A/HRC/PRST/19/2 United Nations General Assembly Distr.: General 3 May 2012 English Original: French Human Rights Council Nineteenth session Agenda item 10 Technical assistance and capacity-building President’s statement* PRST 19/2 Situation of human rights in Haiti At the nineteenth session of the Human Rights Council, held from 27 February to 23 March 2012, during consideration of agenda item 10, entitled “Technical assistance and capacity-building”, the President of the Council made the following statement: “1. The Human Rights Council welcomes the latest legal and political developments in Haiti, which have been marked by: (a) The recent peaceful transfer of power from one democratically elected president to another who is from an opposition party, and stresses the importance of ensuring that forthcoming local and parliamentary elections are carried out under proper conditions; (b) The appointment and investiture of 11 of the 12 judges of the Court of Cassation, including the chief justice, and progress towards placing sufficient material and human resources at the disposal of the justice system to permit the implementation of the judicial reform adopted in 2007, and underscores the need to improve the operation of the Haitian prison system. 2. The Council also welcomes the Haitian authorities’ plans to build housing for victims of the earthquake of 12 January 2010. It further welcomes the establishment of a special fund for children’s schooling in Haiti. 3. The Council applauds the reaffirmation of the Haitian authorities’ commitment and determination to improve the living conditions of Haitian women and men by, inter alia, devoting greater attention to respect for human rights. 4. The Council also applauds the priorities set by the President of the Republic, which include the rule of law, education, the environment and employment, and urges donors to honour their commitments without delay. * This statement will be reproduced in the report of the Council on its nineteenth session (A/HRC/19/2), chap. I. GE.12-13419 (E) 090512 210512