Ministry Statements & Speeches:
Thank you Madame Vice-President
We thank the High Commissioner for his update.
New Zealand joins others in expressing deep concern at the escalating humanitarian and human rights crisis in Haiti. The scale of displacement, violence, and institutional collapse is alarming, and the impact on civilians is devastating.
We remain particularly concerned by reports of widespread sexual and gender-based violence against women and girls in Haiti. These acts are overwhelmingly concentrated in urban areas where criminal groups operate with impunity and use sexual violence as a tool of control and intimidation.
Restoring security in Haiti is the foremost priority, and New Zealand supports initiatives to strengthen Haiti’s security. But security operations alone will not address the lasting protection of human rights in Haiti, and Haiti’s governance deficits and fragile institutional framework must be addressed.
Regional, and international ambition is critical to resolving the human rights crisis in Haiti. New Zealand commends the ongoing efforts of regional partners, including the Caribbean Community and the Organization of American States, to facilitate a Haitian-led path forward which supports the human rights of the people of Haiti.
High Commissioner, we would welcome your views on how human rights can be upheld and enhanced in Haiti in the current context.
I thank you.