(2022) BINUH - Report of the Secretary-General on the United Nations Integrated Office in Haiti

United Nations S/2022/481 Security Council Distr.: General 13 June 2022 Original: English 22-08548 (E) 150622 *2208548* United Nations Integrated Office in Haiti Report of the Secretary-General I. Introduction 1. The present report is submitted pursuant to Security Council resolution 2600 (2021), by which the Council extended to 15 July 2022 the mandate of the United Nations Integrated Office in Haiti (BINUH), in accordance with Council resolution 2476 (2019) establishing BINUH and requested me to report on the implementation of the resolution every 120 days. The report includes significant developments that have occurred since my previous report (S/2022/117) and provides an update on the implementation of the BINUH mandate. II. Political issues and good governance (benchmark 1) 2. Political divisions persisted among Haitian stakeholders regarding modalities for a process that could lead to the restoration of fully functioning democratic institutions through elections, and they continued to be unable to reach a much sought-after agreement on a common path towards constitutional reform. The Prime Minister, Ariel Henry, continued to encourage dialogue by engaging with political groups, trade unions, business sector associations and civil society actors, although limited progress has been made in that regard as stakeholders have yet to show a willingness to compromise on any of the central issues of contention. In a statement to the nation on 29 March, the Prime Minister reiterated that tackling insecurity was the top priority of the Government and a key factor for holding credible elections. The principal dilemma has been how to address the country’s governance and institutional crises in a deteriorating security context. 3. BINUH organized informal gatherings on 21 February and 9 March to help create space for political actors to exchange views on a common path towards elections. Those gatherings brought together participants from the national authorities and some members, who participated in their personal capacities, of the 11 September political agreement and the Commission for a Haitian Solution to the Crisis (known as the Montana Group), signatories of the national memorandum of understanding and civil society and private sector representatives. 4. Following the gatherings, Haitian political and civil society stakeholders continued to meet and, on 31 March, agreed to form a tripartite committee composed of representatives of academia, faith-based organizations and the private sector. The S/2022/481 22-08548 2/28 tripartite committee’s task is to broaden consensus towards national elections. By May, it had begun a process of nationwide consultations centred on five main themes: security, elections, constitutional reform, governance arrangements and humanitarian issues. The tripartite committee consulted with interlocutors from across various political and civil society sectors, including a coalition of former parliamentarians, representatives of the PetroCaribe Challenge initiative, Montana agreement signatories, national authorities, the 10 seated senators and non-aligned political parties. In addition, several dozen groups of community leaders, women’s organizations, trade unions, regional political parties and local authorities participated in online consultations held throughout the country. The Prime Minister voiced his support for the tripartite committee and encouraged all stakeholders to work with it. 5. Simultaneously, after months of tentative and often unsuccessful contacts, the Prime Minister held a series of direct talks with the leadership of the Montana Group, which proposed new modalities for the relaunching of formal negotiations. However, numerous challenges remain and it is too early to tell whether those bilateral talks will bear fruit. 6. On 31 March, the Mission hosted a lunch with Haitian women to discuss challenges to women’s participation in political life. Building on that event, on 7 April, BINUH hosted a symposium that was attended by the Minister for Women’s Affairs and Rights. The symposium, which was co-organized with several women’s organizations and supported by the Department of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs, capped off a series of consultations held across the country to collect gender-sensitive recommendations for addressing the current security situation. Participants highlighted the importance of community policing and suggested that key national institutions partner with civil society to mount a nationwide anti-violence campaign. They also spoke out against corruption and urged the Government to accelerate the implementation of crucial judicial sector reforms. 7. On 21 April, during a virtual meeting of the international partners of Haiti that was hosted by France, the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Religion of Haiti underscored that addressing the issue of crime and strengthening State authority throughout the country were essential conditions for holding elections. Amid the continued uncertainty about finding a strong consensus regarding a path to elections, the Prime Minister has yet to appoint new members to the country’s Provisional Electoral Council, a key step in the implementation of the 11 September political agreement. However, on 1 June, the Office of the Prime Minister named an official responsible for authorizing Provisional Electoral Council expenditures, an appointment intended to facilitate the payment of salaries of electoral staff and the resumption of basic operations by the Council after months of inactivity. 8. On the regional front, the Prime Minister and several Cabinet members attended the Thirty-third Intersessional Meeting of Heads of Government of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) in Belize on 1 and 2 March. The participants adopted a communiqué in which they expressed concern over the protracted political impasse, ongoing humanitarian crisis and mounting insecurity in Haiti, and the repercussions for the region of escalating instability. Following the meeting, the Government announced a pledge of $45 million by the Caribbean Development Bank to assist with earthquake recovery over the period 2022–2026. On 3 June, the Prime Minister, before leaving Port-au-Prince to participate in the Ninth Summit of the Americas, held in Los Angeles from 6 to 10 June, publicly stated that he would discuss with partners the most pressing issues facing Haiti, including security. In addition, he called on all Haitians to come together around a common project in the best interest of the country. S/2022/481 3/28 22-08548 III. Violence reduction (benchmark 2) 9. The security situation continued to be marked by escalating gang violence, in particular kidnappings and violent killings in the Port-au-Prince metropolitan area, perpetuating a deep sense of trepidation among the city’s inhabitants. Despite underreporting of kidnappings and intentional homicides, the Haitian National Police nonetheless recorded 540 kidnappings from 1 January to 31 May 2022, an increase of 36.4 per cent, compared with 396 in the last five months of 2021, while the number of intentional homicides increased by 17 per cent, from 668 in the last five months of 2021 to 782 in the first five months of 2022. Those figures have continued to grow, reaching unprecedented levels. In May alone, 198 kidnappings and 201 homicides were recorded, mostly in West Department. In one incident, two busloads of children were kidnapped on 24 May. In addition, there were three incidents in which United Nations personnel and their dependents were kidnapped and another in which one national staff was killed in crossfire between gangs. 10. The national police relaunched community policing activities in some disadvantaged areas of Port-au-Prince and, beginning in January, started daily, large- scale police operations based on improved intelligence-gathering. These steps have led to the arrest of hundreds of gang members and individuals suspected of involvement in abductions, and the seizure of several hundred firearms and evidentiary material. 11. Clashes among gangs in the northern part of the Port-au-Prince metropolitan area intensified and expanded to adjacent neighbourhoods near the end of April and at the beginning of May. On 24 April, violent fighting broke out between two rival gangs for territorial control in the Croix-des-Bouquets neighbourhood of La Plaine de Cul-de-Sac, while two other gangs vied for control of the Cité Soleil commune. The clashes reflect the evolution and new dynamic of gang alliances. Maintaining a strong posture in the affected areas, the national police deployed specialized units and conducted large-scale operations to restore law and order. The violence has adversely affected business activity and residents’ ability to meet their basic needs, leading to ever-worsening human rights abuses, including the recruitment of minors by armed gangs. The displacement of approximately 17,000 civilians fleeing these gang- affected areas resulted in the emergence of new camps for displaced persons near zones that relief services can access only with difficulty. 12. Residents of the Port-au-Prince neighbourhood of Martissant and the communes of Croix-des-Bouquets, Tabarre and Delmas, where crime and violence remain most evident, also continued to demand decisive action by the Government against armed gangs. The persistence of violent crime, including abductions for ransom and homicides and criminal gangs’ continued blockade of national road 2 in the Martissant neighbourhood, stoked frustration in civil society, the private sector and opposition organizations. These groups organized several demonstrations during the reporting period. However, the overall number of civil unrest incidents decreased; the national police recorded 390 such incidents in the period from 1 January to 31 May, of which 349 were marked by some violence, compared with 457 such incidents in the previous reporting period. 13. To improve the security situation, the Prime Minister publicly committed to strengthening the national police and enhancing the effectiveness of anti-gang operations by improving the balance between prevention and enforcement. During a public ceremony on 14 April, the Government handed over 16 new vehicles and 200 new motorcycles to the national police to increase its operational capacity. In addition, it released additional funds for armoured vehicles, weapons and ammunition and police equipment. International donors continued to support the national police S/2022/481 22-08548 4/28 through training and the provision of crime-fighting equipment. In recent months, the police have increased street checkpoints and patrols and intensified anti-gang operations to curb insecurity. 