A/HRC/25/71 programmes and specialized agencies and organizations of the United Nations and the Organization of American States, as well as by the Human Rights Council when concluding its universal periodic review of Haiti in October 2011 (A/HRC/19/19). 10. The independent expert notes with satisfaction that the Government has shown its willingness to implement these recommendations, and puts himself at the disposal of the Haitian authorities and society to help achieve this objective. Among the many recommendations, the independent expert would like to highlight five aspects that he considers should be given priority. A. Economic, social and cultural rights and social inequality 11. The vast majority of the Haitian population lives in poverty. Seventy-six per cent of people earn the equivalent of less than US$ 2 per day, and 60 per cent of them receive less than US$ 1 per day.1 Although only the latter are officially considered as being in extreme poverty, the living conditions of poor people in general in Haiti are not much better. It would not be an exaggeration to say that all people living in extreme poverty as well as people living in ordinary poverty live in abject poverty in Haiti; namely, a total of 7.5 million out of 10 million people. 12. Beyond the statistics, the extent of poverty is striking in the capital, Port-au-Prince, where the pavements are thronging with street vendors trying to sell all kinds of goods. Port-au-Prince is perhaps the largest flea market in the world, given the large number of suppliers, and, at the same time, the smallest one given the small number of buyers. Yet men, women and even children display their wares every day, from dawn to dusk, awaiting the arrival of some poor customer who will allow them to supplement their income, which is not more, on average, than one or two dollars a day. 13. This established practice is indicative not only of economic uncertainty but also of the extraordinary willingness of a significant proportion of Haitians to work in the most difficult conditions with remarkable tenacity. If these efforts were focused on more productive activities, the wages of a significant portion of the poorest sectors of the Haitian population would be far higher. 14. The unemployment rate has reached 60 per cent, according to the Minister Delegate for human rights and the fight against extreme poverty. This situation, combined with poverty rate mentioned earlier, affects above all the rights to food and housing. Although malnutrition has declined by a third in Haiti since 1990, the Global Hunger Index (GHI), which is 23.3, is considered to be “alarming”.2 It is higher than in the Americas. More than 44 per cent of the population suffers from malnutrition in Haiti.3 15. The right to housing is not yet a reality for the majority of Haitians. This housing insecurity has worsened since the earthquake in 2010. As at September 2013, some 280,000 people affected by the earthquake were still in refugee camps. The camps problem, which 1 2 3 4 Data from before the 2010 earthquake (Haitian Institute of Statistics and Information Technology). According to the Minister Delegate for human rights and the fight against extreme poverty, 4.7 million people live in extreme poverty in Haiti. An index of 10 to 19.9 is considered as “serious”, and 30 and above as “extremely alarming”. International Food Policy Research Institute, 2013 Global Hunger Index (GHI 2013), available at the following address: www.ifpri.org/tools/2013-ghi-map. Haïti Press Network, «Haïti-insécurité alimentaire: L’indice de la faim en Haïti toujours alarmant», 14 October 2013. Available at the following address: http://hpnhaiti.com/site/index.php/economie/10690-haiti-insecurite-alimentaire-lindice-de-la-faim-enhaiti-toujours-alarmant. GE.14-10841