Political advances in Haiti set stage to address challenges, says UN envoy

Highlighting improvements in Haiti's political situation, including the recent elections, a senior UN official in the island nation has urged the international community to continue its partnership with Haiti to help consolidate the gains achieved.

"The elections provided for the installation of all directly-elected officials at all levels of Haiti's governance structure for the first time since 2006, including the peaceful transfer of power to the third democratically-elected President since 2004," the United Nations Special Representative of the Secretary-General and Head of the United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti, Sandra Honore, told the UN Security Council Tuesday.

"Haiti's return to Constitutional order and the full functioning of the Executive, the Legislature and local government has now set the stage to address the many pressing challenges facing the country," she added.

In her briefing, Honore, also the head of the UN Stabilization Mission (MINUSTAH), noted that the security situation in Haiti remains largely stable and that while the island's police force continues to show increased capacity in planning and executing complex operations as well as in combating crime and maintaining public order, its further development, including in the areas of internal management and oversight, police-to-population ratio and the geographic coverage were needed.

She went on to cite political challenges as a major impediment to consistent progress in the administration of justice and human rights to truly anchor the rule of law and render police work more effective while creating conditions conducive for foreign and domestic investment and job creation.

"The progress achieved during the past 13 years in Haiti's stabilization process is notable," she said, adding that reshaping the partnership among the international community, the UN system and Haiti is important to ensure such progress remains sustainable. Endit