(2024-10) BINUH - Rapport du Secrétaire général sur le Bureau intégré des Nations Unies en Haïti

S United Nations /2024/742 Security Council Distr.: General 15 October 2024 Original: English United Nations Integrated Office in Haiti Report of the Secretary-General I. Introduction 1. The present report is submitted pursuant to Security Council resolution 2743 (2024), by which the Council extended to 15 July 2025 the mandate of the United Nations Integrated Office in Haiti (BINUH), in accordance with resolution 2476 (2019) establishing BINUH. The report includes developments since the previous report, dated 27 June 2024 (S/2024/508), and provides an update on the implementation of the BINUH mandate. II. Political issues and good governance 2. National authorities continued to implement the transitional governance arrangements that would result in a commonly accepted path to elections and the restoration of democratic institutions, in line with the outcome of the 11 March 2024 meeting convened by the Caribbean Community and international partners. 3. On 19 July, the Transitional Presidential Council mandated a national conference – inclusive of all Haitian stakeholder groups – to provide recommendations to transitional authorities on constitutional reform, the development of a new social contract and the redefinition of State-society relations, including the review of political party law, the judicial system and the organization of State institutions. On 23 August, the Transitional Presidential Council inaugurated a steering committee of the national conference tasked to propose the required constitutional reforms within three months from its establishment. On 18 September, the nomination of seven of the nine members of a provisional electoral council was announced. Two sectors (on human rights and on women) had yet to find consensus on their respective candidates. 4. On 22 and 23 August, the Prime Minister of Haiti, Garry Conille, visited the North and North-East Departments to assess their economic potential amid ongoing gang violence in the capital. During the visit, the Prime Minister discussed prospects for the implementation of a transition agenda, the restoration of security and the promotion of economic recovery with various international partners. He met with several key ministers on 26 August to discuss ways to prioritize local development in the Government’s action plan, and subsequently pledged to form a commission to 24-17941 (E) 181024 *2417941* S/2024/742 address concerns of the northern departments, including their demands for decentralization and the empowerment of local governance and institutions. 5. In an effort to enhance public sector accountability, the Prime Minister and all cabinet members declared their assets on 12 July and encouraged all senior executives and civil servants managing public funds to follow suit. On 24 July, the Chairman of the National Bank of Credit alleged in a letter to the Prime Minister that the members of the Transitional Presidential Council representing the Engagés pour le développement/Réseau des engagés pour le développement/Compromis historique coalition, the signatories of the agreement of 21 December 2022 and the Pitit Desalin political party, had solicited $760,000 to allow him to remain in office. Following these allegations, the Chairman was dismissed by Mr. Conille, according to a letter dated 8 August. 6. On 9 August, some stakeholders, including the Collectif des partis politiques du 30 Janvier and the Montana Group, called for the three members to temporarily step down and allow for an independent inquiry. Engagés pour le développement/Réseau des engagés pour le développement/Compromis historique and the signatories of the agreement of 21 December 2022 expressed their readiness to consider the dismissal of their respective representatives. The two non-voting observers of the Transitional Presidential Council, in a letter dated 12 August, urged an internal investigation and the adoption of a code of ethics. On 27 August, all three members named in the corruption allegations appeared before the Anti-Corruption Unit for questioning and reportedly denied the aforementioned allegations. 7. In a report issued on 2 October, the Anti-Corruption Unit requested that the judiciary initiate criminal proceedings against the three members for abuse of office, bribery and corruption. Notably, one of the three members, the representative of the Engagés pour le développement/Réseau des engagés pour le développement/Compromis historique coalition, was slated to succeed Edgard Leblanc Fils on 7 October as the rotating president. On 4 October, the Transitional Presidential Council acknowledged the report, and eight of nine members signed a resolution to amend the rotating presidency arrangement. On 7 October, the resolution was published in the official gazette, and the representative of Fanmi Lavalas, Leslie Voltaire, assumed the rotating presidency. Mr. Leblanc Fils, who had cautioned against decisions that could undermine the credibility of the political process and protract the transition, did not sign the resolution. 8. Throughout the reporting period, the Special Representative of the Secretary- General for Haiti engaged with national authorities, including Mr. Conille and the Transitional Presidential Council, on the development of transitional governance structures, the meaningful inclusion of women and youth in the political process and steps towards the holding of elections in accordance with the timeline agreed to by stakeholders. Discussions also addressed the importance of coordinated efforts among national authorities, the Multinational Security Support mission, the United Nations system and other international and regional partners to strengthen support for the Haitian National Police. 