Haiti - Security Council, 10198th meeting

The 10,198th meeting of the Security Council is called to order. Adoption of the agenda. The provisional agenda for this meeting is the question concerning Haiti. The agenda is hereby adopted. In accordance with Rule 37 of the Council's Provisional Rules of Procedure, I invite the representatives of the Dominican Republic, Haiti, Jamaica, Mexico to participate in this meeting. It is so decided. On behalf of the Council, I would like to welcome Her Excellency Ms. Reina Faubin, Minister for Foreign Affairs and Religious Affairs of Haiti, as well as His Excellency Mr. Roberto Álvarez Gil, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Dominican Republic. In accordance with Rule 39 of the Council's Provisional Rules of Procedure, I invite the following briefers to partake in this meeting. Mr. Carlos Ruiz Massieu, Special Representative of the Secretary-General and Head of the United Nations Integrated Office in Haiti. Ms. Monica Juma, Executive Director of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime. Ms. Vanessa Fraser, The Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict, as well as Mr. Jack Christofidis, Special Representative of the Gang Suppression Force in Haiti. It is so decided. The Security Council will now begin its consideration of item 2 of the agenda. I now give the floor to Mr. Carlos Ruiz Massieu.

Thank you, Madam President.

Madam President, distinguished members of the Council, Excellencies. It is a pleasure for me to brief you on the situation in Haiti together with Jack Christofides, Special Representative of the Gang Suppression Force; Monica Juma, Executive Director of UNODC; and Ms. Vanessa Fraser, the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Children in Armed Conflict. I also wish to commend the presence of Her Excellency Reyna Fauban, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Haiti, as well as the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Dominican Republic, Mr. Roberto Álvarez. Madam President.

Thank you.

Haiti continues to face persistent insecurity, acute humanitarian needs, and institutional challenges, with devastating consequences for its population. Yet, recent developments demonstrate that there still remains an opportunity to move the political transition forward, begin reversing the threat posed by gangs, and restore democratic governance. The challenge now is to sustain that momentum and translate it into tangible improvements for the Haitian people. Madame President, the transition stands at a critical moment. The adoption of the revised electoral decree and the consensus reached on an electoral budget earlier this month are significant achievements that provide a basis for renewed momentum. The launch of voter registration today marks another important step forward. The next priority is clear: the adoption of a credible and realistic electoral calendar. Achieving this will require sustained cohesion among Haitian institutions, continued dialogue across the political spectrum, and a shared commitment to place the interests of the Haitian people above all else. I am convinced that Haitian stakeholders can work together to advance the transition, create the conditions for credible elections, and restore the functioning of their democratic institutions. Madame President, In my ongoing consultations with political parties, civil society, youth and women's organizations, one message has been consistent: security is indispensable for credible elections. Yet, security challenges must not become a reason to delay the political process. Electoral preparations and security improvements must advance together to sustain the moment. In this context, the full deployment of the GSF, in support of national authorities, remains critical to foster a security environment conducive to the electoral process. The United Nations is fully committed to accompanying these Haitian-led efforts. They must now proceed with greater pace and coherence to ensure that institutional progress delivers tangible improvements for the Haitian people. Madam President, security