Source: United Nations Human Rights Council
Date: 17 Jun 2008
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Human Rights Council
AFTERNOON
17 June 2008
The Human Rights Council this afternoon held an interactive dialogue with the Independent Expert on the situation of human rights in Haiti, followed by a general debate on technical assistance and capacity-building.
Louis Joinet, Independent Expert on the situation of human rights in Haiti, said that he was taking the floor for the very last time, after more than 40 years of association with the United Nations. Over the past six years, he had been able to create links with different parties in Haiti, which were not always really open to dialogue and were also not often open to the return of the rule of law, as these groups were often linked to the mafia. He had also maintained contact with various Government officers; one day these would have to take the destiny of the people in their hands. The major steps accomplished over the last years included the re-establishment of an elected parliament and the election meant that the people of the country could come out with a long lasting situation. One of the problems was the non-existence of political parties as such as they had not taken root in the country yet.
Haiti, speaking as a concerned country, said Mr. Joinet had provided moral and technical support to the Haitian people. Haiti had the will to reform the administration and police with respect to human rights. However, in April 2008 the country was plunged into an institutional crisis as a result of the food shortage crisis. Violent demonstrations had led to the removal of the Prime Minister by 16 Senators of the Republic and since then the country had had a difficult time replacing him. The setting up of a new Government was essential for the setting up and promotion and protection of human rights. On the renewal of the mandate, Haiti believed that given the political state, it was difficult for the Government to make such a decision without the support of a full backed Government.
In the interactive dialogue with the Independent Expert on the situation of human rights in Haiti, delegations said that they attached great importance to the situation in Haiti. Mr. Joinet had established a reputation of trust over time with successive Haitian administrations. Haiti, as elsewhere, was a country where security and development were interlinked. Poverty and extreme poverty were present in the country. The consolidation of the rule of law was at the heart of the current issues that remained to be solved in Haiti. Mr.
Joinet fought to deal with a number of issues that were of priority: an independent judiciary, the right to fair trial, training the police, army and armed forces in general, combating impunity, which was a system corroding the entire system in Haiti, and combating extreme poverty.
Speaking in the interactive dialogue on the situation of human rights in Haiti were the delegations of Canada, France, Uruguay, Luxembourg and Slovenia on behalf of the European Union.
In the general debate on technical assistance and capacity-building, delegations said the Council should support and promote the provision of technical assistance and capacity-building. At the same time this assistance and cooperation should contribute towards the prevention of human rights violations and facilitate a prompt response to human rights emergencies. The Council had a clear mandate to start afresh to think on technical cooperation in order to avoid reverting to the past practices of the Commission.
Speaking in the general debate about technical assistance and capacity-building were the delegations of Slovenia on behalf of the European Union and Sri Lanka.
Also speaking was Human Rights Watch.
Speaking in right of reply was Iran.
The Council will meet at 10 a.m. on Wednesday, 18 June, when it is scheduled to appoint a number of Special Procedures mandate holders and take action on resolutions and decisions before closing its eighth regular session.
Source: http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/RWB.NSF/db900SID/MUMA-7FQ4RF?OpenDocument