9. BINUH, in cooperation with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), provided support to civil society to empower young people in engagement on the political transition. On 8 August, the sixth conference of the “Causerie of Haitian youth” focused on enhancing youth participation in electoral processes and addressing socioeconomic challenges and violence in Haiti. On 9 August, Mr. Conille met with several women’s organizations to discuss women’s rights in Haiti and endorse the “Policy framework for an effective and equitable transition”, which had already been endorsed by some 130 civil society organizations. His dialogue with youth leaders from various political parties on 10 August focused on national security and the inclusion of young people in political and institutional decision-making. 2/18 24-17941 S/2024/742 10. BINUH supported a multisectoral workshop in Cap-Haïtien (North Department) on 24 August as part of Inclusion Week, a broader initiative to promote the participation and rights of marginalized communities. The event gathered 97 participants, representing women, LGBTIQ+ persons, people living with HIV/AIDS, practitioners of voodoo and people with disabilities. The dialogue centred on structural issues such as inclusive education policies, the political participation of marginalized youth and the promotion of women’s rights. One of the outcomes of the workshop was the agreement to establish a Haitian solidarity network for inclusion, set to launch in November 2024, to advocate for broader representation of marginalized groups in the lead-up to elections. 11. On 26 August, a multi-stakeholder consultation was organized in Port-au-Prince by several civil society organizations with financial and logistical support from BINUH. Recommendations to make the transition more inclusive and representative of the full spectrum of Haitian society were presented to the national authorities, including with regard to improving governance, enhancing the meaningful participation of women, advancing security, promoting socioeconomic recovery and fostering dialogue towards constitutional reforms and the forthcoming elections. 12. On 19 September, in Port-au-Prince, and concurrently in Cap-Haïtien and Les Cayes (South Department) and broadcast overseas, the Office of the Prime Minister convened the event “Garry Conille and his Government’s 100 days”. This event aimed at expanding dialogue between the Government and national stakeholders, including women’s and youth organizations, as well as diaspora groups. Participants from across the country called for more incisive and impactful action by national authorities, with greater focus on the most immediate needs of the Haitian population, such as improved security and access to food, education and public services. On 20 September, the Ministry of Justice and Public Security, with support from BINUH and UNDP, gathered the representatives of 50 political parties, along with civil society representatives, for a two-day debate on a revision of a 2013 law on political parties to prepare the framework for the next elections and reform the political party system. 13. At the fifty-fourth General Assembly of the Organization of American States, held from 26 to 28 June in Paraguay, the Minister for Foreign and Religious Affairs, Dominique Dupuy, called for massive and urgent support for Haiti, while expressing the hope that this would be the “last time” that the country would need a Multinational Security Support mission. From 28 to 30 July, the President of the Transitional Presidential Council, Mr. Leblanc Fils, accompanied by the Minister for Foreign and Religious Affairs, attended the forty-seventh Meeting of the Conference of Heads of Government of the Caribbean Community in Grenada. He announced progress in transitional governance arrangements which would lead to the holding of general elections in the last quarter of 2025, and attributed improvements in security to joint operations by the national police, the Armed Forces of Haiti and the Multinational Security Support mission. At the seventy-ninth session of the General Assembly of the United Nations in September, Mr. Leblanc Fils advocated for the transformation of the Multinational Security Support mission into a United Nations-mandated peacekeeping operation to secure more stable funding and expand the mission’s capabilities. 14. Regional efforts continued in support of the political transition, with the Eminent Persons Group of the Caribbean Community visiting Haiti from 12 to 16 August. In a statement issued on 20 August, they reported on the progress observed, highlighting concerns regarding delays in establishing key transition structures, security challenges related to the slow deployment of the Multinational Security Support mission and the impact of the corruption allegations against the three members of the Transitional Presidential Council. The Eminent Persons Group 24-17941 3/18 S/2024/742 underscored the urgent need for effective governance, particularly in terms of addressing security issues and maintaining the integrity of the transition process, and called on all stakeholders to honour the commitments made in Jamaica on 11 March. 15. From 26 to 28 August, the Permanent Representative of Canada to the United Nations and President of the Economic and Social Council, Robert Rae, visited Port- au-Prince. His discussions with national authorities and civil society focused on socioeconomic recovery, international support to the political transition, and security. Similarly, during a visit to Haiti on 2 September, the Secretary of State of the United States of America, Antony Blinken, stated that a peacekeeping operation would be a reliable and sustainable option for international support to security in Haiti. From 6 to 11 September, the Assistant Secretary-General for Europe, Central Asia and the Americas of the United Nations, Miroslav Jenča, visited Port-au-Prince and Cap- Haïtien to meet with authorities and stakeholders from across the political spectrum, assess ongoing efforts and further align United Nations support with the transition needs of Haiti. 