Haiti: The Security Council imposes a sanctions regime and demands the immediate cessation of violence

The Security Council The UN adopted this Friday a resolution that imposes a sanctions regime against Haiti and that “demands the immediate cessation of violence, criminal activities and human rights abuses that they undermine the peace, stability and security of the country and the region.”

The vote took place in a context of crisis in Haiti, where endemic gang violence and popular discontent have worsened a humanitarian situation serious in itself. Criminal gangs keep the main fuel entrance to the country – the Varreux terminal – blocked, which has paralyzed basic services such as water supply, garbage collection and the operation of sanitary facilities. All this in the midst of a new cholera outbreak that began earlier this month.

Promoted by Mexico and the United States, the text, which includes specific measures of asset freezes, travel bans and arms embargoes During an initial period of one year, it obtained the unanimous support of the 15 members of the security body, thus establishing the first sanctions regime since September 2017, when the Council applied this type of provision against Mali.

Compliance with sanctions

To verify the implementation of punitive measures, the resolution establishes a Committee that must deliver a first report with recommendations to the Security Council within 60 days, to then present an annual report.

In addition, the document asks the General secretary of the UN to form a Panel of Experts for a period of thirteen months to assist the Committee updating the information on the list of individuals and entities subject to sanctions, among other functions. It also asks you to make the necessary financial and security provisions for the Panel’s work.

The Committee will be responsible for appointing the persons and entities subject to the sanctions, which are designated with criteria such as participation in or support of criminal activities and of violence involving armed groups and criminal networks; supporting illicit trafficking and diversion of arms and illicit financial flows; obstructing the delivery of humanitarian aid; and attacks on UN personnel or facilities.

The resolution contains an annex in which, for now, designates Jimmy Cherizier (alias “Barbacoa”), the most powerful criminal leader, as the subject of the sanctions and head of an alliance of Haitian gangs. Cherizier was a National Police officer and has participated in acts that threaten peace and stability, and directed or committed serious human rights violations.

UNDP Haiti/Borja Lopetegui Gonzalez

Port au Prince, Haiti

Threat to peace in the region

The Security Council determined that the prevailing violence and instability in Haiti constitutes a threat to peace and security in the region, for which it resorted to Chapter VII of the Charter of the United Nations to demand an immediate end to a series of abuses, including kidnappings, sexual and gender violencehuman trafficking, migrant smuggling, murders, extrajudicial executions, and recruitment of children by armed groups and criminal organizations.

Likewise, he urged all political actors to undertake substantive negotiations to overcome the current impasse and be able to hold legislative and presidential elections free and fair as soon as security conditions permit.

The resolution indicates that the Council will keep the situation in Haiti under continuous review and that amend, suspend or lift sanctions as necessary in light of progress on several key benchmarks, most notably the development of judicial capacity and the rule of law by the government to manage the issue of armed groups and criminal activities.

Another point that will affect the Council’s decisions will be the progressive reduction of violence committed by armed groups and criminal networks, including the number of intentional homicides, kidnappings and incidents of sexual and gender-based violence, measured annually from the initial twelve-month period from the adoption of the resolution.

The security body will consider, in the same way, the progressive decrease in the number of incidents of illicit trafficking and diversion of weaponsas well as the illicit financial flows derived from them, including increasing the number and volume of arms seizures, measured annually, from the initial twelve-month period.

Mexico and the United States reported that they are working on a draft resolution that would authorize an international assistance mission to Haiti to address security issues and facilitate humanitarian aid. The mission, which would respond to a request for help from the Haitian government, is an option that was also suggested by the UN Secretary General; however, it would not be a United Nations operation.