A/HRC/25/71 (A/HRC/22/65, paras. 68–70). It is important to emphasize the need to take urgent and effective measures to end this contemporary form of slavery. 57. Building the rule of law is a challenge for and an essential need in Haiti. The Government is aware of this fact and has created an interministerial committee on human rights, under the supervision of the Minister Delegate for human rights and the fight against extreme poverty, so as to coordinate official activities to this end. In response to requests for assistance from the Government, the independent expert proposed that an expert on the rule of law should be selected to participate in a seminar on the topic in line with the principle set forth in paragraphs 30 and 42 above. The Minister Delegate and the independent expert agreed that this recommendation should be implemented in the course of 2014. D. Past violations and impunity 58. The Haitian people have suffered serious and systematic violations in the recent past that have gone unpunished, which is contrary to the international obligations of the State and undermines its ability to build solid foundations and public confidence in the ability of State institutions to protect the rights of citizens, and to establish a democratic political system. 59. From 1957 to 1986, Haiti was governed under a personal and authoritarian regime by the Duvalier family, without respect for the fundamental rights to life, liberty, integrity, justice, information, and many other civil liberties, including freedom of association, and social, economic and cultural rights. François Duvalier who became president in 1957, declared himself president for life in 1964. When he died in 1971, under the dynastic regime his power was passed on to his son, Jean-Claude Duvalier, until 1986, when he had to leave the country due to lack of popular support.22 60. According to the Special Rapporteur of the Commission on Human Rights on the situation of human rights in Haiti in 1994, the situation continued after Duvalier’s departure: “From 1983 to 1991, the reports submitted to the Commission […] denounced the suppression and arbitrary suspension of fundamental civil rights, particularly the freedoms of expression, opinion, press and assembly as well as trade union freedoms and legal guarantees. They also discussed the frequent instances of arrests without guarantees. Also analysed were rural and urban violence; the deplorable prison conditions, systematic torture and ill-treatment; the denial of political rights; and, in general, continued violations of the rights enunciated in the Haitian Constitution and in the human rights declarations and treaties to which Haiti is a party.”23 61. The military governments which replaced President Jean-Bertrand Aristide, after ousting him in 1991, caused a situation of widespread human rights violations. According to one of the independent expert’s predecessors, in 1996: “During the period of the military dictatorship, thousands of people lost their lives; the army is responsible, either directly or indirectly, for these deaths. For three years, summary and extrajudicial executions, enforced disappearances, arbitrary arrest, rape, torture, and cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment inflicted by agents of the State, threats, extortion, and destruction or confiscation of property were a part of daily life for the people. This reign of terror caused about 100,000 22 23 GE.14-10841 Report of the Special Representative of the Commission on Human Rights, E/CN.4/1987/61, 5 August 1987, paras. 1–3, 18 and 87. Note by the Secretary-General transmitting the interim report of the Special Rapporteur of the Commission on Human Rights on the situation of human rights in Haiti, Mr. Marco Tulio Bruni Celli, A/49/513, 14 October 1994, annex, para. 6. 13