(2016-03) MINUSTAH - Report of the Secretary-General on the United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti (S/2016/225)

S/2016/225 United Nations Security Council Distr.: General 8 March 2016 Original: English Report of the Secretary-General on the United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti I. Introduction 1. By its resolution 2243 (2015), the Security Council extended the mandate of the United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH) until 15 October 2016 and requested that I report on its implementation semi -annually and not later than 45 days before its expiration. The present report covers major developments since the issuance of my report of 31 August 2015 (S/2015/667) up to 1 March 2016 and outlines activities undertaken by the Mission in line with its mandate under the relevant Council resolutions, most recently 2243 (2015). An update on the consolidation plan of the Mission is provided in annex I to the present report. II. Political developments 2. The reporting period was dominated by the political uncertainty generated by the holding of general elections for the Presidency, 20 Senate and 119 Lower House seats, 140 municipal administrations and 570 municipal district councils and assemblies. Following the first round of legislative election s on 9 August, the first round of presidential, second round of legislative and single round of municipal elections were conducted on 25 October. However, the third round vote scheduled for 27 December was postponed repeatedly and is still pending. 3. In preparation for the election of 25 October, the Provisional Electoral Council implemented a series of corrective measures aimed at addressing lessons learned from the vote on 9 August. In addition to technical measures, the Provisional Electoral Council decided to disqualify candidates alleged to have been involved in violence and disruption, and organized reruns in all constituencies where less than 70 per cent of tally sheets had been recovered. On 28 September, the Provisional Electoral Council announced the postponement of local elections from the second round of 25 October to the last electoral round. 4. On 25 October, the elections were held in a generally calm environment, with a reported 26.6 per cent voter turnout and minor incidents. A total of 52 presidential, 196 legislative and over 7,000 municipal candidates ran in the elections. In addition to the deployment of 43,297 accredited national observers, 917,068 accreditation cards were issued to party poll watchers to observe activities in the coun try’s 13,725 polling stations. Fourteen of 20 senators and 92 of the 119 Lower House 16-03381 (E) 090316 *1603381* S/2016/225 members were sworn in. The international observation missions, including the European Union and the Organization of American States, noted significant technical improvements compared with the first round. Nevertheless, allegations of widespread fraud began to emerge shortly after the vote. Subsequent allegations against electoral officials led to requests by opposition candidates and national observer groups for a verification of the vote. 5. In response to a petition from a group of opposition presidential candidates, on 2 November, the Provisional Electoral Council announced the appointment of a special commission to review 162 complaints in respect of the 25 October vote. The special commission found 116 complaints to be non-receivable and processed the remaining 43, delaying the publication of the preliminary results to 5 November. 6. The final results of the first round of the President ial elections ranked Jovenel Moïse (Parti Haïtien Tèt Kale) in first place with 511,992 votes (32.81 per cent), followed by Jude Célestin (Ligue Alternative pour le Progrès et l ’Emancipation Haïtienne) with 394,390 votes (25.27 per cent). Third -placed Jean-Charles Moïse (Pitit Dessalines) received 222,646 votes (14.27 per cent), with Maryse Narcisse (Fanmi Lavalas) ranking fourth with 110,049 votes (7.05 per cent). 7. Notwithstanding continued vocal protests by the group of eight opposition presidential candidates, including Jude Célestin, only two candidates filed challenges. The ensuing adjudication process revealed some irregularities, resulting in the recommendation to discard 26 tally sheets as well as the removal of the votes for the highest-scoring candidates from the remaining 52 tally sheets. 8. The final results were published on 24 November, confirming the second round run-off between the two highest-ranked candidates. On 29 November, the group of eight opposition candidates issued a press release stating that free, transparent and democratic elections could not be organized under President Martelly and prompting a boycott of the second round by the Célestin campaign. At that point, objections to the electoral process had progressively grown to in clude not only all of the opposition, but also important segments of society. 9. On 22 December, President Martelly established an Independent Electoral Evaluation Commission tasked with reviewing the presidential election process. The Commission’s report, submitted on 3 January 2016, set out recommendations and noted that the 25 October polls were marred by irregularities benefitting several candidates. It was also concluded in the report that the Provisional Electoral Council had lost its credibility. The technical recommendations, which were subsequently implemented by the Provisional Electoral Council, included measures to improve transparency. In the meantime, on 21 December, the Provisional Electoral Council postponed the third electoral round of 27 December. A new electoral date was eventually set for 24 January 2016. 10. The final legislative results were announced on 18 December 2015. More than 18 political parties won seats in Parliament. While the party of outgoing President Martelly, the Parti Haïtien Tèt Kale, won the largest numbers of seats, it fell far short of securing a majority in either chamber. Vérité, the political party of former President René Garcia Préval, also fared well, winning a substantial number of seats in both chambers. No women were elected to either chamber, notwithstanding a constitutional requirement for a 30 per cent quota. The newly elected Lower House members were sworn in on 10 January 2016, followed by the newly elected senators 2/22 16-03381 S/2016/225 on 11 January. Both chambers elected their leadership, with Cholzer Chancy as President of the Lower House and Jocelerme Privert as President of the Senate. All the elected parliamentarians took their oath of office, amidst criticism by opposition political parties. 11. On 22 January, two days before the elections, which had been postponed until 24 January, the Provisional Electoral Council suspended electoral operations sine die, citing security concerns following an increasing number of attacks against electoral installations and threats against electoral personnel. Following the postponement, four additional councillors of the Provisional Electoral Council resigned, including council President Pierre Louis Opont, leaving only three councillors of the original nine, rendering the Council inoperative. The postponement also made it impossible to elect a new Head of State before the end of the presidential constitutional mandate, on 7 February 2016. 