remains Haiti's most pressing challenge. Gang violence continues to exact a heavy toll on a beleaguered population. Millions of Haitians remain displaced or food insecure, while women and children continue to bear the brunt of the violence. Recent attacks in Cité Soleil, Kenscoff, as well as in the southeast and Artibonite departments demonstrate the continued reach of gangs and the imperative need to step up efforts to break their influence and strengthen the protection of populations. Against this backdrop, the launch of operations by the GSF represents an important milestone. Together with the continued strengthening of the Haitian National Police and the Armed Forces of Haiti, It marks a transition from planning to implementation. The progressive deployment and scaling-up of the force, with the support of the United Nations Support Office in Haiti, and successful targeted anti-gang operations will be critical to strengthening national efforts to address insecurity and restore public confidence. Ensuring that these efforts continue in the near future, will be paramount. At the same time, ensuring the full compliance of these operations with international human rights law and relevant international standards is also essential to sustaining legitimacy, strengthening public trust, and achieving lasting security gains. I commend the efforts of ONSO, contributing Member States, regional and international partners in establishing the operational, legal and logistical frameworks that have made this possible. Equally important is the close coordination now established among BINU, ONSO, the GSF, Haitian institutions and international partners. Success depends on security, political engagement and humanitarian action reinforcing each other. Madam President, security operations alone will not produce lasting peace. Achieving it requires a broader strategy— one that reduces the appeal and the capacity of armed gangs, while strengthening justice, state institutions, and providing opportunities for communities affected by violence especially for women and children. Haiti's children are at grave risk. Alarmingly, as many as 1 in every 2 gang members today is a child. Children are being exploited, coerced into violence, and deprived of the opportunity to build a future. Averting a lost generation must therefore be at the heart of Haiti's stabilization and recovery efforts. I welcome the sustained leadership of the National Commission on Disarmament, Dismantlement and Reintegration to advance a Haitian-owned vision for reducing armed violence and creating viable alternatives to gang membership, particularly for children and young people at risk. This vision must now be translated into a comprehensive national programme supported by the international community. As outlined in the Secretary-General's letter to this Council, the United Nations has developed practical, phased options to support such a programme alongside initiatives to strengthen justice, accountability and oversight. Additionally, the establishment of 2 specialized judicial units to strengthen accountability for serious crimes is an important step towards delivering justice for victims and breaking the cycle of violence and impunity. I encourage Member States, including those seeking complementary avenues to support Haiti's stabilization efforts, to channel their support through the proposed Multi-Party Trust Fund. This will help Haiti turn security gains into lasting stability. Madame President, distinguished Council Members, the window of opportunity before Haiti must now be seized. The Council's continued support for this innovative partnership— the GSF— with logistical UN support and the good offices and political work of BINU, will be critical to help sustain the current momentum. As highlighted by the Secretary-General during his recent visit to Port-au-Prince, Lasting progress will require sustained political engagement and continued international solidarity. Above all, it will require a shared sense of urgency to deliver tangible improvements that the population can see and can feel. Madame la Présidente.