14. In view of the numerous operational, logistical and resource challenges facing the police force, the Prime Minister intensified his appeal for international support to bolster the force’s operational capacity and improve working conditions for officers. In response to that appeal, BINUH and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), under the leadership of my Special Representative, held consultations with national police leadership and coordinated with external stakeholders to identify priority areas for police development. These efforts resulted in the creation of a multi-donor “basket fund” to further the professionalization of the police force and enhance its ability to prevent and fight crime, strengthen the police force’s intelligence-gathering capacity and improve accountability and internal governance. The agreement covering the $28 million project was signed on 3 June by the Prime Minister, the Minister of Justice and Public Security and the Minister of Planning and External Cooperation, my Special Representative and the UNDP Country Director. So far, $7.8 million has been pledged in support of the project, while UNDP will contribute $300,000. Advocacy efforts to fund the project continue through the good offices of my Special Representative. 15. On 4 May, my Special Representative hosted a working lunch with representatives of the national police high command and civil society, including members of the working group on security, to discuss ongoing security challenges and identify possible areas of collaboration in the fight against gang violence. Participants stressed the impact of crime and violence on all sectors of Haitian society, in particular communities in gang-affected areas, where a general perception of heightened public insecurity has had negative repercussions for socioeconomic activity. The session fostered conversations on potential tangible measures to support the national police, including initiatives to boost officer morale and develop local information-sharing networks. 16. The inter-institutional task force on disarmament, demobilization and reintegration and community violence reduction convened regularly at BINUH offices, with the technical and logistical support of several United Nations entities and multilateral and bilateral partners. In addition, the task force regularly organized meetings and working sessions with the national coordinator of the Office of the Prime Minister charged with leading the “whole-of-government” integrated effort on community violence reduction. 17. Progress was made on the implementation of the national action plan on weapons and ammunition management with the support of the task force, the Minister of Justice and Public Security, the Minister of the Interior and the United Nations Regional Centre for Peace, Disarmament and Development in Latin America and the Caribbean. Technical work on the Haitian draft law on weapons and ammunition is ongoing. Since February, 15 working sessions, organized in cooperation with UNDP, the Regional Centre and BINUH, have led to the revision of 7 of the draft law’s 17 chapters, in order to ensure that it meets international norms and standards. Regarding the CARICOM Roadmap for Implementing the Caribbean Priority Actions on the Illicit Proliferation of Firearms and Ammunition across the Caribbean in a Sustainable Manner by 2030, the Regional Centre deployed a mission to Haiti from 10 to 21 May to help national authorities define priorities within the framework of the national action plan on weapons and ammunition management. In addition, the Regional Centre is preparing a national baseline assessment for the CARICOM Roadmap, with support from UNODC. As part of a joint UNDP-International Organization for Migration (IOM) project, it is anticipated that a plan being developed to improve the national police weapons and ammunition storage system and secure the central police S/2022/481 5/28 22-08548 armoury will be completed by July. In addition, police officers from Haiti and the Dominican Republic held two meetings in April on strengthening cooperation against illicit trafficking in firearms. 18. In support of national efforts to reduce community violence, the United Nations continued to implement projects in vulnerable neighbourhoods of Port-au-Prince. In March, BINUH conducted a midterm evaluation of a Peacebuilding Fund-supported community violence reduction project in Martissant and La Saline. The evaluation team, in the conclusions section of its report, highlighted the challenges posed by the acute deterioration of the security situation in these neighbourhoods, which has significantly undermined the project’s implementation on the ground. 19. Despite these challenges, results have been achieved with regard to community violence reduction. Thanks to activities funded by the Peacebuilding Fund-supported project, the infrastructure of the La Saline national high school, which, after a three- year closure, reopened in January thanks to the initiative of the Minister for Education and Vocational Training, was partially rehabilitated, allowing 1,173 students (670 girls and 503 boys) to resume their studies. Several other projects, which were completed in February, created a total of 1,905 temporary jobs (including 690 jobs for women), a greater number than the 1,700 initially planned. In addition, a cohort of 25 women started vocational training, while 156 participants (more than half of whom were women) were selected to undergo an entrepreneurship coaching programme and started the development of their business plans in May. Additional activities under the project are ongoing, including the finalization by the non-governmental organization Viva Rio of an evaluation of economic opportunities in those communities, with a view to supporting the integration of 90 youth beneficiaries into the labour market, and the creation by Entrepreneurs du Monde of 130 microenterprises with at-risk women. Initiatives aimed at fostering community dialogue and mediation are also under way as part of the same project. 20. Under the leadership of the Ministry of Social Affairs and Labour, efforts are under way to promote a more holistic, community-based approach to counter gang violence. A pilot effort in Cité Soleil is seeking to increase community outreach and deployment by the police while boosting service delivery by community-based organizations, with a view to expanding the approach to disadvantaged neighbourhoods nationwide. To that end, on 8 March, the acting Director-General of the Haitian National Police appointed a national coordinator for community policing. 21. The national police, together with the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Civic Action, the Ministry of Education and Vocational Training and Viva Rio, with the support of the United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS), UNDP, the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) and BINUH, organized a community sport event on 20 March in which a group of approximately 400 students, comprising boys and girls between the ages of 16 and 20, participated, and held a series of conferences in schools aimed at restoring trust and revitalizing dialogue mechanisms within the communities of Martissant and La Saline. 22. The Spotlight Initiative supported the training of 29 officials from Government institutions in gender-sensitive programming and budgeting, with a view to promoting greater involvement by the Government in the Initiative and reinforcing institutional capacity for protection of women and girls against violence. Furthermore, the Ministry of Women’s Affairs and Rights and partner women organizations have identified three safe spaces to be rehabilitated and converted into facilities that will provide, with the support of UNFPA, psychosocial assistance and a holistic response to victims of violence. S/2022/481 22-08548 6/28 IV. Security and the rule of law (benchmark 3) 23. Almost one year after the assassination of the former President, Jovenel Moïse, on 7 July 2021, the investigation and prosecution of the case has stalled. Following the successive resignations of three investigating judges, a new judge was appointed in early March 2022. However, a disagreement between the fourth judge and national authorities over security measures and financial compensation reportedly caused additional delays in the investigation and prevented the judge from taking over the case before his mandate expired in late April. A fifth investigative judge was appointed on 31 May. The related investigation in the United States of America has made progress, with the extradition of a key suspect from Jamaica on 6 May, who became the third person charged in the United States in relation to the case. 24. The deteriorating security situation remained at the forefront of public debate, along with concerns about individuals displaced by gang violence. In a public petition dated 28 March, representatives from the private sector, trade unions, professional associations and civil society organizations urged the Prime Minister to promptly address public security issues. The petition’s signatories presented a set of recommendations to fight insecurity, including a proposal for the Government to declare a state of emergency, urgently provide the national police and the Armed Forces of Haiti with necessary equipment and freeze the assets of individuals who allegedly support gangs. 25. The ranks of the national police continued to contract because of resignations, retirements and deaths. Of a total 15,459 registered officers, only some 12,800 were active as at 31 May. The discrepancy stems from many desertions, health-related absences and suspensions, as well as the constant use of police officers to perform close protection duties. The police force’s current attrition rate poses a significant challenge. The official police-to-population ratio has decreased to 1.28 police officers per 1,000 inhabitants, while the police-to-population ratio for active officers is only 1.06 per 1,000 inhabitants. Without sustained recruitment and training, the downward trend is expected to continue as the first wave of police officers who qualify for retirement leave the service in the coming years, further reducing the police force’s staff and operational capacity. To bolster police staffing, the thirty-second class, which is made up of 749 cadets, including 188 women (25 per cent of the total number), is expected to begin its seven-month basic training course in the coming weeks. The increase in the percentage of women in the new class marks a positive step towards the goal of increasing the ratio of female police officers to 12 per cent from the current 11 per cent. The expected increase will be partly attributable to the implementation of a gender-mainstreaming project led by Canada that helped the national police conduct capacity-building sessions across all 10 departments in 2021. 