A/HRC/14/44 United Nations General Assembly Distr.: General 3 May 2010 English Original: French Human Rights Council Fourteenth session Agenda item 10 Technical assistance and capacity-building Report of the independent expert on the situation of human rights in Haiti, Michel Forst* Summary In accordance with the mandate established by the Commission on Human Rights in its resolution 1995/70 and with Presidential Statement PRST/9/1, the independent expert on the situation of human rights in Haiti submits the present report to the fourteenth session of the Council. The independent expert starts by describing the situation of human rights in Haiti before the earthquake of 12 January 2010. He then analyses the earthquake’s impact on people’s rights. He draws attention in particular to the consequences for internally displaced persons, not only in Port-au-Prince but in other regions of the country as well. He highlights the increased risks and the particularly difficult situation of vulnerable groups, a situation aggravated by the earthquake, especially for women, who often suffer gender-based violence, children separated from their families, orphans, restavek children, persons with pre-existing disabilities, and persons newly disabled by the earthquake. In view of the persisting humanitarian crisis, he stresses the need to suspend all forced returns to Haiti. The independent expert also examines the earthquake’s impact on the public institutions and the cornerstones of the rule of law. He describes in particular the situation of Haiti’s National Police, justice system, prisons and Ombudsman’s Office following the earthquake. He also notes the importance of incorporating a legal perspective in the country’s reconstruction. He points as well to the need to continue the reforms which he evaluated in his report of June 2009 (A/HRC/11/5). ___________ * Document submitted late. GE.10-13204 (EXT)