OHCHR / HAITI HUMAN RIGHTS

STORY: OHCHR / HAITI HUMAN RIGHTS
TRT: 01:41
SOURCE: OHCHR
RESTRICTIONS: NONE
LANGUAGE: ENGLISH / NATS

DATELINE: 28 SEPTEMBER 2023, GENEVA, SWITZERLAND

SHOTLIST:



1. Areal shot, exterior, Palais des Nations
2. SOUNDBITE (English) Ravina Shamdasani, Spokesperson, Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR):
“A multinational security support mission needs to be urgently deployed to help the Haitian National Police combat the cycle of violence which has permeated all levels of society and exacerbated a dire security and human rights crisis. Every day the lives of Haitian people become even harder, but it is vital that we do not give up. Their situation is not hopeless. With international support and resolve, the Haitian people can tackle this grave insecurity, and find a way out of this chaos. Between 1 January and 15 August 2023, at least 2,439 people were killed, 902 injured and 951 kidnapped. Gangs have shown increasing brutality, mutilating and burning bodies in public and then sharing the horrific images on social media. Women and girls are particularly exposed to gang violence, including sexual violence, such as collective rape. Insecurity has exacerbated the humanitarian crisis that has reached new depths over the past few years, the report states. The number of people in need of humanitarian aid has nearly doubled over the past three years. Strengthening State institutions is another priority. In Haiti, impunity and decades of poor governance and corruption have contributed to the current crisis. The cycle of violence never ends because rarely is anyone held to account. The situation of Haitian detainees epitomizes the continued erosion of the rule of law. Haiti’s prisons are inhumane. Lives are at stake. Time is of the essence – we need to comprehend the sense of urgency this crisis demands."
3. Areal shot, Palais Wilson, Geneva


STORYLINE:

UN Human Rights Office spokesperson Ravina Shamdasani today (28 Sep) said, “A multinational security support mission needs to be urgently deployed to help the Haitian National Police combat the cycle of violence which has permeated all levels of society and exacerbated a dire security and human rights crisis.”

She also said, “every day the lives of Haitian people become even harder, but it is vital that we do not give up. Their situation is not hopeless. With international support and resolve, the Haitian people can tackle this grave insecurity, and find a way out of this chaos.”

The Spokesperson continued, “between 1 January and 15 August 2023, at least 2,439 people were killed, 902 injured and 951 kidnapped.”

She added, “gangs have shown increasing brutality, mutilating and burning bodies in public and then sharing the horrific images on social media. Women and girls are particularly exposed to gang violence, including sexual violence, such as collective rape.”

According to her, “insecurity has exacerbated the humanitarian crisis that has reached new depths over the past few years, the report states. The number of people in need of humanitarian aid has nearly doubled over the past three years.”

Shamdasani also said, “strengthening State institutions is another priority. In Haiti, impunity and decades of poor governance and corruption have contributed to the current crisis. The cycle of violence never ends because rarely is anyone held to account.”

She concluded, “the situation of Haitian detainees epitomizes the continued erosion of the rule of law. Haiti’s prisons are inhumane. Lives are at stake. Time is of the essence – we need to comprehend the sense of urgency this crisis demands.”