Madam President, I call on the Government of Haiti as well as on all stakeholders to make an unswerving commitment to exhibit political responsibility and to work in a constructive spirit so as to safeguard the gains we've accomplished. I also encourage member states to provide the necessary resources so as to support national priorities and lock in security gains. As well as to help create conducive conditions to the holding of elections and the restoration of democratic governance. The United Nations remain resolutely committed to assisting Haiti's efforts on this path. The Haitian people have been waiting for far too long. The Haitian people deserve for the progress they that's been accomplished to be transformed into concrete improvements to their daily lives, as well as into new prospects for the future. I thank you.

I thank Mr. Rose-Mathieu for his briefing. I now give the floor to Ms. Monica Juma.

Madam President, distinguished members of Council, Excellencies. I am honored to address the Security Council for the first time as Executive Director of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime and to present UNODC's 11th Report on the Situation in Haiti, which covers the period between January and July 2026. In preparation for this briefing, I traveled to Haiti last week. While I have visited Haiti in my previous capacity during the MSS deployment, My desire this time was to engage with the people and situation on the ground ahead of this session. During my visit, I met with the Prime Minister, senior government officials including Ministers of Justice and Public Security, of Finance and Economy, the Director-General of the Haitian National Police. I also held a briefing with ambassadors in Haiti and met with colleagues from the UN family, including the DSRG and Resident Coordinator, and the Special Representative of the Gang Suppression Force and Head of UNSO, all of whom are committed to restoring peace and security in Haiti. I also travelled to and engaged with critical actors in the Dominican Republic, including Minister Roberto Álvarez, who is here, all who shared perspectives on the bilateral and regional dimension of the situation. What I witnessed on the ground gave a human face to the report being prepared— presented to you today. I saw and heard about the daily costs that organized crime imposes on ordinary people: displacement of populations, roads and schools lying empty, businesses forced to close early, and state institutions struggling to deliver safety and essential services. Yet, I also heard of and witnessed the extraordinary resilience of the Haitian people— communities refusing to surrender to fear or violence, public servants working to keep institutions functioning against extraordinary odds, and police officers reporting for duty with limited resources and at enormous personal risk against well-armed and resourced gangs. That determination deserves more than our recognition. It calls for support and sustained action. Excellencies, the report before the Council today documents an important shift. Haiti's armed gangs are no longer simply seeking to capture territory. They are seeking to capture the systems of governance and the economic lifelines on which communities and institutions depend. They are competing for control over transport corridors, fuel supplies, food distribution network, and illicit markets. Every checkpoint they control symbolizes their authority. Their criminal portfolios have in turn diversified, drawing from multiple illicit revenue streams and creating a criminal ecosystem that is more adaptable, more resilient, unsophisticated to dismantle. Organized crime is reshaping and in some cases replacing the authority of the state, essentially holding government and population hostage. Meanwhile, gangs continue expanding their influence beyond the capital into Antebonite, the Centre Department, and southern transport routes. Communities previously less affected now face violence and kidnappings. With young people coerced into crime by merciless gangs. And in the absence of official public security, some gangs now present themselves as so-called community protectors, further blurring the line between criminal violence, vigilante justice, and legitimate authority, thus eroding public trust. That is why Haiti's crisis should not be understood as a security crisis alone. It is increasingly a governance crisis driven by organized crime, with consequences for the upcoming elections, the humanitarian response, and long-term prosperity and development. Nor is this crisis confined to Haiti's borders. Illicit firearms, including military-grade weapons, continue to flow into Haiti from abroad. Cocaine and other drug trafficking networks increasingly use Haiti as a storage and logistics hub for onward