A/HRC/19/19
Introduction
1.
The Working Group on the Universal Periodic Review (UPR), established in
accordance with Human Rights Council resolution 5/1 of 18 June 2007, held its twelfth
session from 3 to 14 October 2011. The review of Haiti was held at the 17th meeting, on 13
October 2011. The delegation of Haiti was headed by Jean-Claude Pierre, chargé d’affaires
a.i., and chef de délégation. At its 19th meeting, held on 17 October 2011, the Working
Group adopted the report on Haiti.
2.
On 20 June 2011, the Human Rights Council selected the following group of
rapporteurs (troika) to facilitate the review of Haiti: Belgium, Burkina Faso and Mexico.
3.
In accordance with paragraph 15 of the annex to resolution 5/1, the following
documents were issued for the review of Haiti:
(a)
A national report submitted/written presentation made in accordance with
paragraph 15 (a) (A/HRC/WG.6/12/HTI/1);
(b)
A compilation prepared by the Office of the United Nations High
Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) in accordance with paragraph 15 (b)
(A/HRC/WG.6/12/HTI/2);
(c)
A summary prepared by OHCHR in accordance with paragraph 15 (c)
(A/HRC/WG.6/12/HTI/3).
4.
A list of questions prepared in advance by Canada, the Czech Republic, the
Netherlands, Norway, Slovenia, Sweden, Switzerland and the United States of America was
transmitted to Haiti through the troika. These questions are available on the extranet of the
UPR.
I.
Summary of the proceedings of the review process
A.
Presentation by the State under review
5.
The delegation of Haiti expressed their Government’s regrets that it had been unable
to submit its national report by the initially planned date of 11 May 2010, on account of the
terrible earthquake of 12 January 2010. The delegation reiterated their Government’s
thanks to the Human Rights Council for having in the circumstances devoted an
extraordinary meeting to Haiti and decided, in an unparalleled gesture of solidarity, under
the terms of resolution S-13/1, to postpone the presentation of Haiti’s report to the last
session of the Working Group on the Universal Periodic Review (UPR).
6.
The delegation reported that an inter-institutional committee had been set up to draft
the UPR report. Before the report had been finalized, a national consultation had been
organized for 16 June 2011, in which many regional organizations of civil society had
participated. Some of their recommendations had been taken into account.
7.
The delegation referred to the 1987 Constitution, according to which the
international conventions to which Haiti was a party took legal precedence. In addition, the
1987 Constitution had abolished all laws allowing political repression. Several of its
chapters concerned the fundamental rights of Haitians, such as the right to life, the right to
health, the right to education, the right to information, the right to security, the right to
property, the right to personal freedom, the right to freedom of expression, the right to
freedom of conscience, the right of assembly and association and the right to work.
GE.11-17271
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