26. The General Inspectorate of the Haitian National Police continued to face challenges that limited its effectiveness as an oversight body, notably a lack of resources, including human resources, for conducting inspections. Due to high rates of crime around its main premises in Port-au-Prince, some services were temporarily relocated to the main national police headquarters in Tabarre, allowing the General Inspectorate to resume holding monthly meetings with civil society organizations and rebuilding trust through regular contact with the public. The multi-donor basket fund will help strengthen national police capacity for ensuring oversight and addressing misconduct, thereby improving public confidence in the national police. 27. Steps were taken towards sustainably reducing the high pretrial detention rate, which stood at 82.81 per cent as at 1 June. Advocacy by my Special Representative resulted in the revitalization of the national strategy to address prolonged pretrial detention. The Ministry of Justice and Public Security started implementing measures S/2022/481 7/28 22-08548 to resume correctional hearings and more efficiently manage incoming prisoners. The United Nations continued to provide support in the coordination of judicial actors in Les Cayes and Croix-des-Bouquets jurisdictions through the coordination forum of judicial actors, and the Organization built and equipped a hearing room in the Les Cayes prison. The appointment of a total of 113 judges on 18 March and 1 June by the Council of Ministers increased the capacity of the courts to hear cases. However, crime levels in the vicinity of the Port-au-Prince Court of First Instance continued to present a serious threat to judicial actors and legal proceedings. Lawyers’ unions and other professional organizations staged several demonstrations in April to protest what they perceived to be a lack of action on the part of national authorities to protect at-risk justice workers. Moreover, a nationwide court clerks’ strike prevented courts from conducting hearings in most of the country’s jurisdictions from 12 April to 25 May, when a temporary suspension of the strike was announced. 28. Against this backdrop, the United Nations continued to advocate for the timely entry into force of the new penal code and code of criminal procedure by calling for the prompt formation of a committee that would include among its membership the original drafters of those codes and other key stakeholders, in order to create conditions for the implementation of reforms that the codes will introduce and define necessary transitional measures for the codes’ effective use. Such a committee was established on 2 June and given a three-month mandate to assess the codes and make recommendations on the best strategy to adopt for their implementation. This critical reform remains instrumental to efforts aimed at aligning the Haitian justice system with regional and international standards. 29. Only a quarter of the seats in the country’s highest judicial body remain filled following the expiration of the terms of three Court of Cassation judges in mid-February. As a result, the Court cannot function because it is unable to constitute a quorum. The procedure for the appointment of judges laid out in the Constitution cannot be applied because the country lacks an elected President and a functioning Senate. In order to address the situation, the Government is seeking to employ an ad hoc procedure that would enable the Council of Ministers to appoint eight new judges. BINUH continued to reach out to key stakeholders, including the Superior Council of the Judiciary, to advocate for a consensual restoration of a functioning Court of Cassation through constructive and inclusive dialogue. 30. BINUH hosted a luncheon with female lawyers and magistrates on 18 April to discuss the current dysfunction of the Haitian justice system, as well as other issues affecting the independence, efficiency and ethics of judicial actors. Participants discussed tangible measures that can be taken to strengthen the judiciary, reduce pretrial detention and build the capacity of judicial personnel while highlighting the need to appoint more women in prominent judicial roles. 31. The situation continued to deteriorate in Haitian prisons as the authorities struggled, owing to insufficient funding, to provide two meals daily to prisoners. As at 1 June, the estimated overall occupancy rate of Haitian prisons was 287.77 per cent. The country’s prisons held 11,531 inmates, including 405 women, 247 boys and 19 girls, of which 9,549 inmates (82.81 per cent) were awaiting trial. To address prison shortcomings and detention conditions, the acting Director-General of the national police promised additional financial support from the Ministries of Justice and Public Security and of Economy and Finance, while technical and financial partners have provided water filtering systems, sewage disposal vans and food. Overcrowding should ease slightly with the opening of a soon-to-be-completed new prison in Petit- Goâve that is projected to hold 400 inmates. 32. The United Nations system stepped up its efforts in the fight against corruption. The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) conducted an S/2022/481 22-08548 8/28 interdisciplinary mission in Haiti from 20 to 26 March to assess the feasibility of launching technical programmes to help national authorities promote cross-border collaboration and combat transnational crime, corruption and drug and arms trafficking, including through the launching of the UNODC-World Customs Organization Container Control Programme in Haiti and border management programmes. The mission members met with the Prime Minister and relevant Cabinet members, representatives of the General Customs Administration, national police senior command and private sector and civil society actors. 33. All stakeholders have expressed support for the increased engagement of UNODC in the country. With funding, the Office could play a central role in bolstering efforts to control the flow of illicit firearms and drugs into Haiti, a key aspect of the fight against armed gangs, while also increasing scrutiny of import declarations, thereby potentially augmenting revenue collection. In addition, UNODC could play an important role in supporting government efforts to curtail illicit financial flows. My Special Representative continues to engage with and advocate for the programme of work of UNODC. V. Human rights (benchmark 4) 34. Armed violence perpetrated by gangs remains the main driver of human rights abuses in Haiti, in particular in the metropolitan area of Port-au-Prince and in some regional capitals. Gangs frequently carry out killings, kidnappings and acts of sexual violence to instil terror in local populations and assert or gain control over territories. Equally concerning is the continued infiltration of gangs into the local economy and gang-imposed restrictions on freedom of movement and access to basic social services, including health and education. 35. Kidnappings continued to be a feature of Haitian daily life and a source of revenue for gangs. While kidnappers have not spared any social group, doctors, lawyers, health-care workers, professors and human rights defenders are some of the categories most affected, while kidnapped women and girls are highly likely to be subjected to sexual and gender-based violence during their captivity. To protest against kidnapping, health-care workers, students and public transportation drivers demonstrated around the capital from 14 to 16 March. Private hospitals and clinics joined these protests by holding a work stoppage. 36. Women, girls as young as 5 and lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex persons are particularly exposed to sexual violence, including rape and sexual slavery, although men and boys are also affected. Although comprehensive data in that regard are unavailable, information collected by BINUH indicates that, on average, 98 persons were victims of sexual violence per month between January and March 2022 in the metropolitan area of Port-au-Prince, mainly in gang-controlled areas, such as Croix-des-Bouquets, Bel-Air, La Saline and Cité Soleil. As in situations of armed violence elsewhere, sexual violence in Haiti is widely underreported because of stigma and fear of reprisal. There is a lack of sufficient medical and psychological services for victims, and the providers of such services struggle to gain access to areas where sexual violence has occurred. Furthermore, the response of the police and the judiciary to sexual violence perpetrated by gang members has been extremely weak. 37. During the reporting period, gang-controlled areas were frequently the scene of violent clashes between gangs, or between gangs and the police. On 9 and 10 February, dozens of gang members were summarily executed by rival groups in the Port-au-Prince neighbourhood of Bel-Air. In the commune of Croix-des- Bouquets, displacement and looting by a notorious gang continued to affect thousands of people, trapping residents in their homes and hindering their access to food, S/2022/481 9/28 22-08548 drinking water and medical attention for days. Gang violence interrupted specialized emergency and paediatric services; on 1 April, Médecins sans frontières temporarily closed its Cité Soleil hospital out of fear for the safety of its personnel and patients. 38. Journalists, human rights defenders and judicial actors in particular remain at risk of violence and crime, a sign that civic space in the country continued to shrink. In that regard, the lack of accountability in such types of cases is especially concerning. For instance, no information is available on the status of the investigation into the killing on 6 January of two journalists in the Pétionville neighbourhood of Laboule 12. On 23 February, a journalist was killed during demonstrations in Port- au-Prince, prompting the General Inspectorate of the national police to open an investigation into possible excessive use of force. In a letter dated 8 April, the Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of opinion and expression and the Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions urged the Government to reveal the findings of the investigation into the killing of the two journalists. The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights will continue to follow up on the matter with the relevant authorities. On 17 May, the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights issued a statement to denounce the severe impact on human rights of the surge in violence involving heavily armed gangs in Port-au-Prince. In her statement, the High Commissioner for Human Rights urged the Haitian authorities to promptly restore the rule of law and protect people from armed violence, with the support of the international community. 