transport along Caribbean routes. Migrant smuggling routes connect Haiti with the Bahamas, the Dominican Republic, the Turks and Caicos Islands, the United States of America, and South America. These are interconnected criminal net markets that require a coordinated regional response. Distinguished members of the Council, despite the challenging security situation, there are opportunities. The Gang Suppression Force has begun deployment, and both the Special Representative, who is here with us today, and Force Commander are working towards achieving the mandate, mandate of the GSF. It is, however, clear that the effective security operations must be reinforced by functioning criminal justice systems that restore and uphold the rule of law. Gang members must be arrested, prosecuted, and detained, criminal networks dismantled, and police systems adequately resourced. Young children forced into violence need to be separated from gangs and weapons removed from the society. Without this, security gains will be but temporary. UNODC stands ready to support this effort by providing technical assistance to strengthen the interface between the GSF and the Haitian authorities, ensuring that anti-gang operations translate into lasting, just outcomes and sustainable security. Work is also going in strengthening institutions. Together with the UN Human Rights Office, UNODC helped establish the specialized judicial pools to investigate complex financial crimes, corruption, money laundering, arms trafficking, and serious offenses such as sexual violence. This is an important investment in the rule of law, and it requires resources and support to ensure cases can start progressing. Haiti also completed its first national risk assessment on money laundering and terrorist financing. Providing a foundation for stronger financial investigations and efforts to disrupt illicit financial flows. While these developments will not transform the situation overnight, they are essential building blocks for long-term peace, security, and the rule of law. Excellencies, to help Haiti and put it on the path to peace, we must respond to the urgent needs on the ground, while building institutions capable of sustaining long-term stability and the rule of law. The first, most immediate priority must be to help authorities restore security and regain control of territory and key supply routes so that people, commerce, and humanitarian aid can move safely. Second, we must dismantle the criminal economies that fuel the violence. Every gang disbanded today will be replaced tomorrow. If the illicit markets sustaining them remain intact. That means strengthening financial investigations, cutting off illicit revenue streams, and confronting corruption. Third, we must strengthen border and customs control as well as regional efforts to stem the flow of guns, drugs, and equipment coming into Haiti and to prevent further spillover into neighboring countries. Strengthening border management, especially in southern Haiti and in the maritime domain, is critical to disrupting trafficking networks and reinforcing collective regional security. In this regard, UNODC is developing an integrated regional program for the Caribbean with Haiti at the center to facilitate operational cooperation, intelligence sharing, joint maritime patrols, and capacity building for security forces. And fourth, to build lasting, sustainable peace, we must rebuild trust between citizens and the state. A central component of this consists of investment in credible, functioning criminal justice systems, providing economic opportunities, and restoring confidence that public authorities, not criminal groups, can provide security and essential services. UNODC is uniquely positioned to support these efforts in view of our mandate and professional outlay. We work across the entire criminal justice chain, linking security with governance and the rule of law. We are committed to continue working alongside the national authorities, the United Nations system, and regional partners in this regard. I would also like to recognize the strong relationship between UNODC and UN family in Haiti, our teams are well fused and delivering better impact on the ground. Ladies and gentlemen, my visit to Haiti left me with a lasting impression. The people I met were not asking for miracles. They were asking for what many of us take for granted: the freedom to travel without fear, to earn a living, to send children to school, and to believe that the rule of law rather than the rule of violence will shape their lives. It is our collective responsibility to help build that future for the people of Haiti and the wider region. The Haitian people have not given up on this ambition. We must not give up on it either. I thank you for your attention.