16. In line with Security Council resolution 2743 (2024), BINUH developed a strategy in consultation with the Government to continue supporting a Haitian-led political process, complementing regional and subregional efforts to restore democratic institutions and support electoral authorities during the transition period. This strategy takes into account the new governance arrangements that have emerged since early April, as well as the transitional strategic priorities of the 27 May decree establishing the Transitional Presidential Council, namely, national and public security; socioeconomic and institutional recovery; national conference and constitutional reform; rule of law and justice; and elections. 17. The strategy addresses six areas of support: (a) facilitating an inclusive national dialogue; (b) supporting electoral and constitutional reforms; (c) enhancing public security; (d) strengthening the rule of law; (e) improving governance and institutional capacity; and (f) fostering United Nations system integration and regional partnerships. Through ongoing engagement with Haitian stakeholders, BINUH will facilitate dialogue, help defuse tensions and cooperate with the Multinational Security Support mission while continuing to provide advisory support to improve the operational effectiveness and accountability of the Haitian National Police, including through the joint programme to support the professionalization of the national police, also known as the basket fund for police. III. Violence reduction 18. On 12 August, Mr. Conille met with the interinstitutional and interministerial task force dedicated to the implementation of the national strategy for disarmament, disengagement, reintegration and community violence reduction, where he reaffirmed his commitment to the strategy and requested the assistance of the task force in conducting an in-depth analysis of gang-related violence, including tailored responses to specific communities. On 12 August, the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Civic Action organized an International Youth Day event in Port-au-Prince promoting the role of digital innovation in youth engagement for sustainable development, which was also attended by the task force. This community violence reduction initiative was funded by the Peacebuilding Fund, with support from UNDP and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF). On 19 July, the task force, along with BINUH, attended the graduation ceremony of 1,200 young people from vulnerable neighbourhoods in Port-au-Prince trained in masonry and solar panel installation, organized by the non-governmental organization Viva Rio and supported by the Social and Economic Assistance Fund and the Inter-American Development Bank. On 21 September, 4/18 24-17941 S/2024/742 BINUH, along with United Nations agencies, partnered with the national police’s community policing unit to mark the International Day of Peace by organizing a marathon in the Port-au-Prince metropolitan area for 2,000 youth, including persons with disabilities. The event aimed to open roads which were occupied by gangs, and to foster trust between communities and State institutions. 19. In collaboration with the United Nations Regional Centre for Peace, Disarmament and Development in Latin America and the Caribbean, Haiti submitted its progress report on the implementation of the Roadmap for Implementing the Caribbean Priority Actions on the Illicit Proliferation of Firearms and Ammunition across the Caribbean in a Sustainable Manner by 2030 on 25 September. This report detailed the actions implemented by national authorities to date and priority actions to be pursued to strengthen efforts in curbing the trafficking of small arms and light weapons, which continues to fuel violence in the country. IV. Security and the rule of law Security 20. The security situation has continued to deteriorate in Port-au-Prince. Gang violence spread from the capital to various departments of the country, with repeated gang-led attacks targeting Ganthier commune (West Department) along National Road 8 to the Dominican Republic. Gang attacks targeting individuals, private residences and State infrastructure, including the demolition of the Cabaret women’s prison, which had previously been burned by gangs, have also taken place in the communes of Cabaret and Arcahaie (West Department), located north of Port-au- Prince. Meanwhile, on the southern end of the capital, in the outer communes of Carrefour, Gressier, Petit-Goâve and Léogane, gangs have established control over the main access roads to the capital. The Artibonite Department, which has a low police presence, has encountered increasing levels of gang violence, including deadly attacks on individuals, arson attacks on homes and farms, roadblocks and kidnappings, resulting in frequent clashes between vigilante groups and gangs. There have been police reports of gang members from Port-au-Prince relocating to the South-East, South and Grand-Anse Departments. In response to gang expansion, the Government declared a state of emergency on 17 July, initially implemented in 14 communes of the West and Artibonite Departments, and subsequently extended to the entire country on 3 September for a 30-day period. 21. Attacks by gangs on the communes of Ganthier and Gressier (West Department) illustrate their determination to establish rear bases and spread their influence in remote areas where security forces are weak, especially after police stations were deliberately destroyed in these two communes. Despite numerous clashes with the police, Gressier continues to be overrun by gangs, which have erected numerous roadblocks. Another gang continued to undermine State authority in Ganthier, extending its reach from Croix-des-Bouquets (West Department) to the Dominican Republic. As a result, thousands of residents were forced to flee from Gressier and Ganthier in search of safety. 22. The heightened gang presence on main access and peripheral roads facilitates the collection of illicit revenues (e.g. demanding illegal tolls and extorting transport users), as well as smuggling operations, enabling gangs to generate significant illicit profits. Possession of heavy weaponry, combined with increased drug seizures by the police in various departments, highlights the likely affiliations of gangs with transnational organized crime networks across the Caribbean and Latin America. 