39. Aside from perpetrating violence, gangs continued to infiltrate the local economy through extortion, racketeering and illegal taxation. For example, the deterioration of the security situation in the Martissant section of national road 2, the only route connecting the southern part of the country to the capital, has become so acute that many drivers transport their vehicles on ferries to circumvent the area. Gang members have begun demanding $100 from ferry owners for each vehicle transported. Not only does the current situation limit freedom of movement, it also directly impacts food security and access to goods in the capital and the country’s southern regions. 40. During the first five months of 2022, a total of 126 alleged gang members were killed during police operations, representing a significant increase compared with the number killed in the last quarter of 2021. That increase can be attributed to the greater number of anti-gang operations conducted by the national police. Between 31 January and 31 May, the General Inspectorate of the police began investigations into 50 cases of human rights violations linked to either an excessive use of force or extrajudicial executions by police officers. Those investigations are ongoing. In addition, the General Inspectorate finalized its investigation into six cases from 2021 and forwarded its recommendations to the acting Director-General of the police. In February and March, the United Nations and the Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs of the United States Department of State delivered eight training sessions to new General Inspectorate investigators on human rights investigation techniques in the context of police operations in gang-controlled areas. 41. No progress was made in the investigations into the La Saline (2018) and Bel- Air (2019) massacres and the assassination of Monferrier Dorval (2020), the former head of the Port-au-Prince Bar Association. The Haitian judicial system continues to be plagued by corruption, insufficient resources and a lack of political will, all of which have helped to bring judicial proceedings to a standstill. On 8 March, BINUH met with the public prosecutor of the Court of Cassation to review the La Saline file, progress on which has stalled pending the renewal of the appointments of investigative judges or the appointment of new judges. S/2022/481 22-08548 10/28 42. Prisons in Haiti remain overcrowded, unsanitary and underserviced. The lack of adequate food, water, sanitary facilities, essential medicines and medical equipment adversely affects the physical and mental health of prisoners. Food shortages are particularly concerning since most deaths in prisons are related to malnutrition; 54 such deaths were documented between January and April alone. In addition, security conditions are critical owing to limited resources and personnel. As a result, inmates in some prisons can remain locked in their cells for days. 43. The challenging situation in prisons has an even more pronounced impact on vulnerable groups, including incarcerated women and youth. Former inmates have confirmed allegations of sexual assault by prison officers against female prisoners in the women’s prison in Cabaret, resulting in several pregnancies. Some female prisoners are coerced into sexual activity with prison officers in exchange for certain privileges. Moreover, the state of basic service provision and the case backlog in the juvenile justice system is extremely alarming. It is estimated that more than 85 per cent of juveniles incarcerated in Haitian prisons have endured exceptionally long periods of pretrial detention. VI. Unemployment, youth and vulnerable groups (benchmark 5) 44. The economic situation in Haiti remains difficult. Real gross domestic product (GDP) contracted by 1.8 per cent in fiscal year 2021 and is expected to grow by a modest 0.3 per cent in 2022, provided additional investments are made and reforms are implemented. Fuelled by high monetary financing of the deficit and elevated international food and commodity prices, average inflation is projected at 26.1 per cent in 2022, although a partial lifting of fuel subsidies earlier in 2022 and decreased Government monetary financing resulted in a modest decrease in monthly inflation to 1.6 per cent in March 2022. In 2021, Government revenues decreased to around 5.9 per cent of GDP, forcing the authorities to cut spending to contain the fiscal deficit, which could amount to 1.5 per cent of GDP. The special drawing rights allocation from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) provided fiscal financing relief in 2021 and supported international reserves that stabilized at around $2.5 billion, equivalent to more than five months of projected imports. However, the gourde further depreciated against the United States dollar, losing an additional 9 per cent of its value over the past six months. 45. IMF staff are in discussions with the authorities on a possible 12-month staff- monitored programme. The proposed programme would serve as a framework to reduce inflation and increase growth, strengthen fiscal and monetary policy frameworks, continue addressing governance weaknesses and combat corruption. It would seek to launch a virtuous cycle to reduce Government fiscal dominance while making room for much-needed spending on health, education, social assistance, infrastructure and security. Advancing reforms is critical to reducing the already high levels of poverty that were exacerbated by a surge in gang-related violence during the past six months. 46. Regarding structural economic challenges, an insufficiently inclusive model of socioeconomic development has contributed to increasing economic inequalities and has undermined efforts towards sustainable development and consolidating peace in Haiti. To help build a more inclusive economic model that contributes to improved social cohesion and greater stability, the United Nations country team, under the leadership of the Deputy Special Representative of the Secretary-General, Resident Coordinator and Humanitarian Coordinator, and together with the Government, national and international donors, civil society and the private sector, initiated S/2022/481 11/28 22-08548 consultations to analyse the development financing ecosystem against the integrated national financing framework for sustainable development. 47. The United Nations country team continued to support efforts to increase the employability of women and vulnerable young people. In April 2022, UNDP launched a digital platform in Creole focused on the four main pillars of the entrepreneurial ecosystem: information, mentoring, financing and networking. The portal (www.boussole.ht) will serve as a platform for training and creating opportunities for young people who are interested in entering the job market and building entrepreneurial capacity. 48. The United Nations continued to support national institutions with regard to improving social protection, in particular the Government task force on the operationalization of the national policy for social protection and social progress under the leadership of the Ministry of Social Affairs and Labour. In its amended budget for 2021/22, the Government allocated $27.6 million to support the implementation of the national policy for social protection. With the assistance of the United Nations country team, the Government and civil society are jointly developing a national action plan on social protection. The plan incorporates six major themes: essential health-care packages; cash transfers to alleviate poverty; education; employment and reintegration; social care services; and institutional reforms. 49. Similarly, the United Nations country team continued to enhance the capacity of national institutions to implement integrated public policies aimed at addressing persistent development challenges. Under the overall coordination of the National Commission for Food Security, the country team supported the operationalization of the national policy for food sovereignty, food security and nutrition. In line with the policy, the Government of Haiti developed a road map for the transformation of food. In partnership with the National Coordinator for Food Security, the country team also supported the organization of a workshop on the financing and implementation of national public policies. These efforts contributed to greater coherence across humanitarian and development activities and their linkages to peace at a critical moment, following the classification of Haiti as a country of “very high concern” in the May 2022 report of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations and the World Food Programme on hunger hotspots, and more broadly to reduce the risks and vulnerabilities that fuel humanitarian crises and social inequalities. VII. Basic social service delivery and resilience (benchmark 6) 50. In 2022, the humanitarian community in Haiti is focused on supporting 2.5 million of the country’s most vulnerable people. Achieving this goal will require at least $372.6 million to effectively implement the humanitarian response plan in close coordination with national authorities and community-based organizations. However, the plan has received less than 30 per cent of the required funds to date. 51. Development deficits, the effects of extreme natural events and deteriorating security trends continue to fuel humanitarian needs in Haiti. The worsening situation led to an increase in the number of people in need of humanitarian assistance from 4.4 million in 2021 to 4.9 million in 2022, or 43 per cent of the total population. The earthquake that occurred on 14 August 2021, which affected 800,000 people, has been a principal driver of this increase in humanitarian needs, particularly with regard to shelter and access to essential services such as health and education. On food insecurity, recent projections indicate that, from March to June 2022, a total of 4.5 million people will need urgent food assistance, including 3.18 million in the crisis phase (Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) Phase 3) and 1.32 million people in the emergency phase (IPC Phase 4) of food insecurity. To S/2022/481 22-08548 12/28 alleviate food insecurity in the country, the United Nations country team has scaled up its emergency response to provide food assistance to 2 million people in 2022, up from 900,000 people in 2021. 