12. A period of dialogue ensued among various stakeholders, culminating in the signing of an agreement between President Martelly and the Presidents of the two legislative chambers on 5 February. The agreement enabled President Martelly to leave office on 7 February as prescribed by the Constitution and called for the National Assembly to elect, indirectly, a provisional President for a period not exceeding 120 days. The provisional President would then nominate a new Prime Minister and cabinet, revitalize the Provisional Electoral Council and complete the outstanding third electoral round on 24 April 2016, allowing for the inauguration of a new President of the Republic on 14 May 2016. 13. On 14 February, the National Assembly elected Senate and National Assembly President Jocelerme Privert as the provisional President of the Republic, with 77 parliamentary votes against former Senate President Edgard Leblanc ’s 34 votes, in a two-round process. A formal ceremony was held at the National Palace the next day. On 27 February, Fritz Alphonse Jean was installed as Prime Minister designate. 14. Throughout the electoral process, the Provisional Electoral Council spearheaded the organization and management of the elections, progressively improving technical and operational aspects based on lessons learned. The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS), MINUSTAH and other international partners provided technical and logistic support to, inter alia, improve the training of electoral staff, including in the vote tabulation centre; broaden the outreach of sensitization campaigns and organize civic education activities; and produce reference material for national police, polling staff and judges on electoral violation. Assistance was also provided to the Provisional Electoral Council in ensuring timely delive ry and recovery of electoral material. 15. The Government of Haiti provided the largest share of the financial requirements for the organization of the elections. With a contribution of roughly $23 million — 36 per cent of the $64 million mobilized — the Government remains the largest donor to the electoral basket fund administered by UNDP. In addition, It allocated $3 million to the national police, per round, and provided funds for the operational costs of the electoral council. The postponement of the l ast round of elections will incur an estimated additional $9 million for operational and logistics support through UNDP and UNOPS, depending on decisions taken by a new electoral council. 16-03381 3/22 S/2016/225 III. Security developments 16. The security environment remained influenced by the electoral process. While the 25 October polls unfolded relatively peacefully, the reporting period saw a surge in protests, some accompanied by violence. Generally, criminality remained at the same levels as those in the reporting periods covered by my two previous reports, including in the Departments from which the military withdrew in 2015. 17. Fewer security incidents were reported on 25 October than during the polls of 9 August; 33 election-related incidents, targeting voting centres mainly concentrated in the south-east, north and south, occurred on 25 October, compared with 202 election-related incidents on 9 August reported nationwide. The 13 per cent voting centre closure rate seen in the 9 August polls, following security -related issues, dropped to 2 per cent for the 25 October polls. No casualties were reported, whereas a total of seven fatalities were linked to the elections of 9 August. Election security for the 25 October polls was primarily provided by the Haitian National Police, which were present in all 10 Departments, with 7,387 personnel deployed. This represented a 10 per cent increase compared with the 9 August polls. The increased deployment allowed for a more visible and pre -emptive posture, resulting in a relatively higher number of arrests on 25 October (248) compared with the previous round (132). MINUSTAH police and military components were called upon twice to support the national police. 18. A peak in violence was reported in the days surrounding the signature of the political accord of 5 February. After a group of armed individuals associated with former armed forces paraded in Port-au-Prince on 5 February, one man in military uniform was killed in a confrontation with demonstrators. On 6 February, several attacks in the West Department against the main market area in Port -au-Prince, a police station in Arcahaie, a bus and two bank branches in Cabaret were reported. On 7 February, armed confrontations between rival gangs erupted in Cité Soleil (West Department) and violent demonstrations were reported in Port-au-Prince (West Department) following the conclusion of the National Assembly session. MINUSTAH military and police pre-emptively redeployed to the capital from the regions to provide additional and visible deterrence capacity to the national police were able to manage the protests. The election of the provisional President on 14 February concluded without any reports of major incidents. 19. Crime statistics for the period from 1 September 2015 to 1 March 2 016, collected by the national police and MINUSTAH, indicated 567 reported homicides. In comparison, 486 homicides were registered between 1 March and 31 August 2015 and 538 between 1 September 2014 and 1 March 2015. Nearly 83 per cent of the 567 homicides remained concentrated in the metropolitan area of Port-au-Prince, almost half of which were reportedly gang-related. In total, 44 kidnappings were registered, compared with 29 between 1 March and 31 August 2015 and 29 between 1 September 2014 and 1 March 2015. Reported cases of rape totalled 218, indicating greater stability following the 223 cases reported between 1 March and 31 August 2015 and the 220 cases reported between 1 September 2014 and 1 March 2015. The Ministry for the Status of Women and Women’s Rights suggested that the numbers may have been higher owing to underreporting, in particular in Cité Soleil (West Department), where gangs were reportedly the main perpetrators. 4/22 16-03381 S/2016/225 20. The total number of public protests was 689, of which 275 were report ed to have elements of violence ranging from the use of road barricades, destruction of property and throwing of stones, to assaults against police officers and shootings. Those numbers indicate a substantial increase from 399 (of which 151 were violent) during the period from 1 March to 31 August 2015 and a more significant rise from 215 (of which 104 were violent) during the period from 1 September 2014 to 1 March 2015, reflecting the volatility of the current reporting period. The West Department remained the most affected, with 52 per cent (361) of the 689 recorded events, followed by the North Department with 9 per cent and the South Department with 8 per cent. Protests were generally small-scale; an estimated 84 per cent (576 events) involved fewer than 300 persons. Another 11 per cent (75 events) ranged from 300 to 1,000 persons, while 5 per cent (38 events) involved more than 1,000 protesters. Election-related protests totalled 318 events, representing 46 per cent of the 689 reported protests, surpassing the 136 triggered by socioeconomic grievances. 21. The police component of MINUSTAH (see annex II) assisted the national police in crime reduction operations and checkpoints by jointly performing 2,372 checkpoints, 3,254 foot patrols and 16,176 vehicle patrols and conducting 47 joint operations, including 41 in Cité Soleil (West Department). Military peacekeepers (see annex III) conducted 3,892 operations, 452 of which were joint patrols with the national police and the United Nations police. In addition, the military component conducted 18 platoon-sized quick reaction force deployments to 14 different communities in seven departments, using MINUSTAH aviation assets. 