Assistant Secretary-General for Europe, Central Asia and the Americas Miroslav Jenča
Departments of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs and Peace Operations
Briefing to the Security Council on Haiti
New York, 2 July 2025
Mr President, allow me to extend my congratulations to Pakistan on assuming the Presidency of the Security Council for the month of July.
Distinguished members of this Council, I thank you for the opportunity to provide this briefing on Haiti.
I would like to begin by expressing our gratitude to Maria Isabel Salvador, whose term as Special Representative of the Secretary-General and Head of the United Nations Integrated Office in Haiti (BINUH) concluded this week.
Since my last visit to Haiti in January to engage in consultations with authorities on the Secretary-General’s recommendations, we have continued to witness a sharp erosion of state authority and the rule of law. Brutal gang violence affects every aspect of public and private life. During my visit, I was struck by the profound transformation of Port-au-Prince. The capital city was for all intents and purposes paralyzed by gangs and isolated as a result of the ongoing suspension of international commercial flights into the Toussaint Louverture international airport. Since then, gangs have only strengthened their foothold, which now affects all communes of the Port-au-Prince metropolitan area and beyond, pushing the situation closer to the brink. Without increased action by the international community, the total collapse of state presence in the capital could become a very real scenario.
Haitian-led efforts to advance the political process have made progress. The Provisional Electoral Council, with support from BINUH and other UN partners, has continued preparations to complete the constitutional review and hold elections within the timeline set by the April 2024 agreement. The recent adoption of the decree regulating the constitutional referendum as well as the adoption of the new Penal Code and the Code of Criminal Procedure, are welcome developments. However, clear divergences among stakeholders are apparent regarding the feasibility of holding a constitutional referendum and elections by February 2026–particularly concerning the need to establish a climate of security and trust for those elections to take place. Any delays or efforts to undermine the political transition reaching the 7 February 2026 deadline for the installation of a newly elected executive and parliament would be worrisome. Haiti cannot afford a drift in the political transition.
In supporting the political process, BINUH promoted broader and more inclusive participation in the political transition, including of women and youth, through supporting civil society dialogue on transition priorities, including security, economic recovery, reforms and elections.
We welcome the support and momentum generated by the regional member states and organizations for decisive action to advance the current political transition and prevent the spread of insecurity and criminality. Last week, Haiti was a key topic of discussion at the General Assembly of the Organization of American States in Antigua and Barbuda. The adoption of the OAS resolution on Haiti is encouraging and reflects the region’s commitment to supporting international efforts and strengthening existing entities and platforms already in place, namely the MSS. We look forward to stronger collaboration with the OAS and to the action plan on Haiti to be submitted by its Secretary General.
In addition, the Caribbean Community’s ongoing efforts, notably through the Eminent Persons Group, to foster dialogue and collaboration among Haitian stakeholders have proven instrumental in advancing the country’s transition towards the restoration of the rule of law and of democratic institutions.
Mr. President, Excellencies,
It remains clear that sustained political progress will only be achieved through concerted efforts to address and significantly improve the security environment. While Port-au-Prince remains the epicentre of gang violence, major attacks in Artibonite and Center departments, particularly in Mirebalais, demonstrate the growing capacity and intent of gangs to expand their reach into northern departments. The commune of La Chapelle in lower Artibonite department is the latest to fall under gang control following an assault by gang members on 22 June, which displaced at least 8,890 residents. The ransacking of the local police substation illustrates the intent to systematically undermine state authority and prevent any efforts to re-establish law and order.
The brutality and scale of the violence that continues to be committed against communities by armed gangs is plunging the country into even deeper suffering and trauma. This year alone BINUH recorded 4,026 victims of intentional homicide, including 376 women, 21 girls, and 68 boys. This represents a 24 percent increase compared to the same period last year. Meanwhile, the number of people internally displaced by gang violence has now reached 1.3 million, another tragic record number. Widespread impunity for atrocities continues. In April, a gang attack in Petite-Rivière resulted in 57 people killed, four abducted, over 16,000 people displaced, and approximately 80 homes set on fire.
Amidst increasing public frustration with the limited protection capacity of the state, "vigilante" or self-defence groups are gaining in popular appeal. Although these groups often serve as the last remaining security mechanisms in many areas, they violate fundamental human rights, including the right to life and right to a fair trial, and simultaneously fuel further violence in the form of retaliatory attacks by gangs. Over the last three months, these groups reportedly killed at least 100 men, and one woman suspected of gang association or collaboration.
Communities remain extremely vulnerable to gang violence, which continues to have disproportionate impact on women and girls. The past three months marked an increase in sexual violence committed by gangs, used deliberately to instil fear and assert control over communities. Despite persistent under-reporting of sexual violence due to fear of reprisals, social stigma and lack of trust in institutions, from March to April BINUH documented 364 incidents involving 378 survivors. BINUH continues to support the Haitian National Police in strengthening capacities to investigate sexual violence and provide integrated support to survivors. It is critical that authorities take concrete action against the current state of impunity of these heinous crimes.
Distinguished delegates,
On 26 June, the Multinational Security Support mission led by Kenya marked one year since its first contingents arrived in Haiti. We extend our gratitude to Kenya for its continued commitment to leading the MSS and we offer our deepest sympathy for the loss of two MSS police officers in the line of duty. Despite their best efforts, the MSS and Haitian National Police have been unable to make headway in restoring state authority and, without additional security support from the international community, the outlook is bleak. Additional voluntary contributions to the MSS Trust Fund are needed to sustain the mission and ensure the achievement of its objectives. The Secretary-General’s recommendations within his letter of 24 February proposing to establish a UN support office to provide logistic and operational support for the MSS are a realistic and practical proposal to address Haiti’s immediate security needs. International action cannot come soon enough to ensure the gains made so far are not squandered. In this respect, I welcomed the Council’s discussion earlier this week and wish to recall that the Secretary-General’s recommendations offer an immediate solution—one that does not exclude medium- and long-term options. But it needs to be the starting point. Once a strengthened MSS has provided sufficient support to the Haitian security institutions, a stabilization phase can follow.
When BINUH, was established in 2019, it was not designed to operate in the kind of hostile environment we are facing today. Yet it has remained on the ground without interruption—despite a temporary reduction in international staff. That reduction reflects the limited options for evacuation, with just a single UNHAS helicopter currently available, due to the suspension of commercial flights and the ongoing gang encirclement of Port-au-Prince. Consequently, and as outlined in the Secretary-General’s letter to the Council yesterday, the Secretariat, in coordination with BINUH, has undertaken a review of BINUH’s Mission Concept with the objective to have a reconfigured BINUH— more focused, smaller, yet more impactful— that can sustain its international staff and personnel working from Port-au-Prince amid the security crisis. The additional resources needed for enhanced security and evacuation capabilities, to be included in the budget for 2026, would be offset by savings from a reduced footprint. We remain committed to aligning BINUH’s overall budget with UN80 Revised Estimates.
Excellencies,
We must not fail Haiti at this critical moment. Let us act now. The options we have on the table now will be considerably less costly and complex than if there is a total collapse of state presence. There is not a moment to lose. The United Nations continues to stand in solidarity with the people of Haiti who deserve to live in dignity and free from the threat of violence.
I thank you.