UN human rights chief calls for Special Forces to Haiti; Murders & Rapes rampant

By Sherrica Thompson

Staff Writer

#Haiti, February 15, 2023 – After a two-day visit to Haiti, the United Nations Human Rights Commissioner Volker Türk is urging the international community to consider deploying a specialized armed force into the country. The commissioner also warned that violent gangs are creating a “living nightmare” for thousands of people.

“It is time for the international community to help the Haitian authorities regain full control so this suffering can be stopped,” he said.

Türk said that he feared “the situation in Haiti is not receiving the urgent spotlight that it deserves” since multiple crises around the world are competing for attention.

Meanwhile, the U.S. government, during an Organization of American States meeting in Washington on Friday, revealed that it is having discussions with international partners about the possibility of sending a multinational force composed primarily of police.

U.S. ambassador to the OAS, Francisco Mora, said the U.S. is still working with others on a framework to provide security and stability and that it would soon implement new sanctions and visa restrictions, according to AP News.

Haiti’s Foreign Minister, Jean Victor Généus, also spoke at the meeting, requesting that a specialized international force “be allowed to stand with us [Haiti].”

“There is a deepening crisis in the country that cries out for humanitarian aid,” the  Foreign Minister said.

The Minister’s plea came as the United Nations Integrated Office in Haiti released a 24-page report on what it described as mass incidents of murder, gang rapes and sniper attacks in Cite Soleil, Haiti’s biggest slum, located in the capital city of Port-au-Prince.

The report revealed at least 263 people were killed and at least 57 women and girls were raped in just one neighbourhood within Cite Soleil from July 8 to Dec. 31 last year.

Several regional and international leaders and organizations, including the United Nations, have been calling for support for Haiti.  The U.N. has urged officials in Haiti to hold elections and provide more training and equipment to the country’s police department.  It has also been calling on the international community to consider sending armed forces to assist with the ongoing crisis.