UN / HAITI BINUH

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25-Jun-2019 00:02:41
United Nations Security Council adopted a resolution to transform the UN Mission for Justice Support in Haiti (MINUJUSTH) into a special political mission, taking place after the current mission’s mandate ends in October this year. UNIFEED

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STORY: UN / HAITI BINUH
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SOURCE: UNIFEED
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DATELINE: 25 JUNE 2019, NEW YORK CITY

SHOTLIST:

FILE

1. Exterior shot, UN Headquarters

25 JUNE 2019, NEW YORK CITY

2. Pan left, Security Council voting
3. Close up, Council’s president voting
4. Wide shot, Council in session
5. SOUNDBITE (English) Jonathan Cohen, Acting Permanent Representative of the U.S. to the United Nations:
“As a longtime friend and partner to Haiti, the United States is clear-eyed about the challenges that lie ahead. It is essential for the Government of Haiti, in partnership with the United Nations and the United States, to recognize the great opportunity this moment presents, and to seize it on behalf of the people of Haiti.”
6. Wide shot, Council in meeting
7. SOUNDBITE (English) Jonathan Cohen, Acting Permanent Representative of the U.S. to the United Nations:
“A successful transition will depend, in large part, on the Haitian Government’s assumption of responsibility for the range of issues the Security Council is mandating BINUH to support. This includes free and fair elections, the continued professionalization of the Haitian National Police, the reduction of community and gang violence, the protection of human rights, improvements to prison facilities and detainee treatment, and justice sector reform. A successful transition will also depend on close coordination among the many stakeholders invested in Haiti’s success – including, but not limited to, UN entities, Security Council Members, local and international partners, the Haitian-based diplomatic corps, and the humanitarian assistance community.”
8. Wide shot, Singer speaking
9. SOUNDBITE (Spanish) Jose Singer, Permanent Representative of the Dominican Republic to the United Nations:
“The proposal of the secretary-general was not specific enough in terms objectives, nor it was sufficiently broad to preserve stability over time and to place Haiti back on the track towards development. It is our view that if we are to respond to the challenges facing Haiti, an approach based exclusively on public security is not enough. From the Dominican republic’s viewpoint, it is our understanding that there is a need for a mission in Haiti to also include other key aspects to ensure peace and security.”
10. Wide shot, Security Council
11. SOUNDBITE (French) Patrick Saint Hilaire, Permanent Representative of Haiti to the United Nations:
“This second transition within two years is taking place in a still fragile national context. However, the creation of a UN mission other than a peacekeeping mission in Haiti is, without doubt, a step in the right direction.”
12. Various shots, meeting

STORYLINE:

United Nations Security Council adopted a resolution to transform the UN Mission for Justice Support in Haiti (MINUJUSTH) into a special political mission, taking place after the current mission’s mandate ends in October this year.

With thirteen votes in favor and two abstentions (China and Dominican Republic) the Security Council agreed to establish the United Nations Integrated Office in Haiti – BINUH, (French acronym) headed by a Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General with the mandate to assist the Government of Haiti in planning and executing elections; reinforcing the Haitian National Police through training on human rights and responding to gang and sexual and gender-based violence; developing an inclusive approach with all societal sectors to reduce inter-communal violence with the accent on gang violence; addressing human rights abuses and violations and complying with international human rights obligations; improve prisons management and strengthening the justice sector through adoption and implementation of key legislation and fighting corruption.

Jonathan Cohen, Acting Permanent Representative of the U.S. to the United Nations - the country penholder of the resolution, said following the vote: “as a longtime friend and partner to Haiti, the United States is clear-eyed about the challenges that lie ahead.” Cohen also said It is essential for the Government of Haiti, in partnership with the United Nations and the United States, to recognize the great opportunity this moment presents, and to seize it on behalf of the people of Haiti.”

The US ambassador explained that “a successful transition will depend, in large part, on the Haitian Government’s assumption of responsibility for the range of issues the Security Council is mandating BINUH to support. This includes free and fair elections, the continued professionalization of the Haitian National Police, the reduction of community and gang violence, the protection of human rights, improvements to prison facilities and detainee treatment, and justice sector reform.”

To that end, Cohen called for a “close coordination among the many stakeholders invested in Haiti’s success – including, but not limited to, UN entities, Security Council Members, local and international partners, the Haitian-based diplomatic corps, and the humanitarian assistance community.”

Jose Singer, the Representative of the Dominican Republic, the country that abstained from the vote on BINUH resolution, said that “the proposal of the Secretary-General was not specific enough in terms objectives, nor it was sufficiently broad to preserve stability over time and to place Haiti back on the track towards development.”

The view of the Dominican Republic – the country sharing the island of Hispaniola with Haiti, is according to Singer, that “if we are to respond to the challenges facing Haiti, an approach based exclusively on public security is not enough. From the Dominican republic’s viewpoint, it is our understanding that there is a need for a mission in Haiti to also include other key aspects to ensure peace and security.”

In April 2017, the Security Council decided to gradually withdraw the military personnel serving in Haiti and thus transform the peacekeeping mission in Haiti MINUSTAH, into MINUJUSTH – a peacekeeping mission with a mandate to assist the Government of Haiti to further develop the Haitian National Police, strengthen Haiti’s rule of law institutions, including the justice and prisons and to promote and protect human rights.

The Permanent Representative of Haiti to the United Nations Patrick Saint Hilaire, welcomed the adoption of the resolution and said that “this second transition within two years is taking place in a still fragile national context. However, the creation of a UN mission other than a peacekeeping mission in Haiti is, without doubt, a step in the right direction.”

The BINUH will have a political and good governance advisory unit, a unit on gang violence, community violence reduction, police and corrections unit, human rights and several other supporting units including a victims’ rights advocate within the Office of the Special Representative.
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