Mandate of United Nations Justice Support Mission in Haiti Extended for Final Time, as Security Council Adopts Resolution 2466 (2019)
The Security Council decided today to extend the mandate of the United Nations Mission for Justice Support in Haiti (MINUJUSTH) for a final period of six months until 15 October and requested the Secretary-General to start planning for an appropriate integrated United Nations system presence in the Caribbean nation that would include a special political mission.
Adopting resolution 2466 (2019) under Chapter VII of the Charter of the United Nations by a vote of 13 in favour to none against with 2 abstentions (Dominican Republic and Russian Federation), it requested the Secretary-General to begin a gradual and phased withdrawal of MINUJUSTH personnel in advance of 15 October and to report to the Council within 30 days on the operational details of the special political mission.
It further requested the Secretary-General to report every 90 days on implementation of the resolution and encouraged the Government of Haiti and MINUJUSTH to continue working together towards achieving the benchmarks of the Mission’s two-year exit strategy.
Through the text, it underscored the urgency for the Government to take all appropriate steps to ensure respect for, and protection of, human rights by the Haitian National Police and the judiciary as an essential element of the country’s stability, and called on MINUJUSTH to provide monitoring and support in line with its mandate in that regard.
It also requested the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Haiti to keep playing a good offices and advocacy role at the political level to ensure full mandate implementation, including through close coordination with the Government on developing a political strategy to address challenges to progress towards the rule of law.
Speaking after the adoption, the representative of the United States, which submitted the text, said the resolution sets the stage for a non-peacekeeping United Nations presence in Haiti after more than 15 years. His country is eager to set up a special political mission, he said, adding that, in the interim, it expects the Government of Haiti and MINUJUSTH to continue to work closely together. Now is the time for the Government to assume its responsibilities, he said, calling on all Haitian actors to pursue constructive dialogue to resolve political challenges.
In the same vein, France’s representative, noting the resolution’s adoption under Chapter VII, said that, not only is a new page being turned in Haiti, but a new chapter is beginning, and that his country is committed to ensuring successful cooperation between Haiti and the Organization.
Emphasizing the need for a smooth transition, Peru’s representative said security conditions on the ground and Haiti’s capacity to guarantee security across its territory must be taken into account. He added that the special political mission must be provided with the necessary human and financial resources.
Recalling the Council’s consultations on Haiti last week, the Russian Federation’s representative said his delegation did not understand how human rights could still be deemed a threat to international peace and security in a country where conflict ended long ago. He expressed disappointment that the United States blatantly ignored the concerns of other Council members but expressed support for the people and Government of Haiti who in six months will take full responsibility for their country’s future.
China’s representative said he voted in favour in the interest of Haiti and the region, adding however that the Council should be focused on helping that country with peace and security issues without getting too involved with domestic human rights concerns. He hoped Council members will remain united during consultations on the special political mission and promote peace, stability and development in Haiti.
The representative of the Dominican Republic noted that the current Mission’s mandate will end around the time that elections are expects to be held in Haiti. He recalled that the work of the Council is to ensure international peace and security, and that the transition to the special political mission takes place in the best interest of Haiti’s people.
The representative of Germany, Council President for April, speaking in his national capacity, agreed with his counterparts from Peru and the Dominican Republic that the United Nations should remain engaged with Haiti and that the transition to a special political mission should be a smooth one. Stressing that human rights is a question of security, he added that Haiti is among the countries of the world most vulnerable to climate change and natural hazards, and that his delegation regretted that it was not possible to include a reference to that in today’s resolution.
The meeting began at 10:24 a.m. and ended at 10:38 a.m.