(2017-10) MINUSTAH - Rapport du Secrétaire général sur la Mission des Nations Unies pour la stabilisation en Haïti (S/2017/840)

S/2017/840 United Nations Security Council Distr.: General 5 October 2017 Original: English Report of the Secretary-General on the United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti I. Introduction 1. The present report is submitted pursuant to Security Council resolution 2350 (2017), by which the Council extended the mandate of the United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH) for a final p eriod of six months, until 15 October 2017 and established the United Nations Mission for Justice Support in Haiti (MINUJUSTH) for an initial period of six months, from 16 October 2017 to 15 April 2018. It covers major developments that have occurred since the issuance of my previous report, of 12 July 2017 (S/2017/604), and progress made on the closure of MINUSTAH and the establishment of MINUJUSTH. As this is my final report on MINUSTAH, it also presents an overview of the Mission’s achievements, including good practices and lessons learned. II. Developments on the ground A. Political situation 2. Eight months after the President of Haiti, Jovenel Moïse, assumed office, the country continues to take steps to further consolidate its democracy and stability. Nonetheless, indirect elections to establish the councils and assemblies at the municipal, departmental and interdepartmental levels, as envisaged in the Constitution, remain stalled. On 14 July, the Provisional Electoral Council completed the first of four steps, namely, the designation of members for 140 municipal assemblies. It then submitted the results on 21 July to the Government for publication in the official gazette. Religious and civil soci ety leaders called for the publication of the results in order to allow the process to continue, while at the same time moving forward with a national dialogue on the electoral system. On 25 August, however, in an effort to reduce the potential for institutional conflict between the bodies to be elected and other existing decentralized structures, the executive branch recommended the suspension of the process, pending the revision by Parliament of relevant laws regulating local governance. On 1 September, the Senate confirmed receipt of three presidential decrees from 2006 that had been amended by the Government in order to clarify the functions of the various bodies constituting the local governance structure. 17-17104 (E) 101017 *1717104* S/2017/840 3. During the reporting period, the Government of Haiti took decisive steps towards the remobilization of the Haitian Armed Forces, with a view to creating a force of 3,000 soldiers over the course of President Moïse’s five-year term. On 25 July, the Ministry of Defence confirmed receipt of applications from 2,350 candidates, including 350 women, for the first class of 500 military cadet recruits. The process was carried out against a backdrop of caution and concern, voiced by parliamentarians, party leaders, human rights advocates and security experts. The lack of an agreed framework for the process and the potential for politicization, given the direct recruitment by the Government in the absence of an army Chief and general staff, were the main causes for concern. Concerns were also raised that such efforts would redirect the limited resources available for the country’s development priorities, including the Haitian National Police. 4. On 27 July, President Moïse raised the daily minimum wage for assembly factory workers to 350 Haitian gourdes, slightly higher than the 335 recommended by the Superior Council of Salaries and considerably less than the 800 gourdes demanded by the trade unions. The Government also sought to address a number of major issues facing the country through the establishment of eight presidential commissions, comprising representatives from national sectors, including two new commissions, on health reform and on innovation and the socioprofessional integration of youth. It furthermore intensified its flagship programme, the “Caravan of Change”, designed to enhance the State’s delivery of service and to improve living conditions, particularly in rural areas. The programme has been expanded to half of the country’s 10 Departments and is considered the backbone of the Government’s strategy for achieving economic growth and development through the revitalization of agricultural production and investment in public infrastructure to improve market access and basic social services. The President also announced plans to implement a nationwide solution to the energy shortages facing the country. 5. In Parliament, progress on the joint legislative agenda remained slow, and an increased rate of absenteeism during the months of July and August resulted in the suspension of some sessions. As at 11 September, when the 2017 legislative year was formally closed, only three draft laws had been adopted by both Chambers of Parliament and submitted to the executive branch, bringing the total voted upon and adopted as at the time of reporting to 4 of 51 draft proposals on the joint legislative agenda. Those included laws on working hours, on the national education fund and on civil aviation. In addition, on 12 September, Parliament submitted to the executive branch the draft national budget for the fiscal year 2017/18, as adopted by the two Chambers. The budget drew criticism because of an alleged imbalance in funding among State institutions and new additional direct taxes that stood to affect low-income earners. Moreover, civil society and the private sector complained that they had not been consulted, which had been the practice of previous administrations. 6. On 11 September, initiating steps to constitute the Permanent Electoral Council, the Upper and Lower Chambers established a bicameral commission t o select the three representatives of Parliament to be appointed to the nine -member Council. During the reporting period, the Superior Council of the Judiciary also launched a call for candidates to select its three representatives. Similar action by the executive branch is expected in the coming period. 7. During the reporting period, opposition political parties and civil society representatives strengthened calls for a national dialogue to address ongoing socioeconomic grievances on the part of factory workers, teachers, the judiciary and health-care staff. Five centre-left parties, grouped under the umbrella Political Coalition of Active Forces of the Nation, initiated steps to bridge communication between the Government, opposition parties and civil society and to determine the 2/19 17-17104 S/2017/840 way forward on such a dialogue encompassing, inter alia, constitutional reform, indirect elections and the calendar for the next electoral cycle, due in 2019. On 14 September, at the invitation of President Moïse, a dozen allied and moderate opposition parties met with the executive branch to discuss ways to improve the functioning of political parties. Discussions, however, focused primarily on the contested national budget, to which party leaders requested revisions prior to publication. Six other opposition parties, who declined t he President’s invitation, also requested further revisions to the budget prior to meeting with the President. On 18 September, public transport unions launched a nationwide strike, protesting the national budget, which was scheduled to go into effect on 1 October. B. Security situation 8. The overall security situation remained relatively stable and was not affected by the ongoing withdrawal of MINUSTAH troops and the reductions in the United Nations police presence. No major incidents took place, notwithstanding some continued tensions linked to socioeconomic and political grievances. 