24-17941 5/18 S/2024/742 23. In the metropolitan area of the capital, gangs have escalated their attacks on specific metropolitan neighbourhoods with strategic value to gain more control over the city. In response, national police, with the support of the Armed Forces of Haiti and the Multinational Security Support mission, launched large-scale anti-gang operations in the Port-au-Prince neighbourhoods of Solino, Fort National and La Saline, and Delmas and Croix-des-Bouquets, but still face challenges to sustain control over these areas due to the lack of personnel and other resources. 24. From June to August 2024, BINUH recorded 1,441 victims of intentional homicides, including 119 women, 12 girls and 27 boys, compared with 1,033 victims during the same three months the previous year. The number of abductions rose to 443 victims, including 161 women, 5 girls and 10 boys, compared with 137 kidnappings recorded over the same three-month period the previous year. The main perpetrators continued to be gang members operating in the metropolitan areas of Port-au-Prince and in the Artibonite Department. Meanwhile, killings by vigilante groups resulted in at least 105 alleged gang members slain from June to August 2024. 25. As at 5 October, there were approximately 400 Kenyan police, 4 Belizean police and 20 Jamaican military personnel on the ground in Haiti as part of the Multinational Security Support mission. Although bilateral support for logistics and equipment has been provided, and the trust fund for the Multinational Security Support mission has received $85 million, this falls short of the required funds estimated by Kenya, the lead nation of the mission. Efforts are under way to strengthen the technical and operational coordination between the United Nations and the Multinational Security Support mission. A police coordination mechanism between BINUH, national police and the mission was established in September. Police 26. Since 27 August, the national police, with the assistance of the Armed Forces of Haiti and the Multinational Security Support mission, have stepped up operations to re-establish State authority over the State University of Haiti Hospital and a number of metropolitan neighbourhoods and thoroughfares in Port-au-Prince that have been dominated by gangs for years. As a result, some roads and parts of neighbourhoods have been freed from gang presence, though residents remain reluctant to return for fear of gang reprisals. 27. Gangs have continued to attack the national police, with 15 police officers (one of them a policewoman) killed and 26 wounded from June to August. On 25 July, gang members demolished the Gressier police station with heavy machinery. On 13 August, a gang ransacked the vacated Cabaret police station. As at 31 August, 50 of the 156 police-owned installations, including police stations, in the West Department were non-operational. Of a fleet of 96 armoured vehicles, 31 were operational, 55 had broken down and 10 were permanently out of use. In August, the national police received 20 new armoured vehicles in a nationally funded procurement exercise. 28. As at 30 September, the Haitian police workforce stood at 12,870 officers, including 1,561 women, representing a loss of 61 police officers, including 10 women, since 1 July. This loss is mainly due to post abandonments, deaths or disciplinary dismissals. To partly mitigate the loss of police officers, which is estimated to be over 1,000 in 2024, a four-month, fast-track basic training of the thirty-fourth cadet class began on 25 August with 747 cadets, including 216 women (29 per cent), the highest representation of women in the training history of the national police. In September, BINUH supported training sessions to enhance the capacity of 129 police and prison officers, including 57 women assigned to police 6/18 24-17941 S/2024/742 units specialized in combating sexual crimes, particularly gender-based violence and violence against children. Armed Forces of Haiti 29. The Armed Forces of Haiti are playing an increasingly important role in supporting the police in restoring security in Port-au-Prince, including with regard to anti-gang operations, by maintaining a presence following successful operations. To support institutional development, a campaign to recruit 1,500 new cadets began on 1 August, and the Government and the Transitional Presidential Council appointed a new Chief of Staff on 8 August. At the end of August, the Prime Minister decided to open a suboffice at the Army headquarters in Port-au-Prince. On 3 September, the Government disbanded the Centre national des équipements, transferring all equipment and vehicles to the Army headquarters. Corrections 30. Detention conditions in most Haitian prisons remained dire and do not comply with human rights norms and standards. This situation is mainly due to the scarcity of food, drinking water and medical supplies, as well as overpopulation and insufficient sanitation services, which has adversely affected the health of prisoners. During the period under review, 61 detainees died, most of them from diseases caused by malnutrition. 31. On 16 August, a prison break in Saint-Marc (Artibonite Department) resulted in 1 escapee, 15 killed and 6 injured, along with extensive infrastructure damage. This was the fourth prison break in Haiti, in addition to eight attempted prison breaks, recorded in 2024. The Directorate of Prison Administration is updating the database of detainees nationwide and is working to enhance the management and security of the 15 operational Haitian prisons. This preceded a five-week training funded by the basket fund for police, conducted in July and August for 40 personnel, on prison intervention techniques and escort procedures for the transfer of prisoners. 