52. The return of some 40,000 Haitian nationals and persons of Haitian descent from countries in the Americas region from September 2021 to March 2022 has exacerbated humanitarian challenges. The returnees, some of whom have never resided in Haiti, may be at risk of further internal or external displacement and of exploitation and violence owing to extreme vulnerability. Their reintegration during the current fragile climate will require considerable efforts, beyond humanitarian assistance, to strengthen social cohesion and the resilience and absorption capacity of host communities. 53. Gang violence limits access to sexual and reproductive health and gender-based violence prevention and control services. To address this, the Ministry of Public Health and Population and the Ministry of Women’s Affairs and Rights have deployed mobile clinics. In support, UNFPA provided expertise in implementing integrated sexual and reproductive health and gender-based violence services in Aquin (South Department). In March 2022, awareness-raising messages on gender-based violence and reproductive health reached 493 people, 62 per cent of whom were women. 54. Natural disasters, instability in governance, gang violence and deteriorating socioeconomic conditions – including food insecurity and malnutrition – all contribute to the worsening of the humanitarian situation in Haiti. Moving away from emergency aid towards longer-term sustainable development and stability remains a priority for the United Nations in the country, with the aim of reducing vulnerabilities and multidimensional risks while strengthening community resilience. 55. To that end, State authorities and technical and financial partners, including the United Nations country team, undertook a series of efforts during the reporting period to strengthen the resilience of the Haitian population to multidimensional risks. Activities focused on improving risk awareness, strengthening prevention, enhancing coordination mechanisms and bolstering disaster responses. As an example, the Ministry of Education and Vocational Training, in agreement with the General Directorate of Civil Protection, approved the incorporation of disaster risk management issues into school curricula as a way of promoting a risk-aware culture among the population. In addition, the General Directorate of Civil Protection is currently revising national emergency plans and conducting training exercises in different areas of the country to test the population’s reaction time in the event of a disaster. 56. Natural events such as flash floods (notably in the North-West Department in March) and droughts continued to undermine local livelihoods and community access to basic needs. Furthermore, deforestation in Haiti has accelerated following the 14 August 2021 earthquake, a trend observed after each major crisis in the past 20 years. To help build greater resilience to shocks, a joint project between the World Food Programme and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) in the Artibonite Department will explore nature-based solutions that consider environmental risks in community resilience efforts. Another multi-agency collaboration will assess the impact of climate disruptions on security and migration in Haiti. In the southern peninsula, the national agency for protected areas completed and launched, with UNEP support, management plans for three critical marine areas in La Cahouane, Port Salut- Point l’Abacou and Île à Vache. Plans involve the joint development of ecosystem restoration and livelihood efforts with local communities to build resilience. 57. Recovery efforts continue in the southern peninsula of Haiti following the 14 August 2021 earthquake. In line with the post-disaster needs assessment for the southern peninsula of Haiti validated at the end of 2021, communal recovery plans are being developed for the nine municipalities most affected by the disaster. In S/2022/481 13/28 22-08548 addition, national authorities held a feedback workshop on the management of earthquake emergency response to identify lessons to improve the management of future disasters. 58. As part of the post-earthquake reconstruction process, the Government of Haiti, in close collaboration with the United Nations under the leadership of the Deputy Secretary-General, organized the International Event for the Financing of the Reconstruction of the Southern Peninsula of Haiti in February 2022. This event helped collect $600 million in pledges from numerous Member States as well as international financial institutions. In addition, the Government of Haiti announced it will allocate $100 million to the reconstruction over the next four years. To better channel funding to the reconstruction and recovery of the southern peninsula, the Government of Haiti also requested that the United Nations establish a multi-partner trust fund. To date, $17.4 million has been pledged to this fund. Meanwhile, to address identified financial gaps, an aid effectiveness committee met on 2 June to coordinate pledges, trust fund projects and development partner actions to ensure a smooth response based on lessons learned from disaster responses in 2010 and 2016. 59. No laboratory-confirmed case of cholera has been reported in Haiti for more than three years. This major milestone was made possible thanks to the leadership of national authorities, including the Ministry of Public Health and Population and the water authority of Haiti, as well as the dedication of front-line workers throughout the country and the support of international partners. The steadfast efforts of its people have brought Haiti to the brink of becoming the first country in modern history to eliminate the transmission of cholera following a large-scale outbreak. The official declaration of the elimination of cholera is a technical process guided by the Global Task Force on Cholera Control of the World Health Organization. The Haitian authorities, with the support of the United Nations, will work with the Global Task Force to review data, revisit contingency plans, document lessons learned and ensure the efficacy and robustness of epidemiological surveillance systems. 60. More than two years after the start of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, Haiti has experienced five waves of COVID-19, the last three having coincided with the emergence of different variants of the virus. As at 6 June, 30,892 cases of COVID-19 and 835 deaths have been reported, while the current rates of incidence and hospitalization remain very low. Vaccination efforts continue with ample quantities of vaccines available in the country. Nevertheless, absorption rates among the population remain low owing to operational constraints and vaccine hesitancy. Currently, there are 148 active vaccination sites in Haiti; however, as at 29 May, only 1.8 per cent of the eligible population was fully vaccinated. VIII. Assessment by the Secretary-General of the mandate of the United Nations Integrated Office in Haiti 61. At the request of the Security Council, an assessment of the mandate of BINUH was conducted under the leadership of an independent expert, Mourad Wahba, who provided recommendations on the mandate of the mission, as well as on the structure of the United Nations configuration in Haiti and the resources allocated to deliver on the mandate. On 29 April, I conveyed by letter to the President of the Security Council (S/2022/369) the findings of the assessment to the Council for its consideration. The findings concluded that Haiti was undergoing one of the most difficult periods in its history. Root causes of instability in Haiti required political solutions above all, and a United Nations special political mission remained the most appropriate and effective structure to address the core challenges in Haiti. Accordingly, the assessment indicated that a United Nations political mission remained necessary and that BINUH S/2022/481 22-08548 14/28 should be empowered to carry on its good offices and address the root causes of instability, which are inherently political; scale up support to the police to curb armed gang violence; and enhance its outreach to all sectors of society, including communities living in areas controlled by gangs. IX. Sexual exploitation and abuse 62. During the period from 1 February to 31 May 2022, BINUH registered no new allegations of sexual exploitation and abuse involving personnel from past or present missions. 63. Under the guidance of the Deputy Special Representative, Resident Coordinator and Humanitarian Coordinator, United Nations agencies, funds and programmes continued to implement system-wide initiatives to protect against sexual exploitation and abuse, including by finalizing referral pathways for victims and developing a toll- free One UN telephone hotline that United Nations personnel and the public could call to report allegations of sexual exploitation and abuse. 64. The Senior Victims’ Rights Officer continued to support UNDP in the implementation of the assistance programme for mothers and their children born of sexual exploitation and abuse by MINUSTAH personnel. The Officer also continued to support IOM in addressing the lifesaving needs of mothers and their children arising from the insecurity caused by growing gang activity in urban areas of Haiti. 65. The Senior Victims’ Rights Officer also supported the efforts of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General and the Victims’ Rights Advocate to advocate with Member States and within the United Nations in order to expedite the resolution of pending paternity and child support claims relating to MINUSTAH personnel. In addition, the United Nations is seeking to better understand and respond to the needs of children born of sexual abuse and exploitation. Following requests by three children, and with the cooperation of the concerned Member State, BINUH facilitated videoconferences among the mothers, children and fathers. X. Observations 66. Nearly a year after the shocking assassination of President Moïse, and two and a half years since the dissolution of Parliament, political deadlock continues to block progress with regard to the holding of elections and transitioning from a caretaker Government and inoperative legislative and judicial branches, thus preventing the restoration of fully functioning institutions and governance. Amid the current political stalemate, and given the lapses in the regular work of the electoral management body, the holding of elections by the end of 2022 seems unlikely. 67. Amid a rapidly deteriorating security situation, a stagnating economy and ever- worsening humanitarian conditions, it is urgent for all national stakeholders to set aside personal and partisan interests and overcome the political stalemate. They must rise to the challenge of collectively and responsibly taking the helm of a political process that is able to chart a way out of the crisis. 