive action on both the security and political fronts.
In this regard, we welcome the deployment of nearly four hundred new troops from El Salvador, Guatemala, and Kenya to Haiti as part of the MSS mission.
While the Council will inevitably need to enter into deliberations on sustainable international support for the Haitian security forces, we reiterate our hope for prompt financial and logistical reinforcements to enable the continued deployment of the mission and its full mandate fulfilment.
Furthermore, as the MSS mission operates in close coordination with the Haitian National Police, the latter, along with the broader criminal justice sector, must also be strengthened.
In parallel, it is of the utmost importance for the Haitian stakeholders to accelerate the transition to democratic institutions through a constitutional review and free, fair, and credible elections, in order to prevent further political instability that could again be exploited by armed gangs.
Mr. President,
Let me reiterate Slovenia’s concern over high levels of human rights abuses and further deteriorating humanitarian situation amid persisting security crisis caused by armed gang violence.
We condemn, in particular, all forms of sexual and gender-based violence, most often targeting women and girls as a weapon to control and terrorize communities, and express alarm over the increased forced recruitment and exploitation of children by gangs.
A thorough investigation by the authorities is needed to ensure that the perpetrators of these and all other human rights abuses and violations are brought to justice, addressing the widespread state of impunity in accordance with the rule of law.
We continue to call for allowing and facilitating full, safe, rapid and unhindered humanitarian access to almost half of Haitian population in need, including through the international airport in Port-au-Prince.
As in the past, the Haitian people can count on our unwavering support in their urgent pursuit of security and stability.
I thank you Mr. President.
13 February 2025 – Statement by the Republic of Slovenia at the meeting on the situation in the Middle East, Yemen
12 February 2025 – Statement by Representative of Slovenia to the UN Security Council Ambassador Samuel Žbogar at the meeting on the situation in the Middle East, Syria
11 February 2025 – Statement by Ambassador Samuel Žbogar, Chargé d’ affaires, at the 63rd Session of the Commission for Social Development, Agenda item 3(a) and (b), general discussion