9. Statistics collected by the national police and MINUSTAH for the period from 1 July to 30 September 2017 indicated a decrease in homicides, with 181 victims (including 17 women), down from 259 during the previous quarter; 71 per cent of the homicides occurred in the metropolitan area of Port -au-Prince, in line with historical trends. Reported rapes also fell from 139 to 89; 99 per cent of the victims were women. Kidnappings, however, increased from 8 during the previous quarter to 12 during the reporting period; the victims included 7 women. Underreporting and a culture of impunity remain pervasive. 10. A total of 162 public protests were reported, of which 39 (24 per cent) saw some level of violence, ranging from erected barricades and stone -throwing to assaults and shootings. This represents a decrease compared with the 264 incidents reported during the previous quarter, of which 73 (28 per cent) had been violent. The Port-au-Prince metropolitan area witnessed 53 per cent of those events, followed by the Centre Department, at 7 per cent. Protests were generally small in size, with each of those 162 events involving fewer than 1,000 par ticipants. The vast majority of protests, including most recently after the adoption of the budget, were triggered by socioeconomic grievances, related to labour, education, infrastructure, the cost of living and border management. 11. The Mission’s police component continued to provide operational support to the national police, conducting 1,587 joint temporary checkpoints, 2,032 foot patrols, 12,468 vehicle patrols and 192 joint operations, including 127 in the metropolitan area of Port-au-Prince. Military troops carried out 576 operations, 3 of which were joint patrols with national and MINUSTAH police officers. C. Haitian National Police 12. The Haitian National Police continued to increase its capacities to ensure public order and provide security for the country’s citizens. The twenty-eighth promotion, comprising 1,029 cadets, including 127 women, continued its seven month basic training initiated in May. Upon graduation in December, the size of the national police force will grow to approximatel y 15,000 officers, representing a police-to-population ratio of 1.36 police officers per 1,000 inhabitants, with 9.5 per cent of the officers being women. The goal of the Haitian National Police strategic development plan for the period 2017-2021 is 18,000 officers, a ratio of 1.51 to 1,000, and 12 per cent women. Recruitment of a targeted 1,000 cadets for the 17-17104 3/19 S/2017/840 twenty-ninth promotion has continued with physical and medical tests. The construction, rehabilitation and improvement of the national police infrast ructure are ongoing, with 74 construction projects and 38 projects aimed at providing logistics equipment and furniture, including the construction of four police stations in the Artibonite Department and one in the Grand’Anse Department. During the reporting period, the procurement of crowd control and crime scene management kits was completed, with the required training delivered. 13. MINUSTAH continued to assist the national police in the consultation, adoption and implementation of its five-year strategic development plan, including through the application of a revised mentoring and advising approach devised as part of the Mission’s strategy for its transition to MINUJUSTH. United Nations police also continued to work with the national police force to st rengthen its capacity to address sexual and gender-based violence cases through advocacy and technical and financial support. That support included training on the investigation of sex crimes, conducted jointly with the coordination office for women ’s affairs and the gender-based violence teams of the national police. The Mission also provided technical and financial support to the Ministry of Women ’s Affairs and Rights for the organization of a workshop on women and the rule of law. D. Rule of law and human rights 14. Progress in the performance of the judiciary continued to be limited during the reporting period, owing primarily to pending appointments to the Supreme Court and a general strike called in July by court workers, which paralyzed the oper ation of courts of first instance nationwide until 2 August. In the absence of a government response to their demands for better wages, training and health insurance, workers resumed the strike on 22 August. After a meeting with workers, the Senate began negotiations with the Government to broker an agreement, and on 24 August, workers resumed their functions and criminal hearings recommenced. 15. On 3 August, the Senate proposed 11 candidates out of the 18 who had been shortlisted to fill six vacant seats on the Supreme Court (3 per seat, as constitutionally required). A further call for candidates to complete the list has yet to be issued. On 14 August, the Senate’s Commission on Justice, Security and National Defence ended a series of public forums on the draft criminal code and the draft criminal procedure code. The Senate began reviewing the draft law on legal aid in early August; once adopted, it will move to the Lower Chamber for review. Parliament, however, has yet to announce a calendar or procedures for the adoption of the drafts. 16. Through real-time case file management, the Office of the Public Prosecutor of Port-au-Prince closed 100 of the 281 cases examined. Meanwhile, legal aid offices handled 1,848 cases in Port-au-Prince, resulting in 1,003 releases, 47 convictions and 369 closed cases, and processed 386 pretrial detention cases in Les Cayes and Cap-Haïtien, closing 147 and leading to the release of 83 individuals. As at 21 August, under a new programme implemented by the Ministry of Justice and Public Security to accelerate hearings, the court of first instance in Port -auPrince had heard 44 cases, resulting in 13 convictions, 7 acquittals and 4 referrals. Also during the reporting period, a special office, established at the Ministry of Women’s Affairs and Rights to handle sexual and gender-based violence cases in Les Cayes, began processing 33 cases. 17. The above-mentioned progress notwithstanding, prolonged pretrial detention and prison overcrowding remain a serious human rights concern. As at 11 September, Haitian prisons held 11,544 detainees, including 394 women, and 4/19 17-17104 S/2017/840 307 male and 20 female juveniles. Of those detainees, 74 per cent were awaiting trial, reflecting an increase of 3 per cent since the issuance of my previous report. Deaths in detention increased to 158 as at 25 September, compared with the 113 reported during 2016. The first report of the special presidential commission on prison conditions has been submitted to the President; the implementation of its recommendations is still awaited. 