68. The atrocities and crimes at the hands of gangs documented in the western and northern areas of Port-au-Prince in April and May are a stark illustration of both the insecurity that has been affecting the capital for some time and the severe impact on the local population. As targeted abductions continue unabated, indiscriminately affecting all social groups, young boys are coerced into joining gangs while women and girls fall victim to sexual violence employed to terrorize and instil fear. I call on the authorities to take meaningful actions to bring the perpetrators of these heinous S/2022/481 15/28 22-08548 abuses to justice and to support medical and psychosocial services to provide redress to survivors. 69. The recent inter-gang fighting highlights once more the significant challenges facing the Haitian National Police. BINUH will continue to work with the police to help it address the operational, logistical, hierarchical and political challenges that hinder its capacity to restore public order, disrupt gang activity and reduce urban violence. I call on Member States to contribute to the recently launched multi-donor basket fund, which complements existing bilateral programmes, as a vehicle to continue the durable development of the police as an accountable and professional institution through targeted activities while strengthening its capacities to fight criminality and armed gangs. 70. The Government’s formal request for UNODC to promptly begin work in Haiti is a sign of its commitment to tackling corruption and stemming the entry and transit of illicit goods through the country. To ensure that the Office’s Container Control Programme and other border management programmes are deployed in the coming months, the basket fund for police reform also offers donors an opportunity to support the establishment of UNODC in Haiti, as would direct bilateral contributions to the Office. 71. In an environment rife with impunity and corruption, the paralysis of the justice sector, including the prison administration, is devastating. It is essential that all of the country’s courts resume their proper functioning, not only to advance the investigation and adjudication of the myriad of pending cases, but also to accelerate ongoing efforts to address the perennial problem of pretrial detention. While I am encouraged by the resumption of the work of the penal chain committees in several jurisdictions, it is crucial that the new penal code and the code of criminal procedure gain acceptance and enter into force as quickly as possible. Furthermore, I urge the Government to take the necessary measures to find a long-lasting solution to the prison food, water and medicine crisis. 72. The deteriorating security situation in Haiti has also led to a significant reduction in humanitarian access and a curtailing of access to essential services for a large part of the Haitian population. As a result, post-earthquake reconstruction efforts are being hampered, food insecurity and acute malnutrition rates may reach unprecedented emergency levels, population displacement is more frequent and extensive and the implementation of projects to assist vulnerable populations is becoming increasingly complicated and costly. 73. Humanitarian needs have also been exacerbated by the contraction of the Haitian economy for three consecutive years, in the wake of multiple shocks. The authorities are focusing on restoring economic stability, improving the impact of public spending and reducing central bank financing to help lower inflation. A possible agreement on an IMF staff-monitored programme could provide important support for Government efforts and help initiate a virtuous circle that could attract more official external financing, increase investment, restore growth and begin to reduce poverty. 74. The United Nations remains steadfast in its provision of support to national authorities as they seek to operationalize public policies benefiting the most vulnerable, such as the national policy for social protection and promotion, which aims at reducing economic, social and institutional inequalities; the national policy for food sovereignty, food security and nutrition; and the national plan for disaster risk reduction. 75. Continuity and focus with regard to the core mandated areas of BINUH are essential. As the assessment of its mandate indicated, the mission needs adequate S/2022/481 22-08548 16/28 resources to be fit for purpose in a difficult context and to be responsive to the growing challenges, in particular in exercising its good offices and scaling up its advisory support for national police efforts against gang violence. 76. The national police will need sustained long-term support and commitment from the international community to achieve transformational change in the security sector. This crucial shift is needed to restore State authority in the capital and beyond and to ensure that the national police functions optimally as an accountable institution nationwide. The scaling up of BINUH police advisory capacity aims at strengthening national police capabilities in a cost-effective manner. The provision of additional specialized capacities to the national police to help it address issues of transnational crime and trafficking, particularly with regard to firearms and drugs, will serve in effectively fighting criminality and gangs throughout the Haitian territory. It will be critical for the national police to both improve its vetting capacity and to strengthen its General Inspectorate in order to ensure an apolitical, ethical national police, one able to maintain the highest standards of policing. I recommend an increase in the ceiling of authorized police advisers from 30 to 42, to be complemented by the temporary deployment of experts capable of providing a superior level of policing expertise, as the circumstances warrant. 77. Drawing on the findings of the assessment, I also recommend mandating BINUH to work with UNODC and international partners to support Haitian authorities in combating growing illicit financial flows, which enable gangs to operate, undermine State authority and revenue collection, and pose a growing threat to stability. 78. Lastly, as indicated in my letter of 29 April 2022 (S/2022/369), plans are under way to establish three new joint BINUH-United Nations country team units on information and analysis; planning, monitoring and evaluation; and security. These joint units will improve the collective impact of the United Nations through enhanced mobility, situational awareness and staff security while also bringing efficiencies through joint staffing and resourcing. 79. In this context, I recommend a 12-month extension of the mandate of BINUH. S/2022/481 17/28 22-08548 Annex Benchmark indicators, targets and baselines Symbol Equivalent Symbol Equivalent On track to achieve target by the timeline (5 targets, 14 per cent) Challenges expected to achieve target by the timeline but with a descending trend (8 targets, 22 per cent) Challenges expected to achieve target by the timeline but with a positive trend (11 targets, 31 per cent) No progress/not on track to achieve target by timeline (5 targets, 14 per cent) Challenges expected to achieve target by the timeline but with a stagnating trend (3 targets, 8 per cent) No update on progress was expected during the reporting period (4 targets, 11 per cent) Benchmark Target Target timeline Baseline as at December 2019 (if not otherwise specified) Update as at 1 April 2022 (or as otherwise specified) Trend 1. National political and socioeconomic actors, including civil society, are engaged in inclusive cooperation and consensus- building, resulting in improved functioning of State institutions and good governance. 1.1.1. Political dialogue leads to consensus regarding required reforms and next steps, including adequate female representation. Original: December 2020 Adjusted: December 2022 Political actors currently converge over the need for structural reforms but lack consensus on transitional arrangements; no comprehensive dialogue process is taking place. Political actors continue dialogue efforts towards finding solutions to overcome the political crisis, but a sufficiently broad consensus has not yet been reached. 1.2.1. Established transitional arrangements and road map. N/A The Government remains in an acting capacity; the mandate of the Lower House and part of the Senate expired on 13 January 2020, while parliamentary elections slated for October 2019 have been postponed. The Government led by Prime Minister Ariel Henry has continued to work towards fostering dialogue by engaging with political groups, trade unions, business sector associations and civil society actors. This includes recent discussions with representatives of the Montana Group in order to seek a compromise on a way forward. 1.2.2. Adoption of a new Constitution for Haiti. N/A The 1987 Constitution remains in effect. Political conditions have not allowed for progress in recent constitutional reform initiatives. While there is consensus on the need to reform the Constitution, an agreement on how the process should be conducted has not yet been reached. The Government continues efforts to achieve a broad consensus on how to implement constitutional reform. S/2022/481 22-08548 18/28 Benchmark Target Target timeline Baseline as at December 2019 (if not otherwise specified) Update as at 1 April 2022 (or as otherwise specified) Trend 1.3.1. Adoption of a new electoral legal framework that preserves existing provisions relating to women’s representation. December 2020 The draft electoral law of November 2018 is pending in Parliament, amid plans for a new draft to be developed. Despite the Government’s efforts to create the conditions to hold overdue elections, the calendar remains unclear, while the establishment of a new electoral council and the adoption of a framework regulating elections remain pending. 1.4.1. Government investment as a percentage of total expenses increases by 5 per cent from 3.72 per cent in 2018–2019 to 3.91 per cent for 2019/20, adjusted for inflation. October 2020 Government investment was 3.72 per cent of total expenses in 2018/19. Government investment dropped to 3.67 per cent of total expenses for the period from October 2021 to January 2022. 2. State institutions, local authorities, community- based civil society, youth and women’s organizations are engaged in consultation, cooperation, decision- making processes and programmes that reduce community violence, in particular associated with gangs and sexual and gender-based crimes. 