A/HRC/17/42 E. Forced return 37. Although most countries announced after the earthquake that they would suspend their forced return programmes, cases of deportation or forcible return of Haitians from several countries in the region have been documented by international organizations and subsequently reported in the press. The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) and the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) issued a joint emergency appeal to countries to suspend all forced returns to Haiti because of the ongoing humanitarian crisis. According to UNHCR, the deportation and forced repatriation of Haitian nationals and interception on the high seas remain a source of concern under the present circumstances.8 38. The Independent Expert reiterates the recommendations contained in his report of 2010,9 in which he asks all States to adopt a flexible and generous attitude towards Haitians seeking refuge in other countries. He recommends that all States ensure that returns, when they must take place, are carried out in compliance with their legal obligations and in such a way as to place no additional burden on the country. F. Cholera and lynchings 39. According to the Ministry of Communication and Culture, since the outbreak of the cholera epidemic, at least 45 people in Haiti have been lynched by mobs accusing them of practising witchcraft in order to spread the disease. Most of those murders have been perpetrated in the Department of Grande-Anse, in the south-west of Haiti. Several people have also allegedly been killed in similar circumstances elsewhere in the country. The victims, mostly priests who practise voodoo, the popular religion in Haiti, are struck with machetes and stones before being burned in the street. The exact number of victims is unknown but the murders are part of a broader context of mob justice that illustrates a real lack of confidence in the judicial authorities. The Independent Expert is aware of the difficulty of prosecuting the perpetrators, because the murders are carried out by anonymous crowds and, more often than not, people conspire to conceal the identity of the perpetrators. Nevertheless, the highest authorities in the State should launch inquiries, thereby reminding everyone that, under the rule of law, no one is entitled to take justice into their own hands. III. Civil and political rights 40. In the course of his missions in Haiti, the Independent Expert has resumed his work on civil and political rights and, in particular, on issues connected with the reform of the justice system, the vetting10 of the National Police and the prison system. The Independent Expert indicated in his previous reports that progress in those areas was being made before the earthquake of 12 January 2010. Given that presidential elections are currently under 8 9 10 GE.11-12426 Executive Committee of the Programme of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees: Update on UNHCR operations in the Americas, 22 February 2011. A/HRC/14/44/Add.1, paras. 41 and 42. The vetting (or certification) of police officers is one aspect of the support furnished by MINUSTAH in the effort to upgrade the professionalism of the National Police. This process is designed to verify the suitability of candidate police officers to join the force. Serving officers are also subject to vetting. Enquiries are made with families and other close relatives and court or criminal records are inspected in order to ensure that the officer or candidate is morally and legally qualified to join the force. 9