18. The joint interim rule of law programme of MINUSTAH and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) continued to support key activities to reinforce the rule of law in Haiti, which included, inter alia, assistance with the finalization of the 2017-2019 strategic plan for the Superior Council of the Judiciary and the elaboration of the organic law on the Superior Court of Auditors and Administrative Disputes and the draft penitentiary law. In addition, MINUSTAH funded the holding of 18 nationwide training workshops on security management for Haitian correctional officers; the design of contingency plans for correctional officers in the event of major security incidents; the archiving of judicial files of the court of first instance of Port-au-Prince to safeguard vital legal records in the fight against corruption; and the training of 200 Haitian National Police officers in crowd control techniques and the purchase of the relevant equipment. 19. In the field of corrections, MINUSTAH continued to support the implementation of the strategic development plan of the Directorate of Prison Administration for the period 2017-2021 through the drafting of related action plans; the implementation of 15 directives, including on matters such as gender a nd mental health; the design of a road map to improve health services in prisons; and an analysis of deaths occurring in detention. In coordination with other stakeholders, MINUSTAH financed sanitation and hygiene measures to contain cholera in Haitian prisons and assisted with two rounds of cholera vaccinations for over 3,314 detainees in the civil prison of Port-au-Prince, while facilitating consultations to ensure effective procedures to prevent or properly react to similar health events. 20. Under its community violence reduction programme, MINUSTAH continued to support young people in vulnerable communities where gang violence had been prevalent, including by assisting in the social reinsertion of 80 juveniles, including 10 girls; providing sensitization activities on peacebuilding, civic responsibility, leadership, gender, conflict prevention and mitigation; and funding vocational training and income-generating activities. During the reporting period, the programme reached 87,711 beneficiaries through 31 projects totalling $5 million before its completion on 30 September. 21. MINUSTAH continued to advocate more systematic investigations into the use of force and firearms by national police officers. Discrimination based on social class, age, disability, sexual orientation and gender remains widespread, including during law enforcement operations, resulting in unequal treatment of vulnerable groups before the law. Haitian civil society organizations, international partners and MINUSTAH highlighted human rights concerns with respect to draft laws on good moral conduct and on marriage, adopted by the Senate on 30 June and 1 August, the provisions of which appeared to target lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex people and other minority communities. The Government has yet to assign the human rights portfolio to a specific ministry or to appoint a new national Ombudsperson for human rights, a position for which Parliament has shortlisted three candidates. Impunity persists, including with regard to the most serious violations committed in the past, with no progress recorded in the landmark judicial cases concerning Jean-Claude Duvalier and Jean Léopold Dominique. 17-17104 5/19 S/2017/840 E. Humanitarian situation and development 22. Haiti continues to face multiple development challenges that require the implementation of structural reforms to ensure effective delivery by the national institutions, in order to meet the basic needs of the people and to build up the resilience needed to cope with recurrent humanitarian c rises. 23. While hurricanes Irma and Maria, which passed over northern Haiti on 7 and 21 September, did not cause major damage, the country remains vulnerable and exposed to natural hazards. Long-term development challenges arise as a result of systemic deficiencies, such as persistent vertical and horizontal inequalities, a lack of access to water and sanitation, insufficient investment in health care and education and an unreliable power supply. The Government continues to assume greater leadership over the development agenda, as evidenced by the “Caravan of Change” programme and by investments designed to strengthen the social and economic infrastructure. 24. The 2017 portion of the Haiti Humanitarian Response Plan for the biennium 2017-2018 has raised less than 20 per cent ($57 million) of the $291.5 million necessary to enable the delivery of emergency assistance to 2.4 million vulnerable people. The vast majority of this assistance has been focused on measures to alleviate food insecurity and to provide shelter and non-food items. 25. The fight against cholera continues, and the number of suspected cases has dropped as a result. From 1 January to 2 September, the Ministry of Public Health and Population reported 9,277 suspected cholera cases, compared with 25,276 for the corresponding period in 2016, and the death toll fell by 57 per cent (245 deaths in 2016). Nevertheless, the fact that there were 105 deaths must still be deplored. On 10 August, the Prime Minister of Haiti, Jack Guy Lafontant, and my Sp ecial Representative for Haiti co-chaired the eighth meeting of the High-level Committee for the Elimination of Cholera. The Prime Minister reconfirmed the 10 -year national plan for the elimination of cholera as the basis of the new Government ’s policy approach, as well as the renewed engagement of the Government with the United Nations and other international partners to that end. The Government and its partners also agreed to an assessment of the implementation of the medium -term plan for 2016-2018, with a view to prioritizing short- and medium-term interventions and formulating a realistic funding strategy. The United Nations Special Envoy for Haiti is spearheading efforts to secure the funds necessary to implement both the national plan and the new United Nations approach to cholera in Haiti, which will be critical to sustaining progress in ending the transmission of the disease. Of particular concern is funding for the rapid response teams, which risk being underfunded by the end of the year. 26. As part of the new United Nations approach, a community-based pilot project is under way in Mirebalais, which includes, inter alia, the implementation of community projects identified through a consultative process that involves local representatives and formal and informal leaders, as well as families affected by cholera and other vulnerable groups. 27. Building on the reductions attained in the number of new HIV infections and AIDS-related deaths, the Ministry of Public Health and Population approved the national multisectoral strategic plan on HIV and AIDS for 2018 -2023, formulated by the national AIDS programme in conjunction with national and international partners. The plan is aimed at eliminating HIV in Haiti by 2030. 28. As at 3 August, the International Organization for Migration had registered 215,121 people who had returned from the Dominican Republic since June 2015. 6/19 17-17104 S/2017/840 This group will likely continue to need assistance in determining their legal status. Since the 2010 earthquake, 37,867 persons have rema ined internally displaced in 27 camps without access to long-term solutions. 