22. On 30 December 2015, MINUSTAH found that two of its police officers had been killed by gunshot in their residences in Cap-Haïtien. The investigation, conducted by the national police, with assistance from the Office of Internal Oversight Services (OIOS) and MINUSTAH, is ongoing. IV. Rule of law and human rights 23. MINUSTAH and United Nations country team capacity-building activities in support of the justice and human rights system aimed at enhancing acceptance of the rule of the law and strengthening relevant institutions and mechanisms. Support focused on specific institutions, including the police, the prison service, the Superior Council of the Judiciary, courts and prosecutors in three departments (North, South and West), legal aid offices, the national ombudsperson and the Inspectorate General of the national police. A. Rule of law 24. In the last year of the implementation of the 2012 -2016 development plan, the national police has demonstrated both its commitment and its ability to advance its capabilities and increasingly provide full security to the Haitian people, evidenced, inter alia, during the electoral period and in its improved crowd control capacity. The Government of Haiti, through the Superior Council of the National Police, has continued its support to the national police and has demonstrated leadership i n ensuring coherence in the provision of international assistance. Together with national and international stakeholders, MINUSTAH continued supporting the 16-03381 5/22 S/2016/225 implementation of the priorities of the 2012-2016 development plan, which informs the assistance of the United Nations and international partners. Less than 10 months before its completion, 60 per cent of the five-year plan has been accomplished, with 10 activities completed, 42 activities at an advanced stage, while preparing the transition for the 18 others that are in their early stages of implementation. While tangible progress has been achieved, further improvement remains necessary, including in the fields of criminal investigation procedures, firearms control, institutional policies, police intelligence, the use of force procedures, budget execution and strategic planning. 25. The total strength of the police has decreased slightly, from the 11,900 officers reported in my previous report (S/2015/667) to 11,728 officers, including 998 women, resulting in an overall police-to-population ratio of 1.07 per 1,000 citizens. This reduction was mainly due to the dismissal of officers, voluntary resignations and officers killed on duty as well as off duty. The police academy started training its twenty-sixth class, with 1,506 cadets (including 190 women), in the autumn of 2015. Another class of 1,500 recruits will be trained during the second half of 2016. The objective is to reach close to 15,000 officers by the e nd of 2016 and a ratio of 1.32 per 1,000 inhabitants. 26. Twelve police infrastructure facilities were constructed or reconstructed, and approximately 1,000 handheld radios for communications and 161 vehicles, were provided to the national police. The Inspectorate General of the national police received 275 complaints, conducted 303 investigations and submitted 246 reports with recommendations for sanctions to the Director General, resulting the expulsion of 27 police officers. The Inspectorate General continued holding monthly internal meetings and press conferences to enhance awareness of its work. 27. With support from MINUSTAH and donors, the community policing and outreach approach developed in Croix-des-Bouquets has been expanded to reach other areas. A total of 57 national police officers have received basic training in community policing principles. The model was launched at the Fort National commissariat In Delmas, MINUSTAH trained 88 national police officers in crime reduction in public schools. The establishment of a sexual and gender-based violence) investigations unit within the Central Directorate of the Judicial Police is ongoing. To date, 19 police investigators of sexual and gender-based violence have completed specialized training, with more training scheduled for 2016. The standard operating procedures for such investigations is awaiting endorsement by the leadership of the national police. 28. Through its community violence reduction programme, MINUSTAH has continued to work closely with urban communities, selected Haitian ministries and the United Nations country team. In the Port-au-Prince neighbourhoods of Martissant and Cité Soleil, which are particularly affected by gang violence, 1,919 vulnerable women have received medical examinations and psychosocial support through community violence reduction programmes. Funding in the amount of $3 million has been approved for 19 new projects. In addition, seven projects worth $1 million were launched with partners, targeting some 16,420 direct beneficiaries, 30 per cent of whom are women). 29. MINUSTAH provided financial and technical support to legal aid offices in Cap-Haïtien and Les Cayes, targeting detainees in pre-trial detention. As a result, 980 cases were processed, of which 46 per cent were closed, resulting in 6/22 16-03381 S/2016/225 340 releases. In Port-au-Prince, the five offices supported by the Mission have dealt with 3,929 cases, resulting in the release of 1,462 persons. Nevertheless, owing to a continuously high number of detainees admitted to prisons, overcrowding remains a serious challenge. Following training seminars organized jointly by the Secretary of State for Justice and MINUSTAH, an on-call duty system for judges was implemented to ensure their continuous availability. This allowed for immedi ate court hearings, thereby expediting the processing of criminal files in Port-au-Prince, Les Cayes and Cap-Haïtien. 30. MINUSTAH and international partners continued to support legal reform, including by facilitating the finalization of the criminal pro cedure code. Similar to the drafting of the penal code, United Nations and international partners supported 48 consultative workshops on the draft criminal procedure code for actors in the legal system and civil society institutions in Cap -Haïtien, Gonaïves, Port-au-Prince, Hinche and Les Cayes. Both the penal code and criminal procedure code have yet to be adopted by Parliament. 