Position paper for Haiti
| Committee: | GA First |
| Topic: | Consolidation of peace through practical disarmament measures |
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| Currently under an arms embargo due to high levels of gang violence and criminal activity, and with homicides doubling since 2019, the Republic of Haiti is highly invested in addressing the consolidation of peace through practical disarmament measures. The international community has long valued peaceful and inclusive societies, highlighted in Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions. SDG 16 Target 16.4 calls for a reduction in illicit arms flows in order to combat injustice and abuse. The issue of the illicit trade in small arms and light weapons remains a priority in the United Nations General Assembly, with continued work towards the full implementation of the United Nations Programme of Action to Prevent, Combat and Eradicate the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in All Its Aspects (PoA). Ahead of the conference to review the PoA, Caribbean leaders met with the United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs and its Regional Centre for Peace, Disarmament and Development in Latin America and the Caribbean (UNLIREC), highlighting the willingness of the region to lead conversations on disarmament. Within the Caribbean, Haiti was an early adopter of the Caribbean Firearms Roadmap (2020) which seeks to reduce the flow of firearms as well as bolster law enforcement capacity. In accordance with this roadmap, Haiti adopted a National Action Plan (NAP) to address firearms in the country with an emphasis on improving law enforcement capacities and reducing ammunition flows to non-state actors. The Republic of Haiti encourages Member States to reinforce national and regional early warning mechanisms and rapid coordination measures, particularly with the help of organizations such as the International Criminal Police Organization (INTERPOL). Additionally, Haiti encourages Member States to centralize and standardize domestic regulation and management for small arms. Ultimately such measures will allow for Member States to cooperate on problems that have long plagued the international community. | |
| Committee: | GA First |
| Topic: | Implementation of the Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production, Stockpiling and Use of Chemical Weapons and on Their Destruction |
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| As a signatory to the Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production, Stockpiling, and Use of Chemical Weapons and on Their Destruction (CWC), the Republic of Haiti acknowledges the dangers of chemical weapons and the role of the CWC in promoting international cooperation and maintaining peace and security. The international community has prioritized the creation of guidelines surrounding the use of chemical weapons since before 1925, when the Geneva Protocol was signed, prohibiting the use of chemical weapons in war. Despite this, it took nearly half a century for major states to begin addressing the existence of chemical weapon stockpiles beyond their use, and even longer before the CWC was formed. The Republic of Haiti's location near former leaders who both developed and used chemical weapons positions the nation in a place of concern over potential violations of the treaty. Additionally, given the high levels of gang violence and criminal activity within the nation, the Republic of Haiti remains concerned over the potential for non-state actors to get ahold of such warfare technology. Therefore, the Republic of Haiti urges developed countries and international organizations to provide assistance to developing nations in building the necessary infrastructure and capabilities to detect, prevent, and respond to potential chemical weapons threats with a particular emphasis on dual-use chemicals. The Republic of Haiti encourages Member States who have signed onto but not ratified the CWC to ratify the treaty, and urges non-signatories to both sign and ratify the CWC. Further, the Republic of Haiti advocates for an expansion upon the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) to allow for more effective measures that conduct thorough investigations and impose sanctions against those found in violation of the CWC to further accountability among the international community. | |
| Committee: | GA Second |
| Topic: | Agriculture development, food security and nutrition |
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| The World Health Organization reports 2.33 billion people worldwide suffering from moderate to severe food insecurity in 2023. The United Nations has long understood the importance of improving agricultural development to end food insecurity, as supported by Article 25 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) (1948), which states the right to a standard of living that includes adequate food supply and by resolution 70/1, in which the General Assembly (GA) formally adopts the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. The UN draws further links between food insecurity and unsustainable agriculture production and forced displacement and conflict in resolution 2417 (2018), which calls on Member States in armed conflict to prioritize sparing civilian objects necessary for food production and distribution. Also reinforced is the importance of agricultural technological innovation in resolution 78/144 which encourages the use of technology to develop energy-efficient agrifood systems. CARICOM, an intergovernmental organization of fifteen Member States in