29. Real economic growth remained sluggish, and inflation stood at double digits, peaking at 15.6 per cent in July 2017. Nevertheless, the Haitian gourde has appreciated for the first time since January 2011, in part owing to political stability. The increase in capital expenditure though investments related to the “Caravan of Change” signals a policy shift to make fiscal room for priority spending through the elimination of fuel subsidies and the rationalization of spending in goods and services. Despite the obvious financial constraints, development partners have been advocating strong allocations to social and growth -enhancing sectors. Domestic borrowing and the recourse to non-concessional borrowing are factors that could jeopardize macroeconomic stability, which is necessary to continue to reinforce institutions and promote growth. The restructuring of the unprofitable State -owned electricity company, aimed at eliminating governme nt transfers so as to cover its deficit, could create fiscal space to increase investment in infrastructure, health and education. 30. Consultations between the Government and development partners have begun on a joint initiative to foster aid effectiveness. On 1 September, the Government announced a ban prohibiting 257 non-governmental organizations from operating in Haiti owing to non-compliance with State regulations, including the failure to provide periodic reports to the Government. The United Nations country team is formulating the joint workplan with national counterparts, following the signing on 29 June of the United Nations Development Assistance Framework for the period 2017-2021. The Framework is aligned with the national development strategy an d the government programme, and prioritizes poverty reduction and the promotion of employment; access to and the use of basic, good-quality social services; gender equality and protection; resilience; and improved governance. The country team is also providing support for the nationalization of the Sustainable Development Goals. Although the process needs to gain momentum, it is expected that, by the end of 2017, an integrated rapid analysis and a multi-agency mission on mainstreaming, acceleration and policy support should allow for the creation of a government road map on the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. 31. As at 22 August, MINUSTAH had disbursed $2,999,394.32 of the $3 million quick-impact project budget for the fiscal year 2016/17, implementing 58 projects that benefited 2,150,592 people, including 1,107,908 women. Projects were focused primarily on the rule of law, good governance, public infrastructure and the provision of potable water to prevent waterborne diseases, including cholera. III. Transition to the United Nations Mission for Justice Support in Haiti 32. In keeping with resolution 2350 (2017) and with a view to ensuring that residual stabilization needs in the country are addressed, MINUSTAH continued the implementation of both its comprehensive withdrawal and the joint MINUSTAH United Nations country team transition plan so as to ensure a smo oth transition of both assets and tasks to MINUJUSTH, the Haitian authorities, the country team and other partners, by mission closure on 15 October. 33. The core mandated areas addressed by MINUSTAH, including the good offices function and focused engagement in the rule of law, justice reforms, police development and human rights, will be transitioned to MINUJUSTH, while United Nations support in the area of governance will be delivered through the country 17-17104 7/19 S/2017/840 team, resources permitting. With respect to the rule of law, the joint interim programme continued to be the cornerstone for the transition process, with several agencies, funds and programmes taking on activities with a view to paving the way for long-term institution- and capacity-building. MINUJUSTH will work closely with the country team to ensure the further transition of tasks necessary to pursue rule of law reforms. Other activities, such as border management and specialized policing functions, have been transferred to the national authoritie s. 34. Throughout the reporting period, my Special Representative and other members of the Mission’s senior leadership team held consultations with the Heads of State and Government on the transition process and travelled to all the departmental capitals to inform local authorities, political parties and civil society on the changes in the United Nations presence in the country. This engagement with a wide range of actors at the national and local levels was complemented by a public communication strategy that made extensive use of Radio MINUSTAH FM, as well as social media, media engagement by senior leadership, the publication of articles in Haitian media and targeted advocacy events. A. Military component 35. MINUSTAH continued the execution of the staggered military withdrawal, in line with the agreed plan and in close coordination with the Mission ’s police component, the national police and mission support. The Philippine company ceased operations on 15 July and was repatriated in the first half o f August. This was followed by the ceasing of operations of the Argentine military hospital on 15 August and the subsequent repatriation of its staff. The Brazilian infantry battalion and two engineering companies, from Brazil and Paraguay, ceased operations on 10 September, following a temporary reactivation of operations owing to hurricane Irma. The Bangladeshi aviation unit, the last operational military unit, ceased operations on 20 September. All remaining military elements will be repatriated by 15 October. 36. By 5 October, MINUSTAH will have withdrawn a total of 2,147 military personnel since the adoption of resolution 2350 (2017); the remaining 195 troops, including 26 military staff officers, will cease operations on 7 October and be repatriated by 15 October. Throughout the drawdown process, the military component’s engineering units were actively engaged in camp closures and refurbishment, while troops provided security for the camp closures and handover processes to the relevant government and private property owners. B. Police component 37. MINUSTAH proceeded with the reduction of its police component and completed the withdrawal of four formed police units on 18 August, following the ceasing of operations and repatriation of the units of Bangladesh (unit 2), Pakistan, Jordan (unit 1) and India (unit 3), thereby reaching the authorized strength of seven formed police units with 980 officers for MINUJUSTH. In preparation for the establishment of the new mission, three formed police units are currently deployed in the West Department and one each in the Artibonite, Grand Anse, Nippes and North Departments, where they continue to provide operational support to the national police in areas where their presence is still weak. 38. In parallel, the number of individual police officers continues to be reduced. By the time the Mission closes, 477 officers will have been repatriated in order to reach the strength of 274 officers deployed in all 10 Departments of the country, in 8/19 17-17104 S/2017/840 implementation of a new mentorship and advisory programme targeting middle and senior management cadres of the national police rolled out between May and September, at the central and local levels, in close consultation with the leadership of the national police. The ongoing review and implementation of the new approach to police development will be instrumental in strengthening the capacities of senior police officers and promoting their full professionalization in line with the priorities of the 2017-2021 strategic plan. C. Civilian component 39. MINUSTAH continued to implement its civilian drawdown plan while focusing on the transition of core mandated areas to MINUJUSTH, including good offices, the rule of law, human rights and police development, and to ensure adequate support capacities for mission closure. In keeping with a staggered civilian drawdown plan, the Mission separated 621 staff between June and September; the remaining 611 staff will be separated by 15 October. 