31. Since my previous report, the rate of pre-trial detention has decreased only slightly, from 71.5 to 71.0 per cent. MINUSTAH advised the Penitentiary Administration Directorate on the content of the prison health -care policy, which is expected to be mainstreamed into the national health -care policy. The 2014-2016 development plan for the national prison service, developed with a dvice from MINUSTAH, reflects the Government’s commitment to advancing prison reforms. MINUSTAH launched a social reintegration initiative in the Cap -Haïtien prison and a school programme for minors in conflict with the law in the women ’s prison at Pétionville and the Centre de rééducation des mineurs en conflit avec la loi. MINUSTAH also assisted the Penitentiary Administration Directorate in developing tools and training to standardize prisoner record management, facilitate access to prisoner data by judicial authorities and improve prison infrastructure at Cabaret, Fort Liberté, Hinche and Petit-Goâve while working with partners on the construction of four new prisons funded by the Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs of the United States Department of State. One new prison has been completed, while the remaining three are expected to be completed within the next six months. Prison staffing has nonetheless remained a critical problem, with only 1,498 personnel for a prison populati on of 11,081. B. Human rights 32. The human rights of detainees continued to be of serious concern to the Mission. Only 3 of the 17 detention facilities under the jurisdiction of the Penitentiary Administration offer slightly more than 1 square metre per detainee, well below international standards; the 4,544 detainees in the national penitentiary are crammed in at three persons per square metre. These conditions, coupled with the fact that detainees spend more than 23 hours a day confined to the ir cell, amounts to cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment, as indicated by the Human Rights Committee in its concluding observations on the initial report of Haiti on the implementation of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (CCPR/C/HTI/CO/1). An important number of the detainees have been unlawfully arrested, and most pretrial detainees have had their right to a fair trial within a reasonable period irremediably compromised. 16-03381 7/22 S/2016/225 33. During the reporting period, MINUSTAH received allegations of human rights abuses by the national police special units for crowd control and interventions. Investigation by MINUSTAH suggests that excessive and unreasonable force was sporadically used, along with lethal weapons, during otherwise legitimate operations, to restore public order and to search for and arrest suspects in Arcahaie and Port-au-Prince in September and October 2015. There was also evidence of intimidation of the population by the police. T he Inspectorate General of the national police and MINUSTAH have investigated a video published on social media in which national police officers are seen severely mishandling two men. The Inspectorate General is following up with recommendations and corre ctive measures. A clear normative framework notwithstanding, disciplinary and judicial investigations into allegations of unlawful use of force by the national police remained limited. While the Inspectorate General has responded to formal requests, it has been reluctant to open ex-officio investigations. 34. On 15 January 2016, the Committee on the Rights of the Child examined the second and third periodic reports of Haiti on the implementation of the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC/C/HTI/2-3). It addressed in particular issues relating to children of detained parents, child trafficking and cases of exploitation of children for transactional sex by United Nations peacekeepers. The Commit tee adopted its concluding observations on 29 January. 35. While the exploitation of children is a crime under national legislation, the practice of placing children in domestic service (restaveks) is widespread. According to a 2015 study led by the Ministry of Social Affairs and Labour, more than 200,000 children are exploited in this manner, and many are subjected to physical, emotional and sexual abuse. The Committee on the Rights of the Child recommends that Haiti criminalize the practice, for which no one has been prosecuted to date. V. Institutional support and strengthening of State authority 36. MINUSTAH continues its work, in close collaboration with the Ministry of the Interior and Local Government, in support of decentralization and local government and in preparing newly elected mayors and municipal councils expected to take office in 2016. Municipal authorities continue to demonstrate resilience in the face of political uncertainty at the national level. As at 31 January, all 140 municipa lities had been able to formulate their own budgets; the vast majority had developed complementary action plans and are leading on local disaster response coordination mechanisms. 37. MINUSTAH supported the municipalities in updating the “mayors’ manual” and the municipal budget and in surveying more than two thirds of some 30,000 properties in Les Cayes (south) and Jérémie (Grande’Anse) by investigating officers from the Ministry of the Interior and Local Government from September 2015 to January 2016, and through the operationalization of a new digital financial management system. MINUSTAH also supported the training of 114 key municipal personnel from 16 different communes in the North and North -East Departments in planning, accounting, conflict management and gender mainstreaming. This same training is currently being replicated in 11 communes in the South. Meanwhile, 8/22 16-03381 S/2016/225 MINUSTAH continues to advocate for statutory protection and guarantees for key municipal workers. 38. Quick-impact projects, totalling $2,445,969 invested from 1 July 2015 to 15 January 2016, have focused on the reconstruction of local court houses, police stations and the provision of public lighting. Projects have also supported livelihoods, the provision of clean drinking water for 500,0 00 beneficiaries, and the fight against cholera. 39. At the request of the Prime Minister, MINUSTAH supported the Provisional Electoral Council in organizing 82 pre-electoral forums with local authorities, political parties and candidates, civil society, women’s groups, young people and local media between August and December, with over 100 civil society organizations per department. VI. Update and activities on humanitarian and development needs A. Humanitarian activities 40. While the country’s humanitarian situation remains complex, the decline in humanitarian funding from $155 million in 2014 to $55 million in 2015, according to the financial tracking system of the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs of the Secretariat, undermines the ability of the United Nations to support the Government and civil society in the provision of relief. 41. From 1 January to 31 December 2015, the Ministry of Public Health and Population reported 36,045 suspected cholera cases and 322 deaths. The se figures exceed the 27,388 suspected cholera cases reported in 2014. However, with a total of 13,018 cases during the last three months of 2015 compared with 18,444 during the same period in 2014, the last quarter of 2015 registered the lowest rate of outbreaks since the beginning of the epidemic. Improved surveillance, rapid alerts and a coordinated response by Haitian authorities, the United Nations and other international partners have permitted a reversal of the increase in cases. 42. The High-level Committee for the Elimination of Cholera, co-chaired by the Minister of Health and my Special Representative, met on 21 December. Participants advocated for a continuation of the national strategy on cholera, combining rapid response to outbreaks with continuous investment in water, health and sanitation infrastructure. The Haitian health authorities view this strategy as a priority for all water-borne and infectious diseases. Funding for the national strategy on cholera and for the continued provision of a response to cases, albeit a priority, is declining. 