2.1.1. Adoption and implementation of the national disarmament, demobilization and reintegration strategy. Levels: (1) national disarmament, demobilization and reintegration strategy is drafted; (2) national disarmament, demobilization and reintegration strategy is adopted; (3) national strategy is implemented. Strategy drafted and adopted by December 2020, and implementation commences in January 2021. A national strategy is currently being drafted by the National Disarmament, Demobilization and Reintegration Commission with support from BINUH. The national disarmament, demobilization and reintegration strategy was formally adopted on 5 July 2021. Despite the political challenges in the wake of the assassination of the President, the work of the interministerial task force resumed at a technical level, thanks to the mission’s good offices and convening role. The task force is currently working on the drafting of the national programme together with BINUH, United Nations agencies and other international partners. 2.2.1. Number of community violence reduction and disarmament, demobilization and reintegration community-based projects and interventions coordinated through December 2020 None. A March 2022 midterm evaluation of the inter-agency programme involving UNDP, UNOPS, UNFPA and BINUH highlighted major challenges in implementation. A key factor has been an increase in conflict in targeted S/2022/481 19/28 22-08548 Benchmark Target Target timeline Baseline as at December 2019 (if not otherwise specified) Update as at 1 April 2022 (or as otherwise specified) Trend the National Disarmament, Demobilization and Reintegration Commission. neighbourhoods, which has significantly affected the ability of United Nations entities and their local partners to operate. Despite this challenging context, some progress has been made, including the implementation of labour- intensive public utility works in 12 communities, generating a total of 1,905 jobs (higher than the initial target of 1,641), and reaching 36.2 per cent of women (higher than the initial target of 30 per cent). In addition, vocational training activities targeting youth and women are also ongoing, and 156 additional participants (56 per cent of them women) have been selected to take part in coaching on entrepreneurship. 2.3.1. Adopt and implement relevant laws and implementing frameworks on weapons and ammunition management. Levels: (1) redrafting of law on ammunition and weapons management; (2) establishment of a national baseline on small arms and light weapons; (3) adoption of law on ammunition and weapons management. December 2021 A draft weapons and ammunition management law passed the Senate, but requires further revision before it can be adopted. Following the change of government in July 2021, a further review of the draft law on weapons and ammunition is ongoing with the assistance of the United Nations Regional Centre for Peace, Disarmament and Development in Latin America and the Caribbean, UNDP, BINUH and the Government. Of a total of 17 chapters, 6 have been reviewed so far. In addition, the Office for Disarmament Affairs and the Department of Peace Operations have partnered with the Regional Centre to undertake the baseline assessment study on small arms and light weapons, which is currently ongoing. S/2022/481 22-08548 20/28 Benchmark Target Target timeline Baseline as at December 2019 (if not otherwise specified) Update as at 1 April 2022 (or as otherwise specified) Trend 2.4.1. A percentage of the State budget is allocated for comprehensive care and protection of victims of violence through gender- responsive budgeting. December 2021 No specific budget has been allocated to the implementation of the gender-based violence national action plan. Implementation of the gender-based violence national action plan has still not received any specific budget allocation. However, progress has been made in other aspects of gender-responsive budgeting. 30 technical managers from 5 ministries and institutions, including the Ministry of Planning and External Cooperation, the Ministry of Justice and Public Security, the Haitian National Police, the General Directorate of Civil Protection and the Office of the National Human Rights Ombudsperson, received training in the principles of gender-responsive budgeting and the integration of violence against women and girls concepts into finance laws. Individuals were also provided a methodological guide and coaching support to help them develop gender-sensitive budget proposals, including allocating funding for preventing and responding to violence against women and girls. A second group of sectoral ministries and State institutions will benefit from this capacity- building in June 2022. 2.4.2. Proposed new legal framework for gender-based violence is adopted and implemented, including the provision for ensuring State funding for Original: December 2021 Adjusted: June 2022 The Senate adopted several articles of the proposed new legal framework on violence against women and girls. To support the proposed new legal framework for gender-based violence, United Nations partners are providing technical assistance to Government counterparts to help evaluate the framework against and develop new S/2022/481 21/28 22-08548 Benchmark Target Target timeline Baseline as at December 2019 (if not otherwise specified) Update as at 1 April 2022 (or as otherwise specified) Trend prevention and response to gender- based violence. policies in line with international standards for the elimination of domestic violence and protection of marginalized groups. 30 senior managers from 6 key ministries have been trained, in addition to more than a dozen municipal administrative managers. Initiated in 2021, this work is planned to continue through June 2022. 2.4.3. Spotlight programme is launched and implemented. June 2020 Spotlight programme was approved on 17 December 2019. Phase 1 of the Spotlight programme is currently being implemented. Among other significant results, the Spotlight programme has contributed to strengthening the capacity to provide quality legal aid services of 20 women’s rights organizations and legal aid service providers to survivors of violence against women and girls. In addition, a guide on good practices in legal assistance to women and girl victims of gender-based violence in Haiti has been produced for use by women’s organizations, while an information campaign on the legal aid system in Haiti has reached 3,550 people, more than 60 per cent of whom are women and girls. 2.5.1. A 5 per cent reduction of area- based crime in zones with decreased presence of State authorities and identified hot spots, including Cité Soleil, Martissant, La Saline, Croix des December 2020 December 2019: Cité Soleil 9 incidents Martissant 10 incidents La Saline 3 incidents BINUH no longer has the capacity to monitor this indicator. S/2022/481 22-08548 22/28 Benchmark Target Target timeline Baseline as at December 2019 (if not otherwise specified) Update as at 1 April 2022 (or as otherwise specified) Trend Bouquets and Bel- Air as pilot areas. Target: Cité Soleil 8.55 incidents per month Martissant 9.5 incidents per month La Saline 2.85 incidents per month Croix des Bouquets 22.8 incidents per month Bel-Air 3.8 incidents per month Croix des Bouquets 24 incidents Bel-Air 4 incidents 3. The national police, corrections services, justice and anti-corruption institutions operate under improved legal and management frameworks, as well as oversight mechanisms. 3.1.1. At least 7 per cent of the national budget is allocated to the national police each fiscal year. December 2020 6.6 per cent of the national budget is allocated to the national police, which has been the same since 2017. The Government has allocated 7.92 per cent of the national budget to the Haitian National Police for the 2021/22 fiscal year, compared with 7.7 per cent for the 2020/21 fiscal year, according to the budgetary decree published on 16 May 2022. 3.2.1. A functional departmental office of the General Inspectorate of the Haitian National Police is established in Cap-Haïtien. December 2020 The departmental office of the General Inspectorate of the Haitian National Police is not yet functioning. The departmental office of the General Inspectorate of the Haitian National Police in Cap-Haïtien was inaugurated on 30 November 2020 and opened in December 2020. Between December 2020 and December 2021, 99 cases were opened and 15 were closed and sent to the Central Inspectorate office in Port-au-Prince. Cases relating to 4 police officers were transferred to prosecutors for indictment. S/2022/481 23/28 22-08548 Benchmark Target Target timeline Baseline as at December 2019 (if not otherwise specified) Update as at 1 April 2022 (or as otherwise specified) Trend 3.2.2. Adoption of a new national anti-corruption strategy. December 2021 2009–2019 national anti-corruption strategy came to an end; no new national anti-corruption strategy has been developed. The Government that took office on 20 July 2021 has not yet communicated its intention to adopt a new national anti-corruption strategy. 3.3.1. Increase the ratio of the police to the population to 1.40 per 1,000 inhabitants. December 2021 1.33 per 1,000 habitants. As at 30 April 2022, the national police had a workforce of 15,459 officers, some 12,800 of whom are actually active. As a result, the ratio is currently 1.28 police officers per 1,000 inhabitants, while the ratio for active officers is only 1.06. 3.3.2. Increase the percentage of women police officers to 11 per cent. December 2021 10.5 per cent of Haitian National Police officers are women. As at 30 April 2022, female representation in the police workforce was 11.06 per cent (1,711 women out of a total workforce of 15,459 officers). 3.3.3. Legal aid offices established and functioning in 13 jurisdictions. December 2021 No legal aid offices have yet been established under the new legal aid law. 1 additional legal aid office was established in Port-au-Prince in March 2022, bringing the total number of functioning legal aid offices to 8. 3.4.1. 6 prisons certified in accordance with international standards. December 2021 4 prisons were certified as of July 2019. 8 additional prisons were visited between September 2021 and April 2022. However, the prisons did not meet the criteria for certification in line with international standards. 3.5. By 2020, 70 per cent or less of detainees in pretrial detention (disaggregated by gender and age). December 2020 1 January– 31 December 2019: 75 per cent of detainees in pretrial detention. As at 19 May 2022, 82.55 per cent of detainees were unsentenced (9,399 out of 11,386 prisoners), with a cell occupancy rate of 284.2 per cent. These figures included 404 women, 241 boys and 18 girls. S/2022/481 22-08548 24/28 Benchmark Target Target timeline Baseline as at December 2019 (if not otherwise specified) Update as at 1 April 2022 (or as otherwise specified) Trend 4. State institutions, in collaboration with an independent national human rights institution (Office of the National Human Rights Ombudsperson) and civil society organizations, protect, promote and ensure respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms, women’s rights and gender equality, and uphold accountability for human rights violations. 