40. The Mission also proceeded with the reduction of its physical footprint, closing 27 sites since the issuance of my previous report. Those include 16 police co-locations that were transferred to the national police and 5 formed police unit camps that closed following the repatriation of 4 units and the relocation of the Nepalese unit in the North Department from Cap-Haïtien to Quartier Morin. Six sites remain to be closed by 15 October, and 29 camps will be transferred to MINUJUSTH, including 13 police co-locations. Three new police co-locations have been established, while efforts continue with regard to establishing a fourth. Two facilities are planned for closure during the period from 16 October to 31 December 2017. In keeping with its asset disposal plan, MINUSTAH identified 7,880 assets for transfer to MINUJUSTH, as well as gifted assets valued at nearly $70 million. 41. Two commercial helicopters arrived in the Mission area on 11 September, replacing the military aviation capacity provided by Bangladesh. With the ceasing of operations of the Argentine military hospital on 15 August, level I and II medical services are provided by the United Nations clinic and local hospitals, respectively, while a level III hospital in Santo Domingo stands read y to receive medical evacuations as performed by an Aeromedical Evacuation Team now in place under a commercial contract. IV. Legacy of the United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti 42. Established by Security Council resolution 1542 (2004), with a mandate to create a secure and stable environment within which the constitutional and political processes of Haiti could take place, MINUSTAH has engaged in a joint endeavour with the Haitian authorities to build a foundation for lasting stability and a better future for the country. 43. At that time, Haiti was in a profound state of instability and widespread political violence. The executive branch of power was under provisional leadership, Parliament was non-functional and the Superior Council of the Judiciary had yet to be established. State authority was limited to parts of the capital, Port -au-Prince, and a climate of lawlessness and impunity prevailed with respect to human rights violations, including sexual violence against women and girls. A weak national police force was unable to effectively address threats from armed gangs in urban slums, including kidnapping, which peaked at 722 reported cases in 2006. 17-17104 9/19 S/2017/840 44. The many setbacks and challenges notwithstanding, including the disaster caused by the January 2010 earthquake and at least six major hurricanes, substantial headway was made, and today the Haitian people enjoy a considerable degree of security and greater stability. Thirteen years after the arrival of MINUSTAH, political violence has significantly diminished and immediate threats from armed gangs, whose origins are rooted in social and political divisions, have been significantly reduced. Support for elections has contributed to three peace ful presidential handovers, including from one democratically elected President to another from the opposition in 2011, and to President Moïse in February 2017. All three branches of power are now largely functioning. Municipal councils are in place, and the establishment of democratic structures at the level of the smallest territorial unit of Haiti, the communal sections, denotes real progress, despite the currently stalled indirect elections. Constitutional provisions have been adopted to make governance more inclusive by increasing the participation of women through a quota system. At the same time, with only three women elected to the Chamber of Deputies (Lower Chamber) and one to the Senate (Upper Chamber), more binding measures are needed to guarantee their application. 45. The Haitian National Police has significantly strengthened its leadership cadre. As of September 2017, the overall strength of the force had reached some 14,000 officers, of whom 9.5 per cent were women, thereby doubling its officer s-topopulation ratio, with 1.3 officers per 1,000 inhabitants; this compares with 6,300 officers in 2004, including 5.6 per cent women and 0.6 officers per 1,000 inhabitants. Further, the force has demonstrated increased capacity in the planning and execution of complex operations, including the securing of elections and crowd control, while simultaneously performing routine tasks in combating crime and more effectively maintaining public order. Most recently, the Mission ’s police component has worked closely with the national police force to help it to develop and launch its latest strategic development plan (2017 -2021), focusing in particular on professional development, including through improved internal management and oversight, and on the expansion of its geographical coverage. 46. Restoring and maintaining the rule of law, including through the promotion and protection of human rights, has constituted a key element of the Mission ’s work over the years. Progress has been made in critical oversight institutions, such as the General Inspectorate of the Haitian National Police and the Office of the Ombudsperson, the latter of which was accredited in December 2013 as a national human rights institution with “A” status by the Global Alliance of National Human Rights Institutions. Efforts have also been made to advance crucial legislative reforms, in particular regarding a criminal code, a code of criminal procedure and a penitentiary law, all awaiting adoption by Parliament. Regarding the independence of the judiciary, three laws adopted in 2007 have played a key role in the administration and regulation of the justice system, leading to the opening of the School of Magistrates and the first, and still only, juvenile tribunal outside the capital, both in 2009, and to the establishment of the Superior Council of the Judiciary in 2012, which will require continuing substantial support to allow it to fully play its role as the guardian of an independent and impartial judicial system. 