the Caribbean, prioritized the development of institutions to facilitate connections between food producers and suppliers and the establishment of a donor fund for Member States with the Regional Food and Nutrition Security Action Plan (2011). Haiti's Rural Code (1916) establishes agriculture as the primary source of income. In the latest Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) (2024-2025), Haiti's National Coordination for Food Security (CNSA), along with the Food and Agricultural Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the World Food Programme (WFP) has recently identified that nearly one in two Haitians is facing acute food insecurity. To combat this, Haiti is looking to implement an investment plan to consolidate and develop the yam and coffee agroforestry systems with the Ministry of Agriculture. Haiti supports the development of sustainable agricultural initiatives and the use of UN organizations such as the WFP, FAO, and the International Organization for Migration (IOM) to further support Member States in their efforts to implement more agrifood systems. Haiti urges fellow Member States to increase aid and funding so the FAO can further support provisions of cash transfers and food production kits to provide immediate relief to affected households and help them protect their assets. | |
| Committee: | GA Second |
| Topic: | Development cooperation with middle-income countries |
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| The United Nations and Haiti signed the United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework for Haiti (UNSCDF) in 2023 to support development and strengthen peacebuilding. Further cooperation with middle-income and Member States is reinforced by the Ad Hoc Advisory Group on Haiti, established in resolution 1999/4 by the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) to provide long-term development strategy support and to promote reconstruction, sustainability, and further international support for Haiti. Additionally, a World Bank Group Country Partnership Framework was established in 2015 through report no. 98132 to boost shared prosperity and allocate funds for disaster relief. This initiative fosters international support for long-term development in Haiti and provides a means of capitalizing on future opportunities. United Nations Resolution 78/144, on which Haiti was a sponsor, calls upon all Member States to use technology to further agricultural development and share information to promote development cooperation. Haiti established the National Integrated Framework for Financing (CINF) in 2021 in collaboration with the United Nations Program for Developing (UNDP) to develop a framework to establish viable approaches to implementing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). It affirms the joint efforts of national sectors and the government and is funded by the UN SDG Joint Fund and the European Union. Haiti looks favorably on development cooperation with middle-income countries and urges international efforts to implement SDGs. Additionally, Haiti supports further collective development strategies to mutually support and fund such initiatives, focusing specifically on projects that build resilience against climate change, as well as establishing self-reliance through initiatives like Country Development Cooperation Strategies (CDCS), that aim to address development needs. Haiti urges Member States to fund the World Bank's International Development Association (IDA) to help respond to emergency needs, support private sectors, and build fiscal sustainability. | |
| Committee: | GA Third |
| Topic: | Rights of indigenous peoples |
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| Indigenous peoples represent over 476 million individuals across 90 countries, constituting 6.2% of the global population and more than 4,000 languages. According to the United Nations (UN), they account for 15% of the world's extreme poor as their leaders face increasing threats of violence and land exploitation. The UN has long recognized the need to safeguard indigenous peoples' rights, marked by the landmark adoption of the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP) in 2017, which outlines the individual and collective rights of indigenous peoples particularly in areas of land ownership, culture, and self-determination. The establishment of the UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues (UNPFII) on July 28, 2000, further highlights the UN's commitment to providing a platform for indigenous voices at the international level. Various General Assembly resolutions have emphasized the importance of implementing UNDRIP, including resolutions A/RES/65/198 and A/RES/70/232, which strengthen partnerships between the UN and indigenous communities and call on Member States to ensure the protection of their rights. Within the Caribbean region, the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) has consistently worked toward inclusive development, considering the cultural heritage of indigenous peoples. In 2018, CARICOM issued a resolution urging its Member States to promote the protection of indigenous lands and their right to natural resources. Additionally, the Organization of American States (OAS) has adopted various frameworks, including the American Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples in 2016, which sets legal precedents for indigenous rights in the region. Haiti has demonstrated its support for indigenous peoples' rights through its endorsement of UNDRIP and by participating in regional discussions on indigenous issues within the