UN / HAITI SEXUAL VIOLENCE

STORY: UN / HAITI SEXUAL VIOLENCE
TRT: 01:34
SOURCE: UNIFEED
RESTRICTIONS: NONE
LANGUAGES: ENGLISH / NATS

DATELINE: 21 JULY 2022, NEW YORK CITY / FILE

SHOTLIST:

FILE - NEW YORK CITY

1. Wide shot, United Nations Headquarters

21 JULY 2022, NEW YORK CITY

2. Wide shot, Vice-President of Brazil, Antônio Hamilton Martins Mourão, along with the Representatives of Albania, Ireland, Kenya, Mexico, Norway, United Kingdom, and the United Arab Emirates at the stakeout podium
3. SOUNDBITE (English) Antônio Hamilton Martins Mourão, Vice-President, Brazil:
“We have heard how the rapid deterioration of the human rights situation in Haiti, particularly in gang-controlled neighbourhoods of the metropolitan area of Port-au-Prince has been linked to an alarming rate of reports of sexual and gender-based violence, including rape and sexual slavery. These abhorrent crimes which affect mostly women and girls of all ages, but also men and boys, are reported to be intentionally used to cause fear and forced displacement.”
4. Wide shot, Martins Mourão and ambassadors at the podium
5. SOUNDBITE (English) Antônio Hamilton Martins Mourão, Vice-President, Brazil:
“We support the calls for urgent comprehensive action by the international community to help the Haitian authorities in their efforts to strengthen legislation as well as policing legal response mechanisms. To that end, training to enhance response to sexual and gender- based violence and increasing women's participation, including leadership positions in the Armed Forces and the National Police are very important. We recognize the need for strengthening BINUH’s capacity to help the government of Haiti in its efforts to promote human rights, including women's rights and prevent further human rights violations and abuse.”
10. Pan right, Martins Mourão and ambassadors walk away

STORYLINE:

The Vice-President of Brazil, Antônio Hamilton Martins Mourão, flanked by representatives of Albania, Ireland, Kenya, Mexico, Norway, United Kingdom, and the United Arab Emirates, today (21 Jul) expressed concern about the “rapid deterioration of the human rights situation in Haiti,” particularly “reports of sexual and gender-based violence, including rape and sexual slavery.”

Reading a joint statement, Martins Mourão said, “we have heard how the rapid deterioration of the human rights situation in Haiti, particularly in gang-controlled neighbourhoods of the metropolitan area of Port-au-Prince has been linked to an alarming rate of reports of sexual and gender-based violence, including rape and sexual slavery.”

These “abhorrent crimes” he said, “are reported to be intentionally used to cause fear and forced displacement.”

The joint statement expressed support “for urgent comprehensive action by the international community to help the Haitian authorities in their efforts to strengthen legislation as well as policing legal response mechanisms.

Martins Mourão said, “training to enhance response to sexual and gender- based violence and increasing women's participation, including leadership positions in the Armed Forces and the National Police are very important” and acknowledged “the need for strengthening BINUH’s capacity to help the government of Haiti in its efforts to promote human rights, including women's rights and prevent further human rights violations and abuse.”

The joint statement welcomed the adoption of Security Council resolution 2645 last week, which includes language expressing “grave concern about the extremely high levels of gang violence and other criminal activities, including kidnappings and homicides, and sexual and gender-based violence, as well as ongoing impunity for perpetrators, and the implications of Haiti’s situation on the region.”