43. Three years of drought, compounded by El Niño in 2015, have exacerbated the poverty and hunger of many households. Alternative livelihood strategies and coping mechanisms have been exhausted. According to the results of an emergency food security assessment conducted by the World Food Programme and the Government in December 2015, 1.5 million Haitians are currently severely food insecure, which is more than double the number from six months ago. A recent study conducted by the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and the Government revealed that, in some areas, malnutrition rates are above emergency levels. The 2015 spring harvest, which accounts for over 50 per cent of national 16-03381 9/22 S/2016/225 annual production, fell below average, with losses of up to 70 per cent in some areas. Without rain in the 2016 spring season, farmers will lose their third consecutive harvest, on which they would normally depend to feed their families. 44. The reporting period also saw the continuation of the issue of the status of Haitians or persons of Haitian origin living in the Dominican Republic. From July 2015 through mid-January 2016, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) registered more than 69,000 persons returning to Haitian territory; 42,404 were recorded as spontaneous returns, while 15,747 were deported officially. 45. The situation of many returnees remains difficult, owing to insufficient reception capacity; limited institutional and financial resources on the Haitian side of the border; and tensions in border communities, which has led to the establishment of informal settlements. In the area of Anse -à-Pitre (South-East), 2,203 registered persons have settled in six makeshift camps in dire conditions, prompting the Independent Expert on the situation of human rights in Haiti to urge the Haitian authorities to take immediate steps to improve living conditions. A recent inter-agency vulnerability assessment confirmed the urgent need for humanitarian and protection assistance, which should be focused on legal aid and access to clean water, food and medicine. MINUSTAH and UNICEF, in coordination with other partners, have monitored and assisted cases of unaccompanied minors deported from the Dominican Republic. Meanwhile, IOM is working on voluntary relocation options. 46. According to IOM, six years after the earthquake of January 2010, 59,720 individuals remain internally displaced in 37 sites and camp -like settlements in Haiti, often in precarious conditions. Between July and December 2015, return programmes offering rental subsidies led to the closure of 10 sites and the relocation of about 578 internally displaced households. Funding is available to resettle, on a voluntary basis, all 7,000 internally displaced families who remain under tents and in precarious shelters by the end of 2016. B. Development activities 47. The current political crisis is affecting development spending. In the absence of a Government that is capable of making financial commitments, international lending and development programmes have been negatively affected. Nevertheless, based on the recommendations of the regional United Nations Development Group, which visited Haiti in November 2015, the elaboration of the United Nations Development Assistance Framework has begun and will continue throughout 2016, in consultation with the national authorities that are expected to emerge from the ongoing electoral process, civil society and international technical and financial partners. 48. Preliminary figures show that economic growth for the fiscal year ending on 30 September is only 1.7 per cent. This reflects the impact of political uncertainty, the drought and decreased agricultural production, as well as th e slowdown in public investment owing to declining donor flows, in particular the Petrocaribe programme. Inflation has reached double digits, led by a 20 per cent rise in prices for domestically produced foods. Under these difficult circumstances, the coun try’s economic policy is aimed at stabilizing the situation, with the Government keeping spending to the bare minimum and maintaining tight monetary conditions, but at the 10/22 16-03381 S/2016/225 cost of continued loss of international reserves. Speculation against the gourde, especially given the deteriorating political environment, has led to a 15 per cent drop in the currency since late September. 49. The United Nations and its partners continue to work on social issues, including HIV/AIDS and child protection. MINUSTAH, Unite d Nations agencies, the Government and civil society groups working with young people have signed a charter of commitments to engage young people in the HIV response. The United Nations country team has also been advocating for human rights, in particular the rights of women, programmes against gender-based violence and the reform of educational policy in Haiti. VII. Consolidation and strategic planning 50. MINUSTAH and the United Nations country team are working on a joint transition plan that identifies areas in which further support by international partners, including the United Nations, is required and outlines a road map for the progressive disengagement of the Mission from functions that can be assumed by the Government of Haiti or other partners. As joint work on transition progresses, it will also feed into the strategic assessment mission that the Security Council requested me to conduct (see resolution 2243 (2015)) in order to present to the Council recommendations on the future presence and role of the United Nations in Haiti. 51. The transition plan is informed by both a situational analysis and an institutional capacity assessment. The situational analysis is intended to establish a shared understanding of the operational environment that informs United Nations planning and programming interventions, while the institutional capacity assessment is an analysis of the progress made towards strengthening Haiti’s institutional capacities as they relate to mandated activities, with a particular focus on the development of the police, electoral capacity-building, the rule of law and human rights, and good governance. The institutional capacity analysis wi ll also assess the sustainability of key institutions and lead to the formulation of recommendations on future support to ensure long-term viability and local ownership. In the absence of gender-specific benchmarks, special attention has been placed on inc luding a gender analysis for each of the transition components. 52. As part of transition planning, a team from the global focal point for the rule of law deployed in October to identify a common workplan, staffing and operational arrangements for the establishment of an integrated interim programme in 2016 to support the rule of law, police and penal system. The integrated MINUSTAH -United Nations country team programme will allow for greater efficiency and prepare a smooth transfer of activities, when appropriate. 53. To support the national police, MINUSTAH plans to focus efforts on the implementation of the current five-year plan and on developing the road map for the 2017-2021 plan. In the light of increased police capacities, international and MINUSTAH support will concentrate on capacity-building, including continuous advanced and specialized training, with a focus on crime reduction initiatives in vulnerable areas with a community approach. The success of the transition process is dependent upon the continued support of police-contributing countries, through the deployment of skilled individual police officers and formed police units. 