32. As part of Government efforts to reduce prison overcrowding, 94 pretrial detainees, including 2 women, were released on humanitarian grounds from the Jacmel prison following mobile hearings held from July to September. As at 2 October, 7,581 inmates, including 6,337 pretrial detainees (84 per cent) and 1,244 convicted inmates, were held in the 15 operational Haitian prisons, with an occupancy rate of 307 per cent, providing approximately 0.33 square metres per detainee. This figure included 439 women, 236 boys and 17 girls. Justice 33. On 5 July, the Minister for Justice and Public Security instructed public prosecutors to reinforce the monitoring of detention conditions. Prosecutors were tasked with submitting reports on the state of operations in their respective offices, including the situation in prisons, the total number of detainees and the legal status of each detainee, along with the authority responsible for the detention. On 11 July, the Minister convened a meeting with international donors to address the urgent need for the rehabilitation of the judicial, police and penitentiary infrastructure in Port-au- Prince. Discussions centred on the necessity of relocating and rehabilitating courts in Port-au-Prince and Croix-des-Bouquets. 34. Following the state of emergency decree issued on 17 July for parts of the West and Artibonite Departments, the Minister for Justice and Public Security issued a circular on 23 July establishing anti-gang cells for the duration of the state of emergency in the jurisdictions of Croix-des-Bouquets, Gonaïves and Port-au-Prince. These cells, comprising officers from the public prosecutor’s office, judicial police 24-17941 7/18 S/2024/742 and local authorities, were granted specific powers to intervene in criminal procedures, including conducting searches, implementing special case-handling procedures and extending the custody period for suspects. Anti-gang cells have been tasked with intensifying efforts to prosecute gang members and their accomplices and sponsors. 35. The Superior Council of the Judiciary held elections in July to renew the mandates of the representatives from the Courts of Appeal, Courts of First Instance and Justices of the Peace. Three magistrates were elected by their peers for a three- year term. The Superior Council opened two regional offices for its inspection unit, on 23 July in Cap-Haïtien and on 26 July in Les Cayes, with the support of UNDP. 36. On 17 July, the Transitional Presidential Council established the Commission for the Implementation of Penal Reform, tasked with evaluating the Penal Code and the Code of Criminal Procedure, making recommendations and preparing implementation decrees. The nine-member Commission includes prominent figures, such as a former Prime Minister and three former Ministers for Justice and Public Security, and was formally installed on 25 July. This followed decrees issued on 19 June 2024, which postponed the application of the new Codes until June 2025. 37. On 7 August, the Transitional Presidential Council issued a decree expropriating properties in the Champs de Mars area of Port-au-Prince to accommodate the Port- au-Prince Court of First Instance. On 19 August, following an agreement with the Minister for Justice and Public Security, the Collectif des magistrats debout d’Haiti suspended the strike initiated by public prosecutors on 19 June. The suspension, effective until the end of November 2024, was agreed upon to address concerns regarding the unequal treatment of judges and prosecutors. 38. The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) continued to strengthen the capacities of the Central Financial Intelligence Unit and the Anti-Corruption Unit through training in corruption investigations and asset declaration systems, and coordinated support from international partners, including experts from France and Romania, to provide guidance and training sessions on ethics and anti-corruption laws. UNODC co-chaired workshops to draft a bill on asset recovery and provided technical support for the 10-year assessment of the country’s anti-corruption law and helped establish a national anti-corruption task force to improve coordination in corruption investigations. V. Human rights 39. Human rights abuses and violations persisted across the capital, the Artibonite Department and other parts of the country. Documented incidents included killings, mutilations, rapes, kidnappings, the trafficking and exploitation of children by gangs, and the ransacking and intentional destruction of private property and social service facilities, including schools and centres for children living with disabilities. While the number of casualties and kidnappings decreased in downtown Port-au-Prince, in other areas, such as Gressier and Ganthier, the situation significantly deteriorated. 40. In July and August, violent clashes continued in La Saline, a strategic neighbourhood located south of the main port of the capital on a main axis connecting the port to the south and north of the country. Heavy shooting between gangs killed at least 81 members of the population (50 men, 28 women and 3 children) and injured 28 others (16 men and 12 women), even though most victims were inside their homes, and more than 20 homes were set on fire. In the same area, gang attacks against boats crossing the bay of Port-au-Prince increased, with at least five boats transporting 8/18 24-17941 S/2024/742 products attacked and ransacked, 5 passengers and crew members injured by gunshots and 23 others kidnapped. 41. Gangs continued to attack the centrally located neighbourhoods of Solino and Delmas 24 in order to gain proximity to middle-class neighbourhoods in which to commit further kidnappings and extort businesses. From June to September, during these attacks, at least 42 members of the population (34 men, 1 woman, 4 boys and 3 girls) were killed and 24 others (17 men, 2 women and 5 boys) injured. In these areas, joint operations carried out since the end of August by the police and the Multinational Security Support mission resulted in 33 casualties among gang members (26 killed and 7 injured), as well as in 15 casualties among the population (10 killed and 5 injured). 