MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION on the situation of human rights in Haiti in particular as related to gang violence

4.10.2022 - (2022/0453(RSP))

with request for inclusion in the agenda for a debate on cases of breaches of human rights, democracy and the rule of law
pursuant to Rule 144 of the Rules of Procedure

Raffaele Fitto, Anna Fotyga, Karol Karski, Jadwiga Wiśniewska, Eugen Jurzyca, Assita Kanko, Bogdan Rzońca, Ladislav Ilčić, Adam Bielan, Patryk Jaki, Valdemar Tomaševski, Witold Jan Waszczykowski, Elżbieta Rafalska, Beata Kempa, Ryszard Czarnecki, Carlo Fidanza, Nicola Procaccini, Alexandr Vondra
on behalf of the ECR Group

See also joint motion for a resolution RC-B9-0427/2022

NB: This motion for a resolution is available in the original language only.

B9‑0453/2022

European Parliament resolution on the situation of human rights in Haiti in particular as related to gang violence

(2022/0453(RSP))

The European Parliament,

—  having regard to its previous resolutions on Haiti,

—  having regard to the speech by the High Representative/Vice-President on 20.05.2021,

—  having regard to statements by UN Special Representative Helen La Lime on the situation in Haiti,

—  having regard to the statements by UN Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed on the situation in Haiti, 22 September 2022,

—  having regard to the UN report on “Human rights violations by Haitian law enforcement officials and the human rights abuses by gang members during the social unrest of 2018-2019”,

—  having regard to the declaration by EU ambassador Sylvie Tabesse on 9 March 2020;

—  having regard to the UN Security Council news releases on Haiti from 2021 - 2022,

—  having regard to the Human Rights Council “Universal Periodic Review Outcomes of the Republic of Moldova, South Sudan, Haiti and Sudan” on 04 July 2022,

—  having regard to the OCHA reports on Haiti from 2022, in particular the report from 23 Sep 2022,

—  having regard to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights of December 1948,

—  having regard to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) of 16

—  December 1966,

—  having regard to the American Convention on Human Rights,

—  having regard to the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child of 20 November 1989,

—  having regard to the UN Basic Principles on the Independence of the Judiciary,

—  having regard to the Constitution of the Republic of Haiti of 1987,

—  having regard to Rule 144 of its Rules of Procedure,

 

 

1. whereas violence and aggression have marked Haiti over recent years in particular with clashes among rival gangs leaving a high number of casualties, as well as excessive and violent measures reportedly used by official police forces; whereas the proliferation of illicit weapons and ammunitions has equally intensified; whereas neighbouring Dominican Republic’s president Luis Abinder has publicly defined it as a “low-intensity civil war”;
2. whereas recent protests erupted following the Prime Minister’s announcement over a $400 million reduction in fuel subsidies on 11 September; whereas a nationwide shutdown ensued consisting of gangs setting up barricades and blockages of the main fuel terminal and key logistics hubs ;
3. whereas the country has been suffering from a systemic lack of resources and humanitarian aid supplies, worsened by recent events; whereas protesters have reportedly also ransacked and looted humanitarian warehouses;
4. whereas the country has witnessed a rapidly worsening humanitarian crisis and increase in gang-related violence with high numbers of killings in poor neighbourhoods of the capital; whereas gangs reportedly hold over 60 per cent of the country’s territory; whereas gang violence continues to disrupt daily life in Haiti, reportedly driving more than 20,000 people from their homes and reportedly killings hundreds each month;
5. whereas kidnappings for ransom, attacks by criminal gangs against the rivals of the neighbourhoods and widespread insecurity have become the status quo in a context of almost total impunity;
6. whereas in the commune of Cite Soleil, one of the capital’s poorest neighbourhoods, reportedly 99 people were killed and 133 injured during one particularly violent week of clashes in July between gangs vying for control of territory; whereas reportedly more than 5,000 arrests for kidnapping, illegal possession of firearms, murder, and drug trafficking have been made, efforts have not been sufficient to neutralise the situation; whereas two Haitian journalists reporting on the current crisis were killed on the job on 11 September 2022;
7. whereas according to UN estimates, at least 1.5 million people in the Caribbean country have been directly impacted by recent unrest, with gender-based violence, and in particular rape, being used as one of the primary instruments of aggression and violence;
8. whereas tensions have also risen over fraud allegations during the electoral process; whereas disputes over the timing and scope of a referendum on constitutional reform have resurfaced yet again, contributing to the escalating humanitarian crisis and sense of despair felt across the country;
9. whereas between 2006 and 2021, Haiti has received around $20m for nine projects via the UN’s PBF (Peacebuilding Fund) alone;
10.   whereas on March 9 of 2020, the European Union publicly launched 5 new projects for a total amount of €2.8 million, intended to support the actions of several Haitian civil society organizations in the fight against violence against women; whereas on 6 May 2021 it was announced that the European Union would neither finance nor send observers for the referendum on the new Constitution;

 

1. Strongly condemns all human rights violations and acts of violence, especially the reported cases of kidnappings, homicides, rape, child trafficking and gender-based violence and stresses the need to combat violence against women, girls and elderly people.
2. Urges the Haitian authorities to hold accountable perpetrators and the need for law enforcement officers to abide by international norms and standards regarding the use of force when dealing with protests. Recalls the constitutional right to peaceful demonstrations.
3. Calls for an immediate and coordinated response by the Haitian authorities and that fair and transparent elections be held in order to ensure democratic oversight. Urges for the immediate end to the ‘policy of chaos’.
4. Stresses the need for a Haitian-led political solution. Reiterates the importance rapidly holding general elections to return power freely chosen by the Haitian people and restore democratic institutions and putting measures in place to respond to economic and social issues. Underlines that armed groups not only compromise stability and security, they also hamper efforts towards peace and lasting development and actions against gang-related violence must be bolstered as soon as possible.
5. Reiterates the importance of harmonised, coordinated and strengthened international efforts to support the people of Haiti. Highlights the importance of continued EU and international support to Haiti, specifically through training and exchange of best practices in the areas of police, security and law reform, in order to help create the conditions for peaceful and democratic elections, as well as to bring about the long-term stability, development and economic self-sufficiency of the country.
6. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission, the Vice-President of the European Commission/ High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, the governments and parliaments of the Member States, the EU Special Representative for Human Rights, the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights and the Secretary-General of the United Nations, the Organisation of African, Caribbean and Pacific States-EU Council of Ministers and Joint Parliamentary Assembly, the institutions of the Organisation of African, Caribbean and Pacific States, Cariforum, and the Haitian authorities.