Caribbean. Haiti has aligned itself with regional initiatives led by CARICOM and the OAS and has called for increased collaboration on environmental and cultural preservation. Recognizing the vulnerability of indigenous communities to the effects of climate change, Haiti advocates for increased global cooperation in applying indigenous knowledge to climate adaptation strategies. Haiti calls for the expansion of educational opportunities and healthcare access for indigenous peoples, particularly through culturally sensitive programs. Haiti additionally calls for the facilitation of greater inclusion of indigenous voices in the national decision-making processes, especially regarding natural resource management. Haiti implores its fellow Member States to foster a spirit of collaboration to make significant strides as an international community toward achieving equity for indigenous peoples while advancing global development goals. | |
| Committee: | GA Third |
| Topic: | Literacy for life |
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| Literacy remains one of the most fundamental indicators of human development, yet the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) finds that approximately 773 million adults worldwide lack basic literacy skills. Sustainable Development Goal 4 (SDG 4), Quality Education, seeks to ensure inclusive and equitable quality education for all, with a specific target to achieve universal literacy and numeracy by 2030. The United Nations has made significant strides in advocating for literacy through various programs and frameworks. The UNESCO-led Global Alliance for Literacy within the Framework of Lifelong Learning (GAL) works with countries that have the highest illiteracy rates to create tailored literacy programs. Additionally, the International Literacy Day, established by UNESCO in 1966, raises awareness about literacy challenges and promotes action to reduce the global literacy gap. Furthermore, the UN Literacy Decade (2003- 2012) laid the groundwork for major literacy reforms, and the Education for All (EFA) initiative has promoted policy frameworks that focus on literacy for marginalized communities. Regional initiatives like the Caribbean Examinations Council (CXC) have played a role in setting literacy standards, while the Caribbean Knowledge and Learning Network (CKLN) has sought to increase access to educational resources across Member States. Haiti's National Plan for Education (2010-2020) set ambitious goals to improve literacy rates, particularly among youth, and to expand access to quality education. In 2012, Haiti joined UNESCO's Global Partnership for Education (GPE), which has funded initiatives to increase school enrollment, improve teacher training, and distribute educational materials to underserved areas. The "Lekki se Livni" (Reading is the Future) program, launched in 2015, is one of the national initiatives designed to promote reading and literacy across all levels of society. The delegation of Haiti reaffirms its commitment to literacy as a fundamental human right and a key driver of sustainable development. Haiti also proposes the creation of a regional literacy observatory within the Caribbean, which would monitor progress on literacy targets, share best practices, and provide technical assistance to Member States in designing effective literacy policies. Additionally, Haiti advocates for the establishment of literacy focused vocational programs, providing individuals with both the skills to read and write and the means to improve their economic situation. By advancing these proposals, Haiti aims to contribute to the global goal of achieving literacy for all by 2030, recognizing that literacy is a cornerstone of development, equality, and human dignity. | |
| Committee: | GA Plenary |
| Topic: | The human right to a clean, healthy and sustainable environment |
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| The impacts of climate change, carbon emissions, and pollution have placed environments globally at major risk. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), 3.6 billion people currently live in areas at risk for serious climate change and is expected to cause 250,000 deaths annually from 2030 to 2050, especially for those living in under-resourced conditions. The United Nations (UN) has responded to this crisis with several measures, including the 2022 Resolution 76/300 which called upon Member States, international organizations, and businesses to adopt sustainable and climate friendly policies. Earlier efforts go decades back, such as the 1972 enactment of the Stockholm Declaration on Human Environment, which declared the importance of using renewable and nonrenewable resources in sustainable ways, and the 1992 recognition that humans are entitled to a healthy and productive life with nature. The Republic of Haiti, having seen devastating impacts of natural disasters, has made its own efforts to ensure sustainable and clean environments at home. Following a catastrophic 2010 earthquake, Haiti worked with the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) to adopt plans involving sustainable agriculture and renewable energy for its population's recovery. Haiti also submitted a National Adaptation Plan (NAP) in 2023, positioning it to address long-term effects of climate change and to build an adaptive capacity for the environment in relation to water, health, and more. Having still faced environmental challenges because of extensive damage left by earthquakes, the Republic of Haiti implores UN Member States to consider measures focusing on environmental sustainability for nations impacted by natural disasters. Such countries have the most difficult path in ensuring implementation of sustainable actions to ensure a clean and healthy environment, and outlining assistance and guidelines for them is critical in allowing global achievement of sustainability. | |
