2023 EU ANNUAL REPORT ON HUMAN RIGHTS AND DEMOCRACY
Republic of Haiti
1. Overview of the human rights and democracy situation: During 2023, the human rights situation in Haiti continued to deteriorate. In particular, the right to life and to physical integrity, socio-economic rights, the rule of law and democracy in general, significantly worsened, primarily due to kidnappings, assassinations, and sexual violence committed by armed gangs as well as to the state’s incapacity to address the security problem.
During 2023, BINUH documented over 8,400 direct victims of gang violence, including people killed, injured and kidnapped, an increase of 122 per cent as compared to 2022. Port-au-Prince accounted for over 80 per cent of killings and injuries, violence by criminal groups continued to spread in the metropolitan area of the capital as well as in the Artibonite department, and in communes located at the southern entrance to the capital. Criminal groups continued to use sexual violence in attacks on people living in rival neighbourhoods.
The recruitment of children by gangs remains another major concern. The phenomenon Bwa Kale, a community-based, self-defence groups against the gangs, contributed to exacerbate the situation with numerous lynching and extrajudicial executions.
The conditions of prisoners in Haiti do not comply with minimal human dignity requirements; 130 prisoners died during 2023 due to malnutrition and corresponding diseases. 83% of prisoners have not received a trial. The Project with IMED (Mobile Institute for democratic education) was able to free around 300 of these prisoners in 2023, which can be considered a considerable success, after years of inconclusive attempts from others projects and organisations.
2. EU action - key focus areas: The EU key focus areas in 2023 were in line with the five strands of the EU Action Plan for Human Rights and Democracy 2020-24. In relation to the policy area of protecting and empowering individuals, the EU engaged in a project in cooperation with the organisation Mobile Institute for Democratic Education. This initiative contributed to the release of several detainees held in prolonged pre-trial detention in 2023 and their social reintegration. Moreover, projects to support the fight against gender-based violence were initiated in different parts of the country, but mainly in Port-au-Prince. The EU signed a contribution agreement with the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human rights. This action established "judicial hubs" for the legal pursuit of serious financial crimes. It includes an "incubation and support" component for new human rights defenders in the provinces and addresses topics such as land conflicts and non-judicial conflict resolution mechanisms. The EU delegation has launched two projects on the electoral cycle that will focus on forming a non-partisan societal alliance in view of elections and exploring innovative technical solutions to enhance credibility and inclusivity of elections with the policy goals of furthering resilient, inclusive and democratic societies. In order to promote a global system for human rights and democracy, the 285
The Delegation is implementing the “Project to support the integration of young people and the reduction of community violence” (EUR 4 million), in the metropolitan area, and is launching a “Pilot program for emerging civil society initiatives” (EUR 6.2 million) in rural areas, both aimed at supporting small-scale civil society initiatives with a focus on economic and social activities.
3. EU bilateral political engagement: The political instability continued in 2023 and did not allow for a political dialogue with the Haitian government, including on human rights. Nevertheless, the Delegation maintained and fostered contacts with various sectors of the Haitian civil society, including organising discussions with a broad spectrum of actors from the civil society on the security situation and the upcoming deployment of a Multinational Security Support mission to Haiti, discussions on human rights, possible options to end the crisis and discussion on how to reduce insecurity. Formal sectoral dialogues did not take place in 2023 due to a temporal evacuation of the Delegation as well as the deteriorating security situation. The Delegation conducted however regular bilateral formal and informal dialogues with representatives of the LGBTI community, women, and farmer associations.
4. EU financial engagement: The EU contributed EUR 0.4 million for a targeted project aimed at the release of detainees in prolonged pre-trial detention and supporting their social reintegration (Mobile Institute for Democratic Education). Financial support for OHCHR's habeas corpus logistic activities was provided, which deliver humanitarian aid in prisons and financially support the social reintegration activities of the IMED project. The EU financed projects to combat sexual violence against women in the capital (Association volontaire pour le service international, EUR 0.4 million), contributed to the Spotlight Initiative for a multi-sectorial response to gender-based violence (EUR 14 million), and to other projects against gender based violence (Christian Aid, EUR 0.66 million). The EU provided financial support to a project aimed at reinforcing women’s organisations networks in the Northeast for victims of violence rights and protection (EUR 0.38 million), and to an initiative with the goal of improving autonomy of young women and girls by changing norms at community level and to reinforce their economic capacity (Beyond Borders, EUR 0.6 million). EUR 4 million were allocated to a project to support the integration of youth and reduce community violence, aiming to support socio-economic rights through income generation and other forms of empowerment for disadvantaged urban youth in Port-au-Prince, thus reducing community violence (Goupe de recherche et d’échange technologique).
A contribution agreement for the OHCHR project "Support to judicial hubs, non-formal judicial mechanisms, and incubation and support for human rights defenders" was signed (EUR 2.3 million) as well as for the "Basket Fund for support to the National police," implemented by UNDP and UNODC (EUR 3 million). Moreover, the EU contributed to two projects to support civil society organisations in the preparation of elections through the European Instrument for Democracy and Human Rights, namely the "Project of Civil Society Organisations in Haiti to Support Elections – Pwojè OSC Ayiti pou Kore Eleksyon” (Volontariat pour le development d‘Haiti), and the "Program to Support Transparency, Efficiency, and Credibility of Electoral Processes in Haiti: Konbit pou bon jan Demokrasi" (Medialternatif/Progetto Mondo/Fondation Je Klere). 286
5. Multilateral context: On 2 October 2023, the UNSC authorized the deployment of a Multinational Security Support mission to Haiti. There are different opinions on the mission within Haitian society. Respect for and compliance with human rights will be a key element for the mission to observe - human rights violations must be avoided. The EU might consider supporting the independent monitoring mechanisms that should be established for accountability purposes. Haiti currently does not dispose of a mechanism that specifically protects human rights defenders related to violations incurred by an international mission.
