Haiti challenges us and commits us: ECLAC

October 22, 2024 – To generate reflections that can guide public policies and strengthen international cooperation around security in Haiti, the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC), subregional headquarters in Mexico and the College of Mexico ( Colmex) organized the Seminar “Insecurity in Haiti and the construction of new paradigms”.

Jorge Mario Martínez, officer in charge of the ECLAC subregional headquarters in Mexico, highlighted the need to change the traditional approach to Haiti towards a more comprehensive one, which comprehensively addresses development and the phenomenon of insecurity and creates a new approach. international cooperation and public policies for this country.

“ECLAC is involved not only by mandate, but by conviction, in the search for new opportunities for Haiti,” he stressed when opening the seminar.

The president of the Colegio de México, Silvia Giorguli, welcomed the attendees and highlighted the interest and academic work on Haiti that Colmex has carried out over the last 17 years. He announced that tomorrow, October 22, he will present an investigation he conducted on international migration.

“I thank ECLAC for the trust and collaboration for this long and fruitful discussion on Haiti. I hope that the exchanges of these days will give useful results that will help resolve the security crisis that Haiti is currently experiencing,” said Giorguli.

ECLAC highlights the importance of analyzing the structural causes that have perpetuated poverty and social exclusion in Haiti.

“We must look forward, focusing on solutions. We must focus on the “how” to resolve crises,” Martínez reflected on the future and highlighted the role of ECLAC in cooperation with Haiti such as projects on migration and remittances, the creation of the country’s first input-output matrix in collaboration with the Central Bank of Haiti; support in socioeconomic evaluations of disasters, and collaboration with the Ministry of Economy and Finance, and other actors.

Haiti, which has been the scene of violence, insecurity and extreme poverty in recent years, needs the construction of new paradigms to guarantee a safer and more stable future.

The seminar that began today and will conclude this October 23, wants to propose new narratives and new approaches to the various development challenges that Haiti faces, with special attention to insecurity, and had the participation of various think tanks and experts such as the Quisqueya University of Haiti (UNIQ), the College of Mexico, the State University of Haiti, the University of Ottawa and the City University of New York.

In the context of the recent resolutions of the United Nations Security Council and the formation of the Multinational Security Support Mission (MMAS) in Haiti, the Seminar aims to offer proposals that help improve the serious situation facing the country. According to the organizers, this initiative is part of a collaboration agreement that Colmex and ECLAC have had with Haiti since 2008, which has facilitated the organization of conferences, workshops, courses and dialogues on Haitian challenges.