4.1.1. National plan of action for the implementation of recommendations accepted by the Government, in particular of the Human Rights Council universal periodic review, adopted and 50 per cent of recommendations progressively implemented by the Government, including on gender issues. December 2021 The 2019–2021 action plan, which is intended to implement recommendations issued in the 2016 universal periodic review of Haiti, awaits endorsement by the executive. The national plan of action for the implementation of human rights recommendations, which includes recommendations from the 2016 universal periodic review, has been adopted but not yet approved by the Haitian Government, despite the support provided by BINUH. 4.2.1. The national strategy 2019–2024 of the Office of the National Human Rights Ombudsperson is progressively implemented, including the integration of gender-sensitive perspectives. December 2021 No action yet taken to implement the strategy. The 2021–2022 national strategy of the Office of the National Human Rights Ombudsperson is 40 per cent implemented, including the implementation of objectives relating to the incorporation of gender- sensitive perspectives. 4.3.1. Number of cases of serious human rights violations or abuses trialed. December 2021 Under MINUJUSTH, an estimated 77 per cent of cases were investigated, and 12 per cent were prosecuted. Of the 12 per cent of cases being prosecuted, all cases are still at trial, so no judicial decision has yet been taken. From August 2021 to March 2022, the mission reported 71 cases of human rights violations committed by police officers. All investigations are still ongoing by the General Inspectorate of the Haitian National Police. However, the Inspectorate has completed investigations into only 11 cases. 6 cases have been transferred to prosecutors’ offices. 4.4.1. Ten reports published by Haitian civil society organizations monitoring human rights, including on gender issues. December 2021 During the two-year mandate of MINUJUSTH, a total of 47 reports were published by civil society organizations. 26 reports have been published by Haitian civil society organizations monitoring human rights, including on gender issues. S/2022/481 25/28 22-08548 Benchmark Target Target timeline Baseline as at December 2019 (if not otherwise specified) Update as at 1 April 2022 (or as otherwise specified) Trend 5. State institutions, local authorities and the private sector provide access to youth, women and vulnerable groups to decent employment opportunities, including jobs, education and training, contributing to reduce socioeconomic grievances and address drivers of instability and inequality. 5.1.1. The textile industry employs 63,000 people. December 2021 The textile industry currently employs 54,000 people. As of March 2022, the textile industry employed 56,410 people. 5.2.1. At least two measures are adopted by national and local authorities to encourage integration of women in high value chains in sustainable agriculture. December 2021 0 measures The Central Bank (Bank of the Republic of Haiti) launched a guarantee fund for women entrepreneurs on 3 February 2022 to improve access to financing for women who wish to develop businesses, including in sustainable agriculture. Furthering women’s access to credit will contribute to reducing their vulnerability and supporting investment in women’s skills and education. 5.3.1. Haitian authorities conceive and implement a programme of economic and fiscal reforms, in collaboration with relevant international financial institutions. December 2021 The lack of a Government ratified by Parliament means that Haiti is currently unable to commit to economic reforms. International Monetary Fund staff are in discussions with the authorities on a possible 12-month staff-monitored programme. The proposed programme would help build capacity, support efforts to reduce inflation and increase growth, strengthen fiscal and monetary policy frameworks, continue addressing governance weaknesses and combat corruption. It would seek to launch a virtuous cycle to reduce fiscal dominance while making room for much-needed spending on health, education, social assistance, infrastructure and security. Advancing programme reforms is critical to reducing already high levels of poverty that were exacerbated by a surge in gang-related violence during the past 6 months. S/2022/481 22-08548 26/28 Benchmark Target Target timeline Baseline as at December 2019 (if not otherwise specified) Update as at 1 April 2022 (or as otherwise specified) Trend 6. State institutions are reinforced to effectively implement policies and programmes that ensure the delivery of quality basic services in the most underserved communities and increase their resilience to climate- related threats, including through disaster management and risk mitigation. 6.1.1. Conduct of the fifth Population and Housing Census of Haiti, including a second phase dedicated to promoting a culture of use of statistical data and strengthening of the national statistical system. December 2021 All preparatory activities prior to the main census enumeration, including mapping, a pilot census and procurement of equipment, have been completed. The preparatory phase has been completed for the census, leaving only the enumeration phase, which requires a minimum of 3 months in a secure and peaceful environment to carry out. As a result of insecurity-related delays to the start of the enumeration phase, some completed census preparations may need to be revisited and adjusted once enumeration is permitted. 6.2.1. Increase the proportion of the population using an improved water source to 79 per cent. July 2023 a 73.4 per cent of the population currently uses an improved water source. No change as at 10 August 2020. 6.2.2. 15 per cent of the population in rural areas and 2 per cent of the population in urban areas practise free open defecation. July 2023 a Rural: 36 per cent Urban: 10 per cent No change as at 10 August 2020. 6.3.1. 30 per cent of the population facing severe acute food insecurity (IPC Phase 3+/acute). December 2021 35 per cent of the population currently facing severe acute food insecurity (IPC Phase 3+/acute). 45 per cent of the population is currently facing severe acute food insecurity (IPC Phase 3+/acute). 6.4.1. 397 maternal deaths per 100,000 living births. July 2023 a 529 per 100,000 living births, as stated in the 2017 Demographic and Health Survey. No change as at 10 August 2020. 6.4.2. Under-5 mortality rate is less than 81 per 1,000 living births. July 2023 a 81 per 1,000 living births as stated in the 2017 Demographic and Health Survey. No change as at 10 August 2020. 6.5.1. 11 operational emergency centres (1 national, 10 departmental). December 2021 11 centres established, but 0 centres possess an improved capacity to coordinate disaster response (defined as During the last 2 quarters of 2021, the 10 operational emergency centres at the departmental level received photovoltaic solar energy systems and gender- S/2022/481 27/28 22-08548 Benchmark Target Target timeline Baseline as at December 2019 (if not otherwise specified) Update as at 1 April 2022 (or as otherwise specified) Trend having received management training and implemented key equipment and tools, including a standard contingency plan and consolidated operating manual). specific first aid kits for emergency management. 4 centres, including the national-level centre, received coordination, communication and intervention materials to carry out rescue operations when required. 3 departmental centres in the southern peninsula and the national-level centre received significant logistical support following the earthquake of 14 August 2021 to enable them to better manage emergency responses. To further strengthen the policy foundation for emergency response, the operating manual for the Permanent Secretariat for Disaster Risk Management was revised and is being prepared for final validation. In addition, preparations are taking place to hold 3 simulation exercises at the national level, which should help revise protocols, procedures and national response plans for the management of major hazards, including earthquakes, tsunamis, floods and land movements. 6.6.1. Track 1: Incidence rate of suspected cholera cases less than 0.01 per 1,000 inhabitants (target of national elimination plan for 2022) Original: December 2022 Adjusted: February 2022 3 years without cases. 0.06 per 1,000 inhabitants. For more than 3 consecutive years, no laboratory-confirmed cases of cholera have been reported anywhere in Haiti. Declaring the elimination of transmission of cholera, however, is a technical process that is guided by the Global Task Force on Cholera Control, which is based in Geneva and is embedded within the World Health Organization. Over S/2022/481 22-08548 28/28 Benchmark Target Target timeline Baseline as at December 2019 (if not otherwise specified) Update as at 1 April 2022 (or as otherwise specified) Trend the coming weeks and months, the Haitian authorities, with the support of the United Nations, will work with the Global Task Force to review data, revisit contingency plans, document lessons learned and ensure the efficacy and robustness of epidemiological surveillance systems. 6.6.2. Track 2: 20 community projects implemented in cholera-affected areas. December 2020 5 projects were completed in 2019 under a pilot initiative. Of the 20 community projects planned as part of a project expansion, 18 communities have completed consultations to identify projects, while 2 communities have not yet started the consultative process. During the last 2 quarters of 2021, a total of 37 community consultations were carried out in the 5 areas of implementation. 5 community platforms were created to facilitate the implementation of the selected 41 potential microprojects identified by the communities. 7 agreement processes are under way for the implementation of microprojects focusing on basic social services, including education, electricity and drinking water. Abbreviations: BINUH, United Nations Integrated Office in Haiti; IPC, Integrated Food Security Phase Classification; MINUJUSTH, United Nations Mission for Justice Support in Haiti; N/A, not applicable; UNDP, United Nations Development Programme; UNFPA, United Nations Population Fund; UNOPS, United Nations Office for Project Services. a Note that this target is based on the national mortality, morbidity and service utilization survey statistical tool, which is released every five years. Intermediate updates will be provided based on other sources.