47. In 2008, MINUSTAH supported the Government in taking the first step in establishing a legal aid office in Cité Soleil, in order to expand access to justice. Three years later, 20 legal aid offices supported by MINUSTAH and other partners were established nationwide to fill major gaps in access to justice by the large majority of Haitians. Today, a draft law on legal aid is before Parliament; when adopted, the law will institutionalize such aid within the wider justice reform. Since 2014, through a model jurisdiction approach, MINUSTAH has focused its support for the justice system in the three largest cities of the country, Port -au-Prince, 10/19 17-17104 S/2017/840 Cap-Haïtien and Les Cayes, supporting the provision of legal assistance to individuals in prolonged pretrial detention and thereby reducing the number of such individuals detained for more than two years by 37 per cent. 48. Since 2004, MINUSTAH has supported the Government in the implementation of human rights mechanisms such as the universal periodic review and in the establishment of committees overseeing the implementation of specific treaties, such as the Convention on the Rights of the Child. The Mission assisted the Superior Council of the Judiciary and the Inspectorate General of the Haitian National Police in strengthening their respective internal mechanisms for investigations into allegations of violations of human rights committed by police officers and judges. It also assisted the Office of the Ombudsperson in developing its capacity to investigate allegations of human rights violations. Finally, MINUSTAH supported civil society organizations in strengthening their ability to act as guardians of respect for fundamental rights both under Haitian law and through regional and international human rights mechanisms. 49. The community violence reduction programme, introduced by the Mission in 2009, represents a landmark approach in United Nations support for Haiti and serves as a model for future peacekeeping operations. Following the Mission ’s provision of uniformed personnel support to deter gang violence, the programme targeted urban slums both within and outside Port-au-Prince, in areas that were historically politicized or under the influence of organized criminal elements. Aimed at building the social foundations for peace and countering gang dynamics and criminality, its grass-roots community projects have reached more than 6 million Haitians, including 3.8 million women, addressing high youth unemployment, poor infrastructure, fragile security institutions and limited access to justice . 50. MINUSTAH has implemented 1,788 quick-impact projects over the past 13 years, in line with its mandate and the priorities identified by the authorities and civil society. The projects have been focused primarily on the rule of law, good governance, public infrastructure, income-generating activities, environmental protection and the provision of potable water to prevent waterborne diseases, including cholera. They have directly benefited some 7 million people, including 3.7 million women, for a total of $49,590,822. 51. Accompanying Haiti and closely supporting its stabilization efforts in the extension of State authority, not least in gang-controlled urban centres, in strengthening its institutions and in the development and professionalization of th e national police, my Special Representatives have consistently sought to promote dialogue as a peaceful solution to help to defuse tensions between competing political elements, which have often impeded progress in the country’s political and democratic development. In reaching out to Haitian authorities, political parties, parliamentarians, private sector and civil society representatives and women ’s organizations, they have consistently advocated national consensus in order to nurture a democratic political culture and build support for a common vision for the country. During the tenure of my current Special Representative, three dialogue processes have taken place. They have helped to create conditions for the successful organization of the electoral cycle, which today has opened a window of opportunity to address the immense challenges still facing the country. 52. Those many clear accomplishments aside, instances of sexual exploitation and abuse, which are addressed in paragraph 58 below, and the outbre ak of cholera, which has taken more than 9,600 lives since 2010, continue to cast a shadow over the relationship between the United Nations and the Haitian people. I share the deep regret expressed by my predecessor for the terrible suffering that the peop le of Haiti have endured as a result of the epidemic. The United Nations has a moral 17-17104 11/19 S/2017/840 responsibility to the victims, as well as to support Haiti in overcoming the epidemic and in building sound water, sanitation and health -care systems. To that end, I reaffirm my commitment to addressing the issue through the new United Nations approach. V. Planning for the United Nations Mission for Justice Support in Haiti 53. Planning for the establishment of MINUJUSTH is well advanced, in line with the mandated parameters set out in resolution 2350 (2017) and the strategic objectives and conceptual framework outlined in detail in my previous report. The advance team, comprising the 15 key substantive and support positions of the future mission, was established in September, including my Deputy Special Representative, Mamadou Diallo of Guinea, who will also serve as Resident an d Humanitarian Coordinator and Resident Representative of UNDP. The team is working to ensure that MINUJUSTH is operational from the first day of its mandate, including by collaborating with MINUSTAH on the ground for a smooth handover. It is also working to prepare, both politically and operationally, for the further build-up of the Mission. 54. In that regard, I underline the importance of signing a status -of-forces agreement for MINUJUSTH before 16 October. In accordance with past practice, on 11 August 2017, the Under-Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations wrote on my behalf to the Minister for Foreign Affairs of Haiti, proposing that the agreement between the United Nations and the Government of Haiti concerning the status of MINUSTAH be applied mutatis mutandis to MINUJUSTH. 55. Overall planning is based on a staffing complement of 351 civilian personnel, including 160 international staff, 185 national staff and 6 United Nations Volunteers, subject to a legislative review of the new Mission ’s full budget for the 2017/18 period. All civilian components, including substantive, support and security, will be based at two main locations in Port-au-Prince and equipped with the mobility necessary to address needs in the country’s 10 Departments. In accordance with the human resources strategy under which international civilian staff are to be selected from rosters and a similar competitive process is to be undertaken for national civilian staff, recruitment has accelerated to ensure that deployment for MINUJUSTH is being staggered, with the first wave of key positions to be in place on the ground on 16 October in order to ensure full continuity of operations. The Mission’s full staffing complement will be reached by the end of 2017. 56. In September, the police component reached the levels and positioning envisaged for MINUJUSTH; it will be ready and operational on 16 October. Individual police officers and some contracted civilian police exp erts will be co-located at 17 Haitian National Police facilities in the capital and at the departmental administrative headquarters of the national police. Of the seven formed police units, including one with an embedded special weapons and tactics capacity, three will be based in Port-au-Prince (West Department) and the other four in the North, Artibonite, Nippes and Grand’Anse Departments. In addition, a complement of 38 Government-provided corrections personnel will be in place in 18 prisons and 4 police detention facilities. Steps have been taken to ensure the air assets necessary to deploy security forces rapidly throughout Haiti in support of the national police, and to protect civilians within the Mission’s capabilities and areas of deployment, including United Nations personnel and assets. While two commercial helicopters currently provide aviation capacity, the Department of 12/19 17-17104 S/2017/840 Peacekeeping Operations has also approached Member States with a request for police helicopters that are more effective in the transportation of certain types of crowd control equipment and armed personnel for deployment in emergency situations. 