Je remercie Madame.

I thank Ms. Juma for her briefing. I now give the floor to Ms. Vanessa Fraser.

Thank you, Madam President, distinguished members of the Council. I thank you for inviting me to brief you today on the situation of children affected by armed violence in Haiti. As you know, I travelled to Haiti in May. It was a deeply sobering but also a very important mission, as I met national authorities, United Nations partners, civil society organizations, and children affected by violence, all of whom are grappling with an extraordinarily complex and multi-layered crisis. The situation of children in Haiti is amongst the most alarming anywhere in the world. Children are being killed, maimed, abducted, recruited and used by armed gangs, displaced from their homes, denied access to education and deprived of basic protection and legal identity. The violence they face is not incidental to the crisis; it is central to it. Children are caught at the intersection of insecurity, poverty, displacement, displacement and the growing control of armed gangs over daily life. The gravity of the situation is reflected in the data. In 2025, the United Nations verified 2,088 grave violations against 1,661 children in Haiti. Recruitment and use by armed gangs was the most prevalent violation, with 892 children recruited and used. Killing and maiming affected 620 children and 277 children were abducted. Sexual violence against children also remains a matter of grave concern, including as a deliberate tactic to instill fear and assert control over communities. These figures show that Haiti's children are not only collateral victims of the crisis, They are being targeted, exploited, and instrumentalized by armed actors. Estimates suggest that children may account for more than half of gang members in Haiti. Children are recruited because of poverty, insecurity, family separation, displacement, lack of schooling, and the absence of viable alternatives. This is a devastating indicator of the extent to which armed gangs are exploiting vulnerability, absence of opportunities, and a severely diminished space for children's protection and development. During my visit, I stressed repeatedly that children associated with armed gangs must be treated first and foremost as victims. That principle is essential and grounded in international child protection standards and in the Convention on the Rights of the Child. It is also essential to any credible and sustainable response. For children who may have committed serious crimes during their association with gangs, international juvenile justice standards apply. Detention must remain a measure of last resort and for the shortest appropriate period of time. Haiti's obligations under the Convention on the Rights of the Child, as well as its commitments to the Paris Principles, must guide the treatment of all children, including those in conflict with the law. I was deeply troubled by what I saw at the detention facility Cerme Call in Port-au-Prince, where children have been held for years, in some cases without charge and without being brought before a judge. Some of the children with whom I spoke reported having spent up to 8 years in detention. without ever having appeared before a judge. This is not acceptable. It was also gravely— I was also gravely concerned by the conditions of detention. Sir Mekkaul was designed to accommodate approximately 100 children, yet on the day of my visit, the facility held almost 600 detainees, of whom less than 100 were children. The remaining detainees were adults, many of whom should not have been accommodated in a facility intended for children. This severe overcrowding has further exacerbated the situation of children deprived of their liberty, who are confined to highly restricted spaces in order to maintain separation from the adult population. I raised these concerns directly with the authorities and urged the immediate review of all cases involving children deprived of their liberty. Strengthening judicial oversight, and the release of children wherever possible in accordance with international juvenile justice standards. Children should not spend years in detention because protection and justice systems have failed to respond. I also stressed that the loss, destruction, or absence of case files can under no circumstances justify the continued detention of a child. Such cases must be resolved without delay and in full respect of due process guarantees. I also advocated strongly for the full implementation of the Handover Protocol. This protocol is one of the most important practical tools available in Haiti today. It provides a clear framework for transferring children encountered during security operations to child protection actors rather than detention pathways. I am encouraged that more than 570 children have already been handed over to civilian child protection actors under this framework. This is a significant achievement and proof that practical solutions are possible when there is political will and coordinated action. At the same time, implementation remains uneven. There is an urgent need to standardize procedures clarify roles, and ensure that all actors apply the Protocol consistently. I therefore welcomed the discussion underway between the Ministry of Justice, the National DDR Commission, Institute of Social Welfare and Research, the EBSR, UNICEF, and other partners to develop an implementation manual that would clarify the distinction between between the child protection pathway for children associated with gangs, who must be treated first and foremost as victims, and the juvenile justice pathway that may apply where a child is alleged to have committed a serious offence. A clear and coherent system is essential if Haiti is to avoid ad hoc responses and is to prevent children from falling through the cracks. The urgency of this work cannot be overstated. If the GSF achieves the operational impact that is envisaged, larger numbers of children are likely to be separated from armed gangs and referred through the Handover Protocol. The Protocol and accompanying procedures must therefore be fully operational, well-coordinated, and consistently implemented before those capacities are tested at scale. Any gaps or delays that are manageable today risk becoming major protection risks tomorrow. This is why investing now in effective implementation, clear responsibilities, and adequate reception and reintegration capacities is so crucial. Madam President, my visit took place at a critical moment As the Gang Suppression Force prepares for deployment, I emphasize in all my meetings that security and child protection cannot be separated. The deployment of the GSF creates both risks and opportunities. The risk is that children encountered during operations may be treated as security threats and moved into detention and criminalization. The opportunity is that if the right systems are in