16-03381 11/22 S/2016/225 VIII. Conduct and discipline 54. In line with the initiatives set out in my report on special measures for protection from sexual exploitation and abuse ( A/70/729), MINUSTAH has established a dedicated task force and continues its efforts to raise awareness among personnel on the zero-tolerance policy. MINUSTAH also continues to conduct risk assessment exercises aimed at identifying and addressing factors leading t o sexual exploitation and abuse. Moreover, the Mission has established a community -based mechanism for reporting alleged misconduct and sexual exploitation and abuse committed by Mission personnel. IX. Financial aspects 55. By its resolution 69/299, the General Assembly appropriated the amount of $380.4 million for the maintenance of MINUSTAH for the period from 1 July 2015 to 30 June 2016. 56. As at 15 February 2016, unpaid assessed contributions to the Special Account for MINUSTAH amounted to $191.7 million. The total outstanding assessed contributions for all peacekeeping operations as at the same date amounted to $3,572.4 million. 57. Reimbursement of troop and formed police costs has been made for the period up to 31 October 2015, while reimbursement of the costs of contingent -owned equipment has been made for the period up to 30 September 2015, in accordance with the quarterly payment schedule. X. Observations and recommendations 58. Haiti and its people have made noteworthy progress towards political stability, despite considerable challenges, including the human and material devastation wrought by the earthquake of 2010. The current electoral and institutional uncertainty is regrettable. Yet, periods of instability, however unfortunate, remain a possibility in all political systems. The ability of Haitian actors to overcome the current political uncertainty will provide a clear indication of the country’s progress in terms of political stability and the entrenchment of a democratic culture. 59. Notwithstanding the efforts of Haitian institutions to hold long overdue elections, only two of the three planned electoral rounds were held. Following the polls of 9 August, during which there were some localized instance s of violence, the relatively peaceful polls of 25 October resulted in the election of 14 senators and 92 Lower Chamber deputies. Meanwhile, political and security tensions, fuelled by allegations of fraud, in particular with respect to the presidential vo te, persisted for months. With the exception of the pro-Government candidate who won the first round, the electoral process was criticized by both opposition presidential candidates and civil society. In contrast, all elected legislative candidates, independent of their political persuasion, took their oaths of office on the constitutional date of 11 January 2016, forming the fiftieth legislature following a year without a functioning Parliament. 12/22 16-03381 S/2016/225 60. Mounting tensions relating to allegations of fraud resul ted in the third and final rounds of the elections, including the presidential runoff, being postponed twice by the Provisional Electoral Council, the second time sine die in response to increasing security concerns. This political impasse brought the coun try to the brink of a governance vacuum, which was averted by the agreement of 5 February reached between outgoing President Martelly and the Presidents of the two chambers of Parliament, ahead of the expiry of the presidential term on 7 February 2016. The agreement, which reflects the spirit of the Constitution, provided a road map for institutional continuity through the election by Parliament of a provisional President for a transitional period of 120 days, the appointment of a Prime Minister and the completion of the electoral process. Throughout, my Special Representative and the Secretariat, as well as other members of the international community, including regional and subregional organizations, used their good offices to support the negotiations among the national actors. This stands as testimony to the international community’s commitment to Haiti. 61. Now that an agreement aimed at avoiding a governance vacuum has been reached, I call, once again, upon all Haitian actors to continue to work togethe r in the spirit of the Constitution of Haiti and to implement the agreement of 5 February, finding Haitian solutions to Haitian problems. I call upon all political stakeholders to immediately take, in good faith, all steps necessary to ensure the completio n of the electoral process initiated in 2015. With the election of a provisional President on 14 February and the designation of a Prime Minister, it is now incumbent upon all of the country’s institutions, including the provisional President, to ensure th at the provisions of the agreement are implemented in full, in the same spirit of compromise and within the agreed time frames. I welcome the efforts by the provisional President thus far to ensure the designation of a Prime Minister and the parallel efforts to revitalize the Provisional Electoral Council. The swift renewal of the Provisional Electoral Council is a necessary precondition for the completion of the elections in a manner that reflects the will of the people. More generally, the continued commitment of all political stakeholders to identify Haitian -owned consensual solutions to the country’s problems is essential to longer -term unity and stability in the country. 62. I wish to underscore the need for all stakeholders to exercise restraint. I ap peal to their constituencies to act responsibly in order to preserve security and stability during this delicate transitional period. Haiti has been able to maintain a largely peaceful environment despite tensions associated with the political situation. However, the progress made so far remains fragile and could be susceptible to setbacks. I commend the performance of the national police, which operated successfully during this period, with limited need for assistance from the MINUSTAH police and military components. I also welcome the continued police recruitment and training efforts, which mean that the target of 15,000 national police will be within reach or will be met by the end of 2016. 63. Haiti cannot afford political instability during the current period of negative economic trends, characterized by low economic growth and decreasing levels of investment. The country continues to be vulnerable to humanitarian crises, including drought, insufficient water, health and sanitation infrastructure; and t he presence of diarrheal disease. These crises have an even greater impact on the quarter of the population living in extreme poverty, the 59,000 persons displaced by the earthquake of 2010 who still remain in internally displaced person sites and 16-03381 13/22 S/2016/225 camp-like settlements, and those who have returned or been deported back to Haiti. I urge continued attention to those issues, with a special focus on the food situation arising from the combined effect of three years of drought and a particularly strong El Niño. 64. The increase in cholera cases in 2015 is cause for concern. I support the efforts by the Haitian authorities to combat cholera together with all waterborne and infectious diseases through the combination of a rapid response to outbreaks and continuous investment in water, health and sanitation infrastructure. The low rate of outbreaks in the last quarter of 2015 is promising. However, a decline in humanitarian funding is hampering the ability of the United Nations to assist Haitian efforts. The elimination of this epidemic is not only possible but an imperative, and I call upon Member States to support the ongoing efforts. 