| Committee: | GA Plenary |
| Topic: | Safety and security of humanitarian personnel and protection of United Nations personnel |
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| Responses to human rights violations and ongoing conflicts are at odds with continued attacks against United Nations (UN) and humanitarian personnel. In 2022 alone, 812 humanitarian and 1,614 UN personnel were reported to have faced safety and security incidents, in part caused by disinformation regarding personnel. Thus, the UN has moved to implement safeguards to protect personnel, such as the establishment of Emergency Response Teams (ERTs) in 2022 to provide humanitarian operations with higher security in cases of sudden emergencies. The Republic of Haiti, which is combating gang violence and the impact of environmental disasters, has made considerable efforts in protecting personnel. This includes the inauguration of the National Emergency Operations Centre in Port-au-Prince to make it more efficient and safe to coordinate disaster preparedness for personnel. Haiti has also made accomplishments with the help of other Member States and UN organizations, as a Member State of the Permanent 5 (P5) provided Haiti with more than $170 million since 2022 to allow the funding of secure food and health services and also received armored personnel to assist Haitian police in preventing gang violence. Haiti has also worked with the UN Childrens Fund (UNICEF) to help provide support for cholera rapid- response teams and social protection services. In light of the continued challenges the Republic of Haiti faces with difficult conditions left by earthquakes, it is critical the Member States consider actions to increase funding for under-resourced nations who face difficulty providing personnel security amid natural disasters. It is crucial for the UN to further emphasize how difficult it is for nations to provide the necessary personnel protection when recovering from natural disasters, and Haiti anticipates the conversations to come with fellow Member States regarding this crisis. | |
| Committee: | ECOSOC |
| Topic: | Empowering people and ensuring inclusiveness and equality |
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| Haiti deeply affirms the need to empower people and to ensure inclusiveness and equality in sustainable development and welcomes the opportunity to work with other member states to address the critical issue of equitable development. As a Least Developed Country (LDC), Haiti understands the necessity of ensuring equitable economic inclusion and access to technology to the 40% of low-income people living in LDCs. Furthermore, Haiti echoes the importance of Principle Two: Leave No One Behind of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). LDCs and Small Island Developing States (SIDS) face elevated rates of climate fragility and a greater risk of facing extreme poverty. As both an LDC and a SIDS, Haiti stresses the importance of the United Nations Resolution GA 3122 (1973) that encourages the Most Developed Countries (MDCs) to work to assist in the sustainable development of historically economically disadvantaged member states. To aid this goal, Haiti worked with regional partners in Latin America and the Caribbean to create the Escazu Agreement (2018) that has the objective of increasing public participation in the environmental decision-making process and of strengthening the abilities of member states to protect the environment. On a national level, Haiti recognizes the link between the growth of poverty in LDCs and the disempowerment of women. Haiti acknowledges the unique challenges women face as nearly half of all Haitian households are women-led and the labor of women is often unpaid. Haiti is dedicated to SDG 5: Achieve Gender Equality and Empower All Women and Girls and is actively working to expand the rights and opportunities of women through partnering with organizations such as Equitas that empower women through public information campaigns. There is a deficit in infrastructure for information tracking in Haiti in regards to the assets and opportunities of women. Recognizing this gap, Haiti recommends the creation of additional information sharing and data tracking technology in order to obtain the data necessary to adequately assess the needs of marginalized groups within Haiti and other LDCs. Haiti looks forward to fruitful collaboration with other member states to address the infrastructure issues that stand in the way of empowering people and ensuring inclusiveness and equality. | |
| Committee: | ECOSOC |
| Topic: | Science, technology and innovation for development |