place, children can be separated from armed gangs, transferred to civilian child protection actors, and given a real chance at reintegration. However, this opportunity can only be realized if the Handover Protocol is functioning effectively and consistently in practice. A child protection response is only as strong as the system that supports it. I was encouraged to hear that the GSF recognizes that children are to be treated primarily as victims and that protocols and systems are being put in place to protect children during operations. I also welcomed the development of standard operating procedures, child protection training before and during deployment, and efforts to align operational arrangements with the Handover Protocol. These are important safeguards and they must be fully implemented. In this regard, I wish to reiterate the readiness of the United Nations to cooperate with the GSF on child protection. However, we must be clear: security operations alone will not solve Haiti's crisis. If large numbers of children are separated from gangs without adequate reception, rehabilitation, and reintegration capacity, the likely outcome will be recruit— re-recruitment, further marginalization, or prolonged detention. That would not be protection. It would simply transfer children from one form of harm to another. This is why reintegration is so important. During my mission, I visited reintegration projects in Port-au-Prince and Les Cayes. Where I had the privilege of speaking directly with children who had escaped or been released from armed gangs. Their courage was humbling. Their needs were immense. Reintegration is not simply a matter of handing a child over to a facility. It requires family tracing, psychosocial support, education, vocational training, legal identity, community acceptance, and long-term accompaniment. I was encouraged to see work underway to expand capacity to receive children, including in Lekai, where a centre is being renovated to receive up to 600 children separated from armed gangs. Such initiatives are essential. They need predictable, long-term support. I also stressed the importance of supporting the caregivers of these children and of creating opportunities for children through education, vocational training, and partnerships with the private sector. Reintegration will not succeed if children return to the same conditions of exclusion and vulnerability that made them vulnerable to recruitment and use by armed gangs in the first place. I was particularly struck by the issue of legal identity. Many children coming out of armed gangs do not have birth certificates because their documents have been taken or destroyed. Without legal identity, children cannot easily access services, education, justice, or protection. They become invisible. I therefore welcome the discussions on restoring legal identity, strengthening civil registration, and addressing this critical gap as part of Haiti's broader child protection response. I was also encouraged by the emphasis on prevention. The Haitian authorities and partners spoke to me about the importance of community sensitization, social cohesion, religious leaders, local networks, and even social media engagement to deliver peace messages and counter-recruitment. These approaches matter. I would also like to commend the initiative of the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Religious Affairs in convening an interfaith conference at the end of May. By bringing together religious and community leaders from across Haiti, the conference aimed to highlight the important role that faith and community actors can play in sensitizing communities to view children formerly associated with armed groups primarily as victims deserving of support, acceptance, and reintegration into community life. Prevention begins at home, in the community, in the classroom, and in public spaces. It requires trusted messages, safer communities, and real alternatives for children and adolescents. Madam President, the education crisis in Haiti is also a child protection crisis. I was informed that thousands of children are— I'm sorry, I was informed that thousands of schools are closed or not functioning, including because they are occupied by armed gangs or used by internally displaced persons. For children, the collapse of education is a loss of learning, as well as a loss of protection, structure and hope. A child who is out of school is exposed to recruitment, exploitation and violence. Education must therefore be treated as part of the protection response. I was encouraged by the work of the UN system as well as by the tireless efforts of civil society organizations operating in extremely difficult circumstances. I also welcome the interest of donor and member states in supporting Haiti's response. The needs are far greater than the current resources. I urge donors to invest in the immediate response and in the long-term strengthening of child protection, justice, civil registration, reintegration, and education systems. In particular, we need support— we need sustained support for Haitian institutions such as the BASR, the justice system, the National DDR Commission, and community-based protection and reintegration structures. We also need to support reception and rehabilitation centers, psychosocial services, family tracing, and social and economic reintegration, including for older adolescents and youth. Short-term funding cycles will not be sufficient. Haiti needs predictable investment over time. Madam President, my visit to Haiti left me with a strong sense of urgency, but also with a sense that there is a real opportunity to make progress if we act with coherence and determination. The implementation of the Handover Protocol, the deployment of the GSF with robust child protection safeguards, the strengthening of national child protection and justice systems, the commitment of national authorities and partners all provide an opening for positive change. But that opening will only matter if children remain at the centre of every decision. Children associated with gangs must be treated as victims first and foremost. Children in detention must be urgently reviewed and released wherever possible. Children without identity must be registered. Children who have escaped violence must be reintegrated with dignity. Children at risk must be protected before they are recruited. And children who have suffered violence must be given the support that they need to heal recover and rebuild their lives. To conclude, Haiti is a situation in which I see both profound suffering and genuine potential for progress. If we join forces in support of the Haitian authorities, strengthen child protection systems, and ensure that security, justice, education, and reintegration efforts are brought together around the best interests of the child, we can make a meaningful difference for children Haiti. I thank you for your attention.

