Haiti: Open Briefing : What’s In Blue : Security Council Report

Tomorrow morning (28 August), the Security Council will convene for an open briefing on Haiti. The assembly was requested by Panama and the US, the co-penholders on the file. The anticipated briefers are Secretary-General António Guterres, Executive Director of UNICEF Catherine Russell, and a civil society consultant.

Guterres is anticipated to temporary on humanitarian, safety, and political points in Haiti. He is prone to spotlight the devastating influence of violence perpetrated by armed gangs. In a 12 August press briefing, the outgoing UN Humanitarian Coordinator for Haiti, Ulrika Richardson, described the state of affairs within the nation’s capital, Port-au-Prince, as “strikingly horrific”. She mentioned that over 1.3 million persons are internally displaced on account of gang violence, half of them kids, and roughly 3,000 individuals have been killed in gang-related incidents for the reason that starting of the yr.

The use of sexual violence as a tactic to determine dominance and punish communities stays a serious concern. In 2024, the UN Integrated Office in Haiti (BINUH) verified instances of sexual violence affecting 523 women, 142 girls, and 43 boys, whereas humanitarian service suppliers recorded 3,598 instances of gender-based violence.

Guterres and a number of other different audio system are prone to deal with the regarding meals safety state of affairs within the nation, the place acute meals insecurity is pushed by escalating armed gang violence, protracted financial decline, and elevated meals inflation. Haiti is one in all 5 “hotspots of highest concern” recognized in a latest joint report by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the World Food Programme (WFP) which supplies early warning for hotspots the place acute meals insecurity is prone to worsen within the interval from June to October. According to the report, “hotspots of highest concern” are areas the place populations are in Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) Phase 5 (disaster) in addition to hotspots liable to deterioration in direction of catastrophic circumstances; that’s, the place individuals in IPC Phase 4 (emergency) face “worsening drivers and access constraints that could lead to an escalation in food insecurity”. The report says that in Haiti—the place pockets of the inhabitants are already in IPC Phase 5—important ranges of acute meals insecurity are prone to worsen within the outlook interval.

Tomorrow, Guterres is prone to urge the worldwide group to do extra to assist the humanitarian response in Haiti. Despite the deteriorating state of affairs, the humanitarian response has remained severely underfunded, with solely 11.5 % of the 2025 UN Humanitarian Response Plan for Haiti having been funded as at 27 August.

Russell is anticipated to temporary on the alarming state of affairs of kids within the nation. According to the Secretary-General’s most up-to-date annual report on kids and armed battle, dated 17 June, 2,269 grave violations had been dedicated in 2024 in opposition to 1,373 kids in Haiti. (The six grave violations, as decided by the Security Council, are: little one recruitment and use, killing and maiming, rape and different types of sexual violence, assaults on colleges and hospitals, abductions, and the denial of humanitarian entry.)

In mild of the size of the violations, the Secretary-General added the Viv Ansanm gang coalition (“living together” in Haitian Creole) to the annexes of his report, which record events which have dedicated grave violations in opposition to kids. Viv Ansanm was listed for the recruitment and use and the killing and maiming of kids, rape and different types of sexual violence in opposition to kids, and assaults on colleges and hospitals. This marked the primary time that the Secretary-General listed an actor from Haiti in his annual report on kids and armed battle.

Tomorrow, Russell is probably going to attract the Council’s consideration to the surge in grave violations in Haiti, significantly instances of recruitment and use of kids and sexual violence—together with gang rape. With roughly half of the gang members estimated to be underneath 18 years of age, a number of audio system—together with the civil society briefer—are anticipated to focus on the significance of demobilisation and reintegration efforts, together with within the framework of the handover protocol settlement signed in 2024 between the UN and Haitian authorities, and will name for acceptable funding for such processes.

Russell may describe how the growing insecurity facing humanitarian personnel is negatively affecting help to kids. She might name for secure, fast, and unimpeded entry for the supply of humanitarian support and for pressing motion to make sure safety for youngsters and the complete realisation of their rights, together with their proper to a peaceable childhood.

Council members are prone to condemn all violence in opposition to civilians, together with the pressured recruitment and use of kids and the widespread use of sexual violence as a tactic to regulate the inhabitants, and name for accountability for these violations. Participants may categorical deep concern at assaults on civilian infrastructure corresponding to schools and hospitals.

Regarding the political state of affairs, a number of audio system might be aware of steps to advance the political transition in Haiti, such because the drafting of the revised constitutional textual content and the appointment of Laurent Saint-Cyr to the rotating presidency of the Transitional Presidential Council (TPC). At the identical time, some might stress that the 7 February 2026 deadline for the set up of a newly elected management is approaching whereas gangs stay answerable for giant areas of Port-au-Prince in addition to elements of different departments, undermining the prospects for the secure holding of the elections and constitutional referendum.

Several members might name for added assist for the Haitian authorities and the Kenya-led Multinational Security Support (MSS) mission—the authorisation of which expires on 2 October—with a purpose to restore stability within the nation.

During a 20 August assembly of the Organization of American States (OAS) Permanent Council on Haiti, the US announced that, alongside Panama, it would “seek authorization of a UN Support Office” to “properly resource” worldwide efforts to struggle the gangs. (The institution of a UN Support Office for the MSS mission is a key proposal of the Secretary-General’s 24 February letter containing suggestions on the UN’s position in assist of Haiti. With Washington remaining the principal supplier of economic assist to the MSS mission, Council members have been ready for the US to find out its place on the Secretary-General’s suggestions—which had been unclear till lately—earlier than advancing proposals on the subsequent steps for Haiti.)

At the 20 August OAS assembly, the US additionally referred to the necessity for “the next international force” in Haiti to be appropriately resourced, a reference that has been interpreted as indicating doable US plans to pursue a re-shaping of the MSS mission. Tomorrow, the US would possibly describe and broaden on its plans for searching for Council authorisation for the UN Support Office and the MSS mission.

Some members might take a extra guarded method and urge the Haitian authorities and the worldwide group to deal with addressing the foundation causes of the disaster within the nation. Several members might stress the significance of Haitian management and possession of all political and safety initiatives. Speakers may stress the necessity to improve and make sure the full implementation of the arms embargo and the sanctions measures imposed by the Council.

Tags: Haiti, Insights on the Americas