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| Haiti, acutely aware of our nation's current lack of technological resources and the profound impact this has on our ability to develop successfully, underscores the need for science, technology, and innovation for development. Since the establishment of the United Nations Conference on the Application of Science and Technology for the Benefit of the Less Developed Areas in 1963, the UN has recognized the necessity of technology accessibility for development in LDCs. There is a severe deficit of access to scientific information in LDCs. In 2013, The UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA) determined that only 7 scientific journals are published per 1 million people in African LDCs, while in MDCs, 1,100 scientific journals are published per 1 million people. To address the existing gaps in information about technology, Haiti partnered with the Technology Bank to assess technological needs of Haitian citizens. In order to increase accessibility to Science Technology, and Innovation (STI) tools Haiti has collaborated with the Caribbean Community and Common Market (CARICOM). Haiti's work with CARICOM has allowed us to share new technology with other Caribbean member states to enhance our economic integration. However, there are still numerous technological gaps within our nation. Within Haiti, the Direction of Higher Education and Scientific Research (DESRS) actively works to increase technological literacy within Haiti through increased funding to Haitian universities. Haiti strongly supports the allocation of increased funding to higher education institutions in LDCs in order to improve the knowledge of STI. Haiti looks forward to collaborating with fellow member states to develop a globally coordinated technological sustainable development strategy, integrating investments in key sectors and responsible fiscal policy. | |
| Committee: | WHA |
| Topic: | Global Strategy for Women's, Children's and Adolescents' Health |
| Paper text: | |
| The World Health Organization (WHO) reports, approximately 287,000 women died during and shortly after pregnancy, from mostly preventable causes in 2020. Additionally, nearly 95% of deaths occur in low income countries. The United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund (UNICEF) found 194.6 million children under age 5 experiencing wasting and stunting in 2020. As a historically under-resourced and underrepresented group, women, children, and adolescents have been the focal point of a multitude of global health efforts. The international health scene underwent a revolutionary unification with 80 groups from three separate international organizations (Partnership for Safe Motherhood and Newborn Health, the Healthy Newborn Partnership and the Child Survival Partnership), forming the Partnership for Maternal, Newborn & Child Health (PMNCH) to expedite global progression for women's, children's, and adolescents' health and well-being (2005). Haiti has routinely displayed commitment to comprehensive action against critical health concerns. Haiti's participation in the United Nations Every Woman Every Child Global Strategy for Women's, Children's and Adolescents' Health Movement (EWC) (2010) raised international attention and support, with 62 Member States pledging over 30 billion dollars to enforce committee goals. Haiti has faced obstacles in upholding women, children, and adolescent health such as the 2021 7.2 magnitude earthquake, destroying 130,000 homes and placing 260,000 children in need of humanitarian assistance. Despite the earthquake, the infant mortality rate in Haiti declined to a record low of 56.5 per thousand people. Haiti stresses the need for international cooperation in the creation and maintenance of health systems, specifically in areas of humanitarian aid for countries affected by natural disasters. Haiti seeks to work with Every Woman Every Child organization to further push the urgency of investment from other UN members into healthcare infrastructure of developing nations, specifically increasing funding for accessible contraceptives and development of healthcare infrastructure in rural areas. | |
| Committee: | WHA |
| Topic: | Public health dimension of the world drug problem |
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| With the emergence of hyper-potent and destructively cheap drugs such as fentanyl and methamphetamine, the international campaign against drug misuse faces an arduous task of utmost urgency. The United Nations Office on Drug Control (UNODC) estimates the number of people using drugs as 296 million. The United Nations (UN) stresses the importance of international collaboration on the international drug problem with Resolution 72/198. The UN understands the gravity of the global synthetic drug problem, with the adoption of the Resolution 67/4 (2024). Haiti is consistently been engaged on the international level in efforts to combat the global drug crisis through its recurrent participation in the Inter-American Drug Abuse Control Commission (CICAD), which has hosted biannual meetings since 1986 and has played a significant role in launching drug prevention programs and data collection to guide evidence-based policymaking. Haiti is involved on a regional level, illustrated in its participation within the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Regional Task Force on Crime and Security, focusing on tightening borders to decrease regional drug activity. Domestically, Haiti passed the 2001 Law on the Control and Suppression of Illicit Drug Trafficking to acknowledge and protect at-risk populations. Haiti advocates for the advancement of access to treatment and rehabilitation for drug users and seeks to foster sustainable systems within its borders and among allies. Haiti stresses the importance for addressal of the emerging drug class of nitazenes which pose a major threat to the global community. Haiti underscores the immediate need for global cooperation in the formulation of international safeguards and proactive measures against said drugs including the establishment of stringent regulations on the production and distribution of nitazenes and an increase of funding for drug monitoring and treatment programs. | |
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