65. I remain concerned about the slow progress towards strengthening the rule of law and ending impunity. Notwithstanding important steps such as the finalization of the draft criminal procedure code, the implementation of an on -call duty system for judges and immediate trial hearings, numerous deficiencies in the judicial system continue to impact human rights, notably the right to a fair trial within a reasonable period and humane detention conditions. I call upon the authorities to undertake legal reform through the appropriate legislative, executive and administrative measures. I urge them to strengthen the country’s rule of law institutions in order to ensure justice and to promote and protect the human rights of the Haitian people. This remains a critical element of the consolidation of stability in the country. 66. In view of the current political uncertainty in Haiti, I propose t hat a strategic assessment, as stipulated by the Security Council in its resolution 2243 (2015), be carried out following the completion of the interrupted electoral process. I hope that the process will be completed peacefully and within the time frames o utlined in the agreement of 5 February, allowing for a positive assessment that could trigger a significant evolution of the United Nations presence in Haiti. Mindful of developments on the ground, it is my intention to submit recommendations to the Security Council on the future of MINUSTAH ahead of the expiration of its mandate in October 2016. 67. In conclusion, I would like to express my gratitude to my Special Representative, Sandra Honoré, for her service in support of Haiti at this delicate juncture. I would also like to thank the women and men of MINUSTAH, troop - and police-contributing countries and the United Nations country team and partners for their continued dedication and commitment to stability and development in Haiti. I also wish to pay tribute to the late Force Commander of MINUSTAH, Lieutenant General José Luiz Jaborandy Junior. 14/22 16-03381 S/2016/225 Annex I Progress in the consolidation of the United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti 1. An update on the progress made towards the implementation o f the consolidation plan for the United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH) as set out in my report to the Security Council of 8 March 2013 (S/2013/139) is set out below. Police development 2. The twenty-sixth Haitian National Police promotion is expected to graduate in April 2016. Currently 1,489 cadets out of the initial 1,506, including 186 women, remain at the school. The recruitment process for the twenty-seventh promotion continued, and 7,714 applicants, including 1,084 women, underwent physical tests and interviews. 3. The National Police Academy is continuing the executive development training programme, with support from international donors, for an additional two years (2015-2017). A strategic plan for the Academy (2015-2018) has also been developed. On 11 December 2015, a total of 31 commissioners from the third and fourth cohorts graduated from the Academy. 4. The Emergency Call Centre project “114”, estimated at a total cost of $11 million, is operational. With international donor support, 15 call workstations have been installed in the West Department, which suffers from the highest crime rate in the country. 5. A total of 12 national police buildings have been constructed or reno vated, and 161 new vehicles and motorcycles and two high-speed boats have been added to the transport fleet of the national police, either through donor contributions or financed by the Government of Haiti. Two technical committees have been set up to audi t and record all logistics in order to develop the logistics forecast for 2015 -2016 and improve the procurement system. 6. Specialized training continued for crowd control units, mainly outside the metropolitan area, with 123 police officers trained by national police instructors, under the supervision of the United Nations police. In cooperation with international stakeholders, MINUSTAH provided training for 150 judicial police officers in criminal investigation, human rights, crime scene management, the p enal code, interview and interrogation techniques and ballistics. Another 43 police officers received specialized training in interviewing children and sexual crime investigations. 7. The development of specialized capacities within the corrections system included the development of a prison health-care policy draft; the development of the 2014-2016 action plan for the Penitentiary Administration Directorate; the ongoing implementation of the 2014-2016 strategic plan for the Penitentiary Administration Directorate and social reintegration programmes in three prisons; the development and adoption of various procedures in prisons (for example, emergency plans and security checklists); the training of senior Penitentiary Administration Directorate officials on the application of policies and directives; 16-03381 15/22 S/2016/225 capacity-building programmes in prison management; the standardization of prisoners’ records; support to the fight against cholera and tuberculosis; and the monitoring of the construction of four new prisons. 8. On 1 October 2015, the budget of the national police for the fiscal year 2015 2016 developed by the joint committee with MINUSTAH came into effect. The allocation of $212.9 million includes an increase of 7 per cent owing primarily to a salary increase of 6 to 10 per cent and the incorporation of 1,500 new officers. Electoral capacity-building 9. Following the elections of 9 August and in accordance with the electoral calendar published in March 2015, the Provisional Electoral Council organized the second round of parliamentary elections and the first round of presidential and municipal elections on 25 October. For those elections, the Provisional Electoral Council implemented recommendations that resulted in substantial improvements in its operations, the training of poll workers and voter sensitization. As a result, the European Union and Organization of American States election observation missions concluded that the elections of 25 October had considerably improved on the first round and were conducted competently. While the second round of presidential elections of 27 December 2015 and 24 January 2016 did not take place, the new parliamentarians took their oaths of office on 11 January 2016, as constitutionally mandated. 10. MINUSTAH supported the national police in implementing the necessary changes to its electoral deployment for the pending elections. On 25 October, 7,357 national police officers, including 2,050 redeployed as reinforcements from Port-au-Prince, along with an extra 194 vehicles and 427 motorcycles to supplement transportation resources, were deployed. The General Inspectorate of the national police held a large awareness campaign on the role of police officers during the elections and deployed a team to each department to monitor p erformance. During the first electoral round, 7 people lost their lives and 25 were injured; during the second round, three people were injured and there were no fatalities. In August 2015, 202 polling centres were affected by violence and had to partially, temporarily or permanently close, compared with 33 in October and 2 on 22 January 2016 during the distribution of electoral material. 11. Adherence to constitutional timelines for holding elections was partially achieved, with the installation of the newly elected Lower Chamber and Senate in accordance with the Constitution. The postponement of the second round of presidential elections did not allow for the installation of a new President on 7 February 2016, the date prescribed by the Constitution. 