42. In communes tightly controlled by gangs, such as Carrefour, Cité Soleil and Gressier, gang members showed extreme brutality against their victims. Passengers were executed in broad daylight for taking secondary roads to avoid gang-erected checkpoints, entire families were executed inside their homes for alleged collaboration with the police, and others were killed for trying to move out of these communes without the consent of gangs. Police officers living in these areas were targeted, with at least 13 killed during the reporting period. A case in point was documented in mid-August when a police officer in Gressier was taken by gang members and forced to eat parts of his mutilated body before being burned alive. 43. In the capital, gangs continued violent attacks to project influence over areas with potential opportunities for obtaining illegal sources of revenue. The lack of State presence in many areas of the capital has facilitated the establish by gangs of a strong criminal presence. In these areas, gangs extort businesses, schools and health centres, where they also have the power to dictate their functioning. Several gang roadblocks have been established alongside roads in Carrefour, Cité Soleil, Delmas, Gressier and Port-au-Prince, where drivers, passengers and passersby are at high risk of being extorted, raped, kidnapped or killed. In areas without a State presence, gangs attempt to portray themselves as protectors, claiming the roles of the police and the courts. Individuals accused by gangs of theft or other acts carried out without their consent have been beaten, held captive or killed. On 17 July, a resident of Delmas was beaten to death by gang members who had accused the victim of raping a 16-year-old girl. This incident exemplifies the ambiguous posture of gangs towards the population that they claim to protect, as gang members continue to use sexual violence as a tool to subjugate those living under their control. 44. Gangs continued to ransack and destroy public and private property. Overall, at least 514 residences and other private buildings were looted and/or set on fire, and 66 trucks transporting products were hijacked. Facilities run by service providers and religious organizations were not spared by the violence. In August, a school for children with hearing and visual impairments, located in Croix-des-Bouquets, was stormed and looted by gangs while the children were inside. 45. In the Artibonite Department, gang attacks against residential areas persisted, notably in the communes of Gros Morne and Petite Rivière de l’Artibonite, with the indiscriminate shooting of individuals in the street or in their homes. Insecurity on the Department’s roads has become pervasive as gangs have set up illegal roadblocks to extort vehicles. Individuals who refuse to stop at these roadblocks are systematically shot and killed. Of particular concern was the spread of violence to areas previously considered relatively safe, such as Arcahaie (West Department) and Terre Neuve (Artibonite Department). In the latter, a failed kidnapping, prevented by the population, resulted in a violent retaliation which left 11 people killed or injured, including an infant, and 3 others abducted. No incidents involving gangs had previously been documented in Terre Neuve. On 3 October, an extremely violent attack was executed by a gang against the town of Pont Sondé, in the commune of 24-17941 9/18 S/2024/742 Saint-Marc, where at least 100 members of the population were killed (87 men, 10 women and 3 babies) and 16 others injured (13 men and 3 women). Most of the victims were shot in the streets while running to escape the attack. 46. The vigilante movement known as Bwa Kale participated in acts of extreme violence against alleged gang members and individuals accused of common crimes, including petty theft. Of the 149 cases documented from June to September, 51 per cent took place outside the metropolitan area of Port-au-Prince, where the population fears the spread of the violence affecting the capital. In most cases, the victims were brutally killed, often mutilated with machetes, stoned to death or burned alive, sometimes in the presence of the police. 47. The situation of children remained particularly worrisome. Not only are they victims of grave violations, including killings and injuries, attacks on schools and hospitals, and sexual violence during gang attacks, but they also continue to be the victims of trafficking and gang recruitment. Children are used to carry out low-profile criminal activities, such as illegal revenue collection or information gathering, and are also used to commit serious crimes, including kidnapping and homicide. Gang affiliation exposes children to being killed, seriously injured or subjected to mob justice. A case in point was documented in July when a 10-year-old boy was shot dead and his body burned by a vigilante group in the Solino neighbourhood of Port-au- Prince, after being accused of being a gang informant. 48. Police anti-gang operations resulted in at least 603 people killed (116 members of the population and 487 gang members) and 268 injured (143 members of the population and 125 gang members) from June to September, a 20 per cent decrease compared with the previous four months. While some of the casualties took place during clashes between the police and gang members, others were attributed to police misconduct, including executions and the illegal use of lethal force. In the Carrefour Vincent and Carrefour Drouillard areas of the Cité Soleil commune, as well as in the La Colline neighbourhood of Gressier, multiple incidents from June to September were reported to BINUH of people being interrogated and shot on the spot by police officers. Among the victims were children, street vendors and motorcycle taxi drivers. In Saint-Marc, at least 15 detainees were killed and 6 others injured when the police opened fire to prevent a prison break on 16 August. 