57. The Department of Safety and Security has worked with the designated MINUSTAH official and the United Nations country team to reduce the geographical security areas from five to two, to reflect the revised MINUJUSTH and country team footprint. This allows for a more centralized approach to responding to United Nations security management system requirements countrywide. In that regard, the use of mobile security teams with a focus on enabling MINUJUSTH activities will be embedded into the new Mission’s security structure; enhanced coordination mechanisms with Haitian security entities are also being developed. VI. Conduct and discipline 58. In line with recommendations made in my report entitled “Special measures for protection from sexual exploitation and abuse: a new approach ” (A/71/818 and Corr.1 and Add.1), the Mission appointed a Victims’ Rights Advocate, a function that will be transferred to MINUJUSTH. It also further strengthened its support for victims of sexual exploitation and abuse in collaboration with the country team. The needs of such victims are of primary concern to the Organization, which is strengthening its efforts to ensure that necessary support is provided to them, including through the Trust Fund in Support of Victims of Sexual Exploitation and Abuse, established by my predecessor in 2016, and through my appointment of J ane Connors of Australia as the first Victims’ Rights Advocate for the United Nations. The Mission has worked towards full compliance with the zero -tolerance policy on sexual exploitation and abuse and other misconduct, and the number of cases has significantly decreased over the past seven years. The United Nations deeply regrets instances of sexual exploitation and abuse that have occurred during the deployment of MINUSTAH and is strongly committed to supporting victims of such exploitation and abuse. VII. Financial aspects 59. The General Assembly, by its resolution 71/302, authorized the SecretaryGeneral to enter into commitments for the maintenance of MINUSTAH in a total amount not exceeding $90.0 million for the period from 1 July 2017 to 31 December 2017. 60. As at 20 September 2017, unpaid assessed contributions to the Special Account for MINUSTAH amounted to $119.6 million. The total outstanding assessed contributions for all peacekeeping operations as at that date amounted to $4,095.5 million. 61. Reimbursement of troop and formed police costs has been made for the period up to 30 June 2017, while reimbursement of the costs of contingent -owned equipment has been made for the period up to 31 March 2017, in accordance with the quarterly payment schedule. 17-17104 13/19 S/2017/840 VIII. Observations and recommendations 62. The support provided by MINUSTAH to the Government and people of Haiti has resulted in the strengthening and, in some instances, the establishment of State institutions, which are key to ensuring the conduct of the country ’s political and constitutional processes. It is critical that the country make full use of the current window of opportunity created by its relative stability to advance dialogue on additional measures required to consolidate the gains made in security and stabilization over the past few years, create greater social and political cohesion and truly reinforce State institutions so that they can meet the needs of the Haitian people. 63. In that regard, the steps taken by Parliament and the Superior Council of the Judiciary towards the establishment of the Permanent Electoral Council are encouraging. Similar steps are now needed for the establishment of the Constitutional Council. It is important that, while maintaining their independence, all three branches of power work together, in a transp arent and inclusive manner and within the shortest time frame possible, to put those institutions in place. MINUJUSTH stands ready to play an effective role in supporting the consolidation of the country’s stability. Similarly, I call on the Haitian authorities to swiftly complete the indirect elections process to broaden citizen participation in important decision-making, particularly regarding the rule of law, and thus in the sustainable stability and development of the country. 64. I take note of President Moïse’s continued calls for national unity and promises of an institutional reform process, as well as his initiative to address a number of major issues facing the country through the establishment of various presidential commissions, comprising representatives from different national sectors. I hope that these commissions can meaningfully contribute to a long awaited national dialogue. I also take note of calls from a broad cross section of Haitian society for reforms to simplify the electoral cycle, establish a Permanent Electoral Council and strengthen legal oversight bodies, among other things, with a view to stabilizing the country’s democratic institutions and reforming its governance. With this in mind, I encourage the President and Parliament to examine the most effective and speedy way forward in starting an inclusive national dialogue. Such a process would require comprehensive action by all actors, including State institutions, political parties, the private sector and civil society, to establish a forward-looking agenda capable of delivering tangible results for sustainable stability and development. 65. I welcome the outreach initiative by the Senate to consult with civil society and judicial experts on the draft criminal code and the draft c ode of criminal procedure, pending their adoption by Parliament. I cannot overemphasize the importance of the adoption of this long overdue legislation to advancing crucial legislative reforms. I encourage the parliamentary Chambers to agree upon an efficient strategy and realistic calendar for the review and adoption of the drafts as a matter of urgency. I look forward to the vote by the Lower Chamber on the draft law on legal aid already adopted by the Senate, which will provide a framework for the establishment of a coordination mechanism, so critical in effectively reducing instances of prolonged pretrial detention. Together, all of these efforts will have the positive impact on the justice system so long desired. 66. Following the non-extension of the mandate of the Independent Expert on the situation of human rights in Haiti, I note that a replacement for the national Ombudsperson for human rights is still outstanding, and I encourage the Haitian authorities to expeditiously complete the ongoing process to fill this important 14/19 17-17104 S/2017/840 independent position. While I welcome the continued engagement by Haiti with international mechanisms, such as treaty bodies and thematic special procedures of the Human Rights Council, I encourage State institutions, the national h uman rights institution and civil society to meaningfully engage with the human rights component of MINUJUSTH to strengthen the promotion and protection of human rights in Haiti, including through the fight against impunity. 