Security Council backs joint UN-Haitian efforts against gang violence

Endorsing the recent efforts of the Haitian Government and the United Nations peacekeeping mission in the impoverished Caribbean country to tackle gang violence and reform the national police, the Security Council today called for further measures to improve the justice system.

Council members reiterated their strong support for the Government and the mission, known as MINUSTAH, “to maintain stability and achieve progress,” Ambassador Alejandro Wolff of the United States, which holds the rotating presidency this month, said in a statement to the press.

The press statement followed a briefing to the 15-member Council by Edmond Mulet, the head of MINUSTAH and the Special Representative of the Secretary-General in Haiti.

The Council voiced appreciation “for the ongoing efforts by MINUSTAH in supporting the Haitian National Police (HNP) in the fight against gang violence as well as the efforts to implement the HNP reform plan, in particular the beginning of the vetting process, and encouraged further efforts to advance the reform of the justice system.”

In recent months, MINUSTAH has stepped up efforts to crack down on criminal gangs in violence-ridden Haiti; since the start of the year, more than 400 gang members have been arrested.

The press statement also welcomed the efforts of MINUSTAH in facilitating last year’s successful election cycle across Haiti and said Council members looked forward to the Mission providing logistics support and security for the country’s senate elections during the latter part of this year.