Speech

40th Universal Periodic Review of human rights: UK statement on Haiti

The UK's International Ambassador for Human Rights, Rita French delivered this statement during Haiti's Universal Periodic Review (UPR) at the Human Rights Council.

From:
Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office and Rita French
Published
31 January 2022
Location:
Geneva, Switzerland
Delivered on:
(Transcript of the speech, exactly as it was delivered)
Rita French

The United Kingdom is concerned by the deteriorating and volatile security situation in Haiti, and we are troubled by the particular health and economic vulnerabilities women and children continue to face, which has been acutely magnified by the COVID-19 pandemic.

The UK renews our call to Haiti to tackle these issues by working constructively and cooperatively with the international community.

We recommend Haiti:

  1. Continue to fund and tighten measures around anti-trafficking laws, including by establishing and implementing clear national guidelines for identifying and screening victims for first responders, to protect victims from being physically, emotionally, and sexually exploited;

  2. Enact and implement laws to prohibit and prevent sexual and gender-based violence, and ensure perpetrators are brought to justice;

  3. Ensure there are a sufficient number of properly trained police officers in prisons and detention facilities, and bring prison conditions in line with the United Nations Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners.

Thank you.

Published 31 January 2022