I thank Madam Fraser for the briefing, and I now give the floor to Mr. Jack Christofides.

Madam President, distinguished Council members, thank you for the opportunity to brief you on the progress of the Haiti Gang Suppression Force. I'm honored to do so alongside Special Representatives Carlos Ruiz-Massieu and Vanessa Frazier, and Executive Director Monica Juma. I recognize the Foreign Ministers of Haiti and the Dominican Republic, whose countries are extending important support to the GSF. When I briefed you 3 months ago, the Council had reaffirmed its trust in the GSF to carry out a difficult but necessary mandate— to support the Haitian authorities in reducing the influence of gangs and creating the time and space necessary for longer-term stability. The first phase of that effort is now in hand, and implementation is progressing steadily. The GSF has established structures, planning processes, and coordination mechanisms to begin sustained anti-gang operations. We are moving into the early stages of action. The force has established its headquarters and rules of engagement, as well as some of the first command and control arrangements and intelligence structures. It deployed its first forward operating base inside a strategic area, established continuous patrol patterns, and commenced early operations against gang infrastructure. On 21 June, the GSF conducted a cordon search and clear operation in Tabaré, a major district of the Port-au-Prince metropolitan area. This led to the apprehension of several suspected individuals and the destruction of hundreds of Molotov cocktails. Immediately on the heels of that operation, we continued with mounted, dismounted, daytime and nighttime patrols in the same area, and brought in bulldozers that removed barricades used by gangs to hold territory. I point out this example because it aligns with our concept of operations. Which is deliberately incremental. The Mission is concentrating resources in carefully selected priority areas, establishing persistent security and progressively expanding operational reach. Every push forward contributes to the conditions that make the next operation possible and more effective. These foundations are the building blocks of a functioning multinational force. On 6 July, the GSF seized weapons and ammunition that we reported to the Security Council Panel of Experts and placed in the custody of the Haitian authorities. Another example of this operational model occurred last week during a subsequent operation in the municipality of Delmas. Despite coming under fire from gangs, the GSF successfully achieved its objective of finding and dismantling a cache of improvised incendiary devices. demonstrating both growing tactical proficiency and commitment to incremental expansion. Madam President, equally important has been the development of the institutional framework necessary to carry out responsible operations. I am grateful to the Government of Haiti for its efforts to conclude with us, in a short period of time, the legal arrangements for facilitating the Mission's speedy deployment and operational activities. These include Status Protection Agreements for troop and police contributing countries, and a Handover Agreement for the safe and legal transfer of detainees. These instruments provide the clarity necessary for the GSF to carry out its mandate in accordance with Haitian sovereignty and Haitian law. Likewise, I wish to express my sincere appreciation to the United Nations Support Office in Haiti whose administrative, logistical and operational support has been indispensable in enabling the rapid deployment and operationalization of the GSUF. The Mission has also established a comprehensive accountability architecture, including operational policies, mandatory induction training and civilian harm mitigation measures. The GSUF works in full compliance with the United Nations Human Rights Due Diligence Policy. HRDDP, and treats accountability as one of its most essential assets. This commitment was put into practice last week through the inaugural convening of the GSF-UN HRDDP Dialogue Forum. Council Members, Resolution 2793 also requested the development of strategic objectives and benchmarks to measure the effectiveness of the Mission. In consultation with the Government of Haiti and other stakeholders, the GSF has now completed and submitted that strategy to you. Our strategy distinguishes between implementing the mandate and achieving outcomes that the mandate intended to produce. It establishes measurable benchmarks for this Council to evaluate— specifically, whether GSF operations are reducing gang control, building independent Haitian capabilities, and creating conditions for restoring state authority. The benchmarks provide a transparent and comprehensive basis for measuring progress and ensuring accountability to this Council and to the Haitian people for reaching an end state of GSF operations. Madam President, distinguished Council members, the political and humanitarian environment nevertheless remain extremely challenging. Armed gangs are likely to adapt their tactics to stay in control. Meanwhile, humanitarian needs continue to soar. Political uncertainty remains one of the most caustic variables affecting the success of the GSF. These dynamics reinforce the importance of close coordination with the United Nations system and with the Haitian authorities themselves. I fully concur with SRSG Ruiz-Massieu Restoring democratic governance in Haiti requires that citizens be able to live, work, and participate in public life in safety and dignity. While security measures alone cannot address the country's broader political and governance challenges, they are an essential part of the solution. Council members, the GSF is in the early stages. No one should claim that Haiti's security challenges will be solved overnight. And increased pressure on gangs and their patronage networks. If momentum is interrupted, we risk losing this flow. The international community has, for the first time in several years, a mission with a clear mandate, a coherent operational concept, measurable benchmarks, strong accountability mechanisms, and firm political support. The opportunity before us is not simply to sustain a mandate. It is to sustain momentum. Thank you, Madam President.

I thank Mr. Christofides for his briefing. I will now make a statement in my capacity as Minister for Foreign Affairs, International Cooperation, and the Francophonie and the Congolese Diaspora of the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Distinguished members of the Security Council, ladies and gentlemen, it is an honor for me to deliver this statement on behalf of the A3, Liberia, Somalia, and my own country, the Democratic Republic of the Congo. We'd like to thank the Special Representative of the Secretary-General, Mr. Carlos Ruiz Massieu, Ms. Monica Juma