49. Women and girls living in communities under gang control continued to be subjected to sexual violence, including rape by multiple perpetrators and sexual exploitation. While cases are underreported due to fear of retaliation and social stigma, as well as a lack of trust in the police and the justice system, BINUH and the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) documented 74 victims (52 women and 22 girls, between 10 and 17 years old) of sexual violence perpetrated by gangs between June and September. Some of them were raped inside their residences by several armed individuals during attacks on neighbourhoods, while others were intercepted while walking on the street or travelling in public transport, and others were sexually exploited for months by multiple perpetrators. Some women and girls were shot and killed after being sexually attacked. Local organizations and media sources have reported an increase in sexual violence in internally displaced persons sites committed by gang members and those who informally manage the sites. In response to these widespread abuses, the Ministry of Justice and Public Security established a three-member commission to prioritize all sexual violence cases pending in courts across the country. In late August, owing to concerns about the situation, the United Nations strengthened its capacity to collect and analyse incidents of sexual violence perpetrated by gangs through the establishment of a monitoring, analysis and reporting arrangement in line with Security Council resolution 1960 (2010). 10/18 24-17941 S/2024/742 Impunity 50. In July, investigating magistrate Jean Wilner Morin concluded his investigation into the 2018 massacre in La Saline. His court order indicted 30 individuals for prosecution without jury assistance. Among the concerned individuals were gang leader Jimmy Chérizier and other individuals who, at the time of the attacks, held senior Government positions, including the former Director of the Ministry of Interior, Fednel Monchery, and the delegate for the West Department, Joseph Pierre- Richard Duplan. These indictees appealed the decision before the Court of Appeal in Port-au-Prince. Also in July, investigating magistrate Jean Michel Séïde heard former public prosecutor Ronald Richemond as part of the investigation into the October 2022 assassination of journalist and political commentator Garry Tess in Les Cayes (South Department). On 19 July, Mr. Séïde issued a travel ban against Mr. Richemond, prohibiting him from leaving Haiti until the investigation was concluded. However, no progress was made in the other emblematic cases of the 2017 Grand Ravine and the 2019 Bel Air massacres, the assassination of the President of the Port-au-Prince Bar Association, Monferrier Dorval, in 2020, nor on any mass killing committed since 2021. 51. On 19 September, the Ministry of Justice and Public Security and the Superior Council of the Judiciary, in a gathering with representatives of the national police, departmental delegates and judges, signed a memorandum of understanding to establish specialized judicial task forces (Pôles judiciaires spécialisés) to tackle mass crimes, including crimes of sexual violence, as well as financial crimes. UNODC and OHCHR provided technical support in the development of this protocol. Police oversight 52. From June to 7 October, the General Inspectorate of the Haitian National Police opened 59 investigations concerning 67 police officers, including 13 cases of alleged human rights violations. During the same period, 17 investigations were concluded, 13 administrative measures were taken and two cases were referred for prosecution. On 15 August, three allegedly corrupt police officers were killed during a police operation in Port-au-Prince, and three others were apprehended, all of whom were suspected of having gang connections. On 30 August, a police officer was arrested for his alleged involvement in theft. Visit of the designated expert 53. On 20 September, the designated expert on human rights in Haiti of OHCHR, William O’Neill, conducted a 12-day visit to Haiti and travelled to Les Cayes and Jérémie, where he met with officials and civil society representatives. He also visited sites for internally displaced persons, several prisons and an orphanage. Mr. O’Neill expressed his concern at the spread of gang violence, the drastic increase in sexual violence, the forced recruitment of children into gangs and the deterioration of the humanitarian situation in prisons. Interministerial committee for human rights 54. On 12 July, BINUH and OHCHR supported the interministerial committee for human rights in organizing a civil society consultation workshop on the interim report for the universal periodic review, which was attended by 67 representatives (including 17 women). During the workshop, participants reviewed the progress made in the implementation of the recommendations to Haiti in the 2022 report and the draft interim report prepared by the interministerial committee prior to its submission in July. 24-17941 11/18 S/2024/742 Provision of human rights compliance support to the Multinational Security Support mission 55. As mandated by the Security Council in resolution 2699 (2023), OHCHR began its in-mission sensitization activities to support human rights compliance by the Multinational Security Support mission during the planning and conduct of its operations. Awareness-raising sessions were developed for mission personnel on policies related to oversight and accountability and use of force principles. Strategic engagement was carried out with the leadership of the Multinational Security Support mission on a mechanism to receive and respond effectively to complaints on potential human rights violations that may come from Haitian individuals and civil society organizations. On 23 September, BINUH signed with the Multinational Security Support mission a standard operating procedure on the implementation of the human rights due diligence policy on United Nations support to non-United Nations security forces. VI. Women and peace and security 56. Consultations were held in Cap-Haïtien on 27 and 28 August and in Fort Liberté (North-East Department) on 29 and 30 August that focused on engaging young people and women leaders at the departmental level on the Accord politique