12. The establishment of the Permanent Electoral Council will not be possible until all three branches of power are seated and operational in order to nominate their representatives to be appointed by presidential order. 13. The Government of Haiti was the largest contributor to the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) basket fund for electoral operations ($23.2 million, or 36 per cent). Taking into account electoral expenditures relating to security ($9 million) and the functioning of the Provisional Electoral Council ($6 million), Haiti has considerably increased its share of financing of electoral operations since 2010. 16/22 16-03381 S/2016/225 14. The transfer of knowledge from MINUSTAH, UNDP and the United nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS) to the Provisional Electoral Council was accomplished, focusing efforts on increasing national capacities in planning, coordination and decision-making, and prioritized training for key positions in the electoral council. During the current electoral cycle, the Provisional Electoral Council assumed greater responsibility for logistic and technical operations compared with 2010, when MINUSTAH managed all logistics. Transportation support is still required, however, by MINUSTAH and UNOPS, and there is a continuous need for technical support for the next electoral cycle. 15. The national police, in coordination with MINUSTAH, developed an integrated security plan for the elections. Adjustments following the August elections resulted in a positive performance on 25 October. The national police played a key role in preventing pre- and post-electoral conflict and arrested perpetrators and instigators of incidents of violence and vandalism. The management of the 25 October elections has substantially increased morale and selfconfidence within the national police, revealing its capacity to ensure a peaceful electoral process with minimal support from MINUSTAH. Rule of law and human rights 16. The Superior Council of the Judiciary held a course on effi cient management of judicial processes. The executive branch authorized the renewal of the terms of the serving judges and the appointment of 80 new judges. The joint vetting commission submitted 47 investigative reports. MINUSTAH is providing legal, technical, logistical and financial support for this work and for the mechanisms and procedure relating to the evaluation of the judges. 17. Currently, women comprise less than 10 per cent of the judiciary. There is only one female judge appointed to the Supreme Court and one female Assistant Prosecutor. In an effort to address long-term gender imbalance, the current class at the School of Magistrates comprises 33 female trainees, amounting to 50 per cent of the class. 18. In August 2015, UNDP completed a comprehensive institutional review of the Superior Court of Auditors and Administrative Disputes, with a detailed follow -up plan for capacity-building and institutional strengthening. Funding for this work, however, has not yet been secured. Some financial and programmatic support from the Mission budget is foreseen in the proposed rule of law joint interim programme 2016-17. Moreover, a new President of the Court was elected in October, and the Mission expects to increase its engagement with the President and th e Court once the electoral period is completed. 19. The joint technical committee in charge of the penal reform completed the drafting of the criminal procedure code and the Presidential Commission on Justice Reform submitted it to the executive branch. 20. MINUSTAH supported legal aid offices of Cap-Haïtien and Les Cayes resulting in 833 cases processed, 40 per cent of which closed, resulting in 224 acquittals. In Port-au-Prince, the five supported offices processed 3,125 cases, resulting in 1,157 people released and 57 per cent of cases closed. 21. Since September 2015, MINUSTAH has been providing support to Haiti’s Office of the Ombudsperson through the placement in the Office of an international 16-03381 17/22 S/2016/225 expert responsible for providing recommendations on the str ategic plan for the period 2016-2019. The Office approved an interim report with recommendations, which was submitted in December 2015. 22. Financial allocations through the State budget continue to fall short of the Office’s operational needs, as recommended, inter alia, by the Human Rights Committee in 2014, preventing the establishment of a women’s protection unit. 23. With the support of MINUSTAH, the number of certified police officers has reached 7,418. Another 2,292 are currently being vetted. 24. The police Inspectorate General received 275 complaints, conducted 303 investigations and submitted 246 reports with recommendations for sanctions to the Director General. 25. On 2 October, the Director General of the national police signed a gender directive formalizing the mandate and structure of the national body “Coordination nationale des affaires féminines, des questions de genre et des violences sexuelles”. This marked the first significant step towards the implementation of a gender policy within the national police. Key governance issues 26. The ability of municipal and departmental authorities to implement basic administrative and financial procedures has improved, with all 140 municipalities able to implement financial procedures for budget formation. Two new pilot programmes were established at the municipal level on fiscal mobilization tools and digital tax systems. The ability of authorities to administer municipal and regional coordination forums independently has progressed, and disaster response meetings are held monthly. 18/22 16-03381 S/2016/225 Annex II Composition and strength of the police of the United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti, as at 22 February 2016 United Nations police officers Country Argentina Women Men 1 8 Bangladesh Benin 9 1 54 10 45 Burundi 1 1 Cameroon 14 5 Canada 17 64 Chile 1 10 Columbia 1 4 Brazil Burkina Faso Men 86 213 8 Egypt 27 El Salvador 12 Ethiopia 2 France 1 7 Ghana 1 8 Guinea 1 India 15 2 1 Jordan 26 Madagascar 5 Mali 1 9 Nepal 4 31 Niger 2 24 Nigeria 439 6 Jamaica Norway Women 5 Chad Indonesia Formed police units 319 26 13 2 1 1 Pakistan 140 Paraguay 16-03381 127 1 Philippines 1 25 Romania 4 24 Russian Federation 2 4 Rwanda 29 4 25 135 Senegal 17 11 149 Serbia 4 19/22 S/2016/225 United Nations police officers Country Slovakia Women Men 1 5 Spain Men 135 1 522 13 Thailand 2 5 Togo 2 19 Tunisia 3 Turkey 32 3 22 Uruguay 5 Vanuatu 1 Yemen 23 Subtotal Women 3 Sri Lanka United States of America Formed police units 107 621 Subtotal, United Nations police: 728 Subtotal, formed police: 1 657 Total: 2 385 20/22 16-03381 S/2016/225 Annex III Countries providing military staff and contingents to the United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti, as at 22 February 2016 Staff officers Country Women Troops Men Women Men Total Argentina 6 22 44 72 Bangladesh 1 110 111 943 980 Bolivia (Plurinational State of) 1 Brazil a 12 Canada 1 1 25 4 Chile 4 Ecuador 1 5 12 2 6 Honduras 44 44 46 54 47 47 Jordan 3 Mexico 3 Nepal 3 Paraguay 1 5 77 83 Peru 3 8 152 163 Philippines 2 13 122 137 Sri Lanka 3 3 United States of America 5 5 Uruguay 5 11 229 245 59 102 2 192 2 354 Total a 16-03381 391 1 El Salvador Guatemala 375 1 3 3 6 3 The Force Commander is employed on a United Nations contract and is therefore not reflected in the troop strength. 21/22 S/2016/225 22/22 16-03381