How can the Haitian government and international community reduce violence and promote sustainable reform in Haiti? This paper, by Action Aid, analyses the current situation in Haiti and makes recommendations for changes to the United Nations Stabilisation Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH), based on what is feasible and can be realistically implemented in the existing circumstances. Disarmament, demobilisation and reintegration (DDR) and rule of law are critical to ensure sustainable peace; therefore MINUSTAH and the new Haitian government must renew their focus on these priorities.
The violence in Haiti is rooted in a mix of politics and economics. It flourishes thanks to the continued absence of state authority. There is an unmistakable link between poverty, lack of development and violence. The armed gangs look after their communities by distributing money and offering protection; hence it becomes difficult to stop the violence, since the communities protect the gangs.
Haitian civil society is angry with MINUSTAH for not dealing with the armed gangs. It wants to reduce the role played by the UN mission as it also fears that MINUSTAH will encroach upon Haiti’s sovereignty. Nevertheless, civil society realises that the presence of the international force is necessary and that international involvement is critical for reform.
Despite some achievements, MINUSTAH should have done more to address the increasing violence, the prevalence of arms and heightened number of kidnappings. Alternative means of violence reduction should have begun at an earlier stage. Key factors that have hindered progress include:
- the slow deployment of the mission;
- that MINUSTAH was designed for a post-conflict environment, but the challenge has now shifted to one of urban violence;
- the absence of political will on the part of the interim government;
- a shift from focusing on reform to conducting elections.
Now, advantage should be taken of the window of opportunity that has arisen with new government’s invitation for a continued international presence and the indications that rule of law and DDR will be central to government policy. MINUSTAH’s mandate should be changed to reflect Haitian realities. It should:
- emphasise local ownership by establishing a mechanism of co-operation and co-ordination, which includes all relevant actors;
- ensure a coherent, coordinated and integrated approach to reform by formalising the rule of law group in MINUSTAH;
- support elections to the departmental and communal assemblies, thereby supporting judicial reform. Include victim support through community based development programmes;
- promote and support new legislation to increase control of small arms and establish a register of weapons;
- start vetting the Haitian National Police (PNH) from the top down, establishing Haitian vetting teams that can work together with MINUSTAH;
- rebuild police facilities and establish management structures and training to restore confidence in the PNH;
- assist the establishment of: Special Chambers and ad-hoc Tribunals with competent Haitian judges; a Haitian body to vet judges and judicial facilities including courthouses;
- deploy international correctional officers to Haitian prisons to mentor Haitian officers; establish a realistic budget for penal reform and ensure donor commitment; rebuild prisons to meet basic human rights standards and ensure that they part of police and judicial reform.