67. Further action is required to protect and promote women’s rights. The lack of formal socioeconomic opportunities, institutional deficiencies, recurring incidents of sexual and gender-based violence and the absence of political will remain constraints on the empowerment of women and their full participation in decisionmaking for the future of the country. While women constitute 52 per cent of the population, their participation in all three branches of power falls below constitutional requirements. It is essential that the Haitian au thorities put in place binding measures for the application of the constitutional minimum quota of 30 per cent women in public office. The election of women to municipal and local councils and assemblies in sufficient numbers to meet that requirement will create a solid foundation on which to build future participation of women at the national level. The adoption and promulgation of a gender equality bill, as well as the implementation of the national policy on gender equality (2014 -2034) and the national action plan on gender equality (2014-2020), should also be pursued to further advance women’s empowerment and address gender inequality. 68. The continued prioritization, by the Government, of the institutional development and professionalization of the national police and the protection of the apolitical nature of that institution is critical. The provision of adequate financial resources for the police and the prisons administration will serve as one indicator of the Government’s commitment. I welcome the adoption of the new strategic development plan of the national police covering the period 2017 -2021. As MINUJUSTH starts implementing its mandate, I look forward to working with the Government and the national police, including the corrections system, as well as the international partners of Haiti, in supporting the Mission ’s focused implementation. In keeping with the request of the Security Council for a successful and responsible transition to MINUJUSTH, and to facilitate the timely deployment of the new Mission and its personnel, I encourage the Government of Haiti to respond positively, and before 16 October, to my proposal that the agreement on the status of MINUSTAH be applied mutatis mutandis to MINUJUSTH. 69. Mindful of both the capacity-development needs of the national police, including the prisons administration, and the need to overcome the structural deficiencies in the rule of law, human rights and the justice sector in order for police work to be effective, I call on the international partners of Haiti to step up their bilateral and multilateral support to foster the Government ’s efforts in these areas, including through the strengthening of the justice system, of independent accountability institutions and of the national police, in order to finally put an end to all forms of impunity and ensure the delivery of justice and public safety for all. 70. I take note of the steps undertaken by the Government of Haiti to re -establish the Armed Forces, just as I have heard the voices of caution and c oncern raised by Haitian stakeholders over the conduct of the process. It is important that the process become a unifying national project, disassociated from personal or party politics, in order to meet the challenge of creating an apolitical body, as env isaged in the Constitution, that hold the confidence of the population. Such an initiative should not harm efforts, or redirect resources otherwise available, to strengthen the national police or to pursue broader development priorities. 17-17104 15/19 S/2017/840 71. The security, political and development agenda of Haiti can be shaped only by the national authorities and the Haitian people themselves. MINUJUSTH and the United Nations country team will need to build on Haitian leadership in consolidating the stabilization gains achieved since the establishment of MINUSTAH and in reinforcing the relevant national institutions. The partnership of the international community and the continued and coordinated support of Member States will be critical. I therefore call on the internationa l partners of Haiti to continue to optimize their support in helping the country to fully seize this opportunity to place its reconstituted institutions at the service of its development and the aspirations of its people. 72. Since her appointment in July, the United Nations Special Envoy for Haiti, Josette Sheeran, has mapped a clear, three-part strategy with regard to the cholera epidemic: (a) to ensure that the disease remains contained and that transmission is on a path to elimination; (b) to raise funds and conduct consultations with communities and victims to allow for the implementation of track 2 of the new United Nations approach to cholera in Haiti; and (c) to develop a lessons -learned exercise that will lead to tangible improvements in the way in which the United Nations operates around the world. In that regard, I encourage the Government to review the midterm strategy of its national cholera elimination plan to help align donor and United Nations support behind a prioritized and costed strategy. 73. As the Mission’s mandate approaches its end, I would like to express my gratitude to my Special Representative for Haiti, Sandra Honoré, for her invaluable contributions to the stability of the country. I also wish to express my gratitude to all former Special Representatives for their contributions to the stabilization of Haiti, as well as to the civilian and uniformed personnel who have served with MINUSTAH since 2004 for their unwavering commitment to achieving the Mission’s mandate over the past 13 years. They have worked closely with the United Nations country team and other partners, to whom I am equally grateful. In closing, I would like to pay special tribute to our beloved colleague and friend, the former Special Representative for Haiti, Hédi Annabi, who gave his life in the service of peacekeeping in the 2010 earthquake, and to all our fallen colleagues who were lost while serving the United Nations system in Haiti. I know that their efforts and ultimate sacrifice will not have been in vain and that the country’s full return to peace and prosperity will be their lasting legacy. 16/19 17-17104 S/2017/840 Annex Composition and strength of the police component of the United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti as at 20 September 2017 United Nations police officers Country Bangladesh Formed police units Women Men 1 16 Benin 1 12 Cameroon 2 4 Canada 6 34 Chad 2 4 Djibouti 21 2 1 6 Ethiopia 6 France 2 Germany 2 1 Ghana 1 Guinea 4 India Indonesia 6 1 Jordan 27 1 9 Mali 2 36 Nepal 17 Niger 8 33 Nigeria 1 1 Norway 3 3 Pakistan 1 13 1 Romania 6 1 7 Serbia 1 Slovakia 2 5 Togo 7 22 6 Senegal Sweden 127 11 Rwanda 17-17104 153 1 Portugal Russian Federation 293 4 Madagascar Philippines 140 2 Burkina Faso El Salvador Men 16 Brazil Colombia Women 21 119 14 143 5 3 Tunisia 10 Turkey 8 17/19 S/2017/840 United Nations police officers Country Men United States of America 6 Uruguay 2 Subtotal Total Grand total 18/19 Women Formed police units 47 334 381 Women Men 48 997 1 045 1 426 17-17104 S/2017/840 17-17104 19/19