A/HRC/25/71
to ensure respect for human rights is to set up its own programme to provide for reparation
for the damage caused by the violations during the dictatorship.
66.
A National Commission for Truth and Justice was created in 1995. Among other
things, it proposed the establishment of a national commission to provide reparation for the
damage suffered by thousands of victims of the coup of 30 September 1991.28 This
recommendation has not yet been implemented.
66.
As to the violations committed by private groups of supporters and opponents of
President Aristide, most cases remain unpunished. Special measures are necessary to ensure
the realization of the rights to truth, justice and reparation for the victims of these crimes.
67.
Ending impunity for serious human rights violations committed in the past is an
obligation, according to the constitutional and international commitments undertaken by the
Haitian Government. The efforts made by the State to this end will be rewarded by greater
public trust in its institutions. It is probably for these two reasons that the international
community has insisted on this matter, both in monitoring the State’s commitments in the
field of human rights, such as the universal periodic review,29 as well as in solidarity-based
cooperation, such as that provided by UNASUR.30
E.
Disasters and humanitarian situations
69.
The Haitian people have recently undergone major disasters that have exacerbated
the human rights situation and whose consequences warrant special attention.
70.
The earthquake of 12 January 2010, Tropical Storm Isaac in August 2012 and
Hurricane Sandy in October 2012 led to the displacement of 2 million people who were
forced to settle in camps. In December 2013, the number of people in these camps
decreased to about 146,573, according to the Displacement Tracking Matrix (DTM).31
71.
In September 2013, the DTM recorded a 24 per cent decrease in the number of
displaced persons (approximately 107,000 people) compared to the previous DTM of June
2013. The decrease is largely due to the Government’s decision to remove three shelters
from the list of IDP sites: those of Canaan, Jerusalem and Onaville. These camps were
removed on account of their characteristics; in fact they had become new neighbourhoods
that required long-term urban planning. The decrease is also due to return programmes
offering rental subsidies or other forms of support, implemented by different partners.
72.
The majority of displaced persons (70.6 per cent) live in the three communes of
Delmas, Port-au-Prince and Carrefour. It is estimated that only 72 sites are on public land,
28
29
30
31
GE.14-10841
Report of the independent expert, Mr. Louis Joinet, to the Commission on Human Rights
(E/CN.4/2003/116), paras. 12 and 13.
A/HRC/19/19, 22 December 2011: Canada recommended that “justice handles, in an impartial
manner, the complaints lodged against Mr. Jean-Claude Duvalier” (para. 88.111); Switzerland
proposed “the establishment of an international commission against impunity” (para. 88.110);
Slovenia, Mexico, Belgium and France were also in favour of fighting impunity (paras. 88.107,
88.108, 88.109 and 88.112).
According to Ambassadeur Rodolfo Mattarollo, “impunity for such crimes is a thorn in the heart of
Haiti that can be removed only by society and the Haitian Government”, UNASUR, UNASUR-Haiti
Technical Secretariat, Informe final. Conclusiones y Recomendaciones. Agosto 2013, Port-au-Prince,
2013, p. 2.
Inter-Agency Standing Committee (Haiti E-Shelter/CCCM Cluster), International Organization for
Migration, Ministry of the Interior, Displacement Tracking Matrix (DTM) V2.0 Update, 10 January
2014 (http://iomhaitidataportal.info/dtm/).
15
Select target paragraph3
Connect to a paragraph
Connect to an entity
Disable highlights
Add to table of contents