pour une transition pacifique et ordonnée (Political agreement for a peaceful and orderly transition) signed on 3 April, the framework for current political governance and an analysis of the Decree on the Creation, Organization and Functioning of the National Conference of 19 July. The discussions highlighted the political and civic engagement of women and youth as essential to the reform of the electoral system. VII. Unemployment, youth and other vulnerable groups Socioeconomic situation 57. On 12 August, the Government of Haiti approved a revised budget of $1.9 billion (254.82 billion gourdes) for the 2023/24 fiscal year, reflecting a 20.5 per cent reduction due to revenue shortfalls caused by repeated economic shocks. The revised budget mirrors the transitional Government’s priorities, including boosting security, supporting vulnerable groups (particularly women and children), creating jobs and stimulating economic activity. The budget takes into account cash transfers to vulnerable households, the creation of labour-intensive projects in agriculture and public works and the relocation of internally displaced persons. On 30 September, the 2024/25 budget of $2.4 billion (323.4 billion gourdes) was adopted, a 0.9 per cent increase compared with the previous year. 58. The Government initiated a rapid crisis impact assessment of the Port-au-Prince metropolitan area with the support of the World Bank, the United Nations, the European Union and the Inter-American Development Bank. Led by the Ministry of Economy and Finance, the assessment is due to result in an investment plan aligned with Government policies on economic recovery, infrastructure, basic services and governance, including justice and public security. The recovery framework and investment plan are currently being reviewed by the Government, and include consultations with the private sector and the Transitional Presidential Council. Social protection and food security 59. The Artibonite Department accounts for 71.8 per cent of rice production but faces declining production rates owing to insecurity and water shortages. Estimates 12/18 24-17941 S/2024/742 by the national statistical office show a decrease of 6 per cent in economic activity in the agriculture sector for the last quarter of the 2023/24 fiscal year compared with the previous year. 60. Estimates for the period from August 2024 to February 2025 project a rise in food insecurity incidence. Almost half of the population (48 per cent) is classified under Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) 3 (crisis). This represents a 4 per cent rise compared with the same period last year. Among that half, 6,000 people are enduring extreme hunger and the collapse of their livelihoods and are classified as IPC 5 (catastrophe). An additional 2 million people (18 per cent) are in a critical state of acute food insecurity and are classified as IPC 4 (emergency). In addition, price monitoring by the World Food Programme (WFP) for September 2024 shows that some shortages of wheat flour and rice led to severe acute malnutrition with an increased risk of mortality. These figures show a 5 per cent increase in the cost of the food basket at the national level, with increases reaching 16 per cent in regions such as the North-West and the South. Recent developments may lead to further supply disruptions that have implications for food prices. After initially announcing the reopening of operations in Haiti in early July, major shipping companies halted bookings to Haiti as at 27 September due to port insecurity. 61. With support from WFP and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), local food sourcing from smallholder farmers for school feeding increased by 20 per cent. WFP, FAO and UNICEF expanded their school feeding programmes to reach 495,000 children for the 2024/25 school year, compared with 470,000 in June 2024. The International Labour Organization, WFP and national partners launched an initiative aimed at scaling up the delivery of breadfruit to the Bureau of Nutrition and Development, from 2 tons in April 2024 to 15 tons in October 2024, benefiting over 100 schools. VIII. Basic social service delivery and resilience Humanitarian needs and access to basic services 62. In September, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) reported that the number of displaced individuals increased by 22 per cent from June to September, reaching nearly 703,000 individuals. Children represent 52 per cent of all internally displaced persons. In search of safety, increasing numbers of people have fled the metropolitan area of Port-au-Prince and relocated to the South, South-East, Nippes and Grand-Anse Departments. Currently 75 per cent of internally displaced persons have been relocated to outlying departments, 45 per cent of whom went to the aforementioned departments. Most of them currently live with host families who are already economically vulnerable. The metropolitan area of Port-au-Prince hosts a quarter of all internally displaced persons in the country. It saw a 15 per cent increase between June and September, with 96 sites compared with 86 in March. Community access to basic social services, such as education, healthcare, water and sanitation, which were already insufficient to meet needs, was further compromised. In September, nearly 350,000 school-aged children were displaced, including 160,000 currently affected by school closures in the West and Artibonite Departments. The United Nations estimates that around 1,000 schools have been consistently or temporarily closed since mid-January due to insecurity. 63. Healthcare remains alarmingly inaccessible in the country, with only 24 per cent of health facilities operating since February in the metropolitan area of Port-au- Prince. The State University of Haiti Hospital, the largest public hospital in Haiti, has been closed since March. Health centres in the South, South-East, Nippes and Grand- Anse Departments, which are experiencing a significant influx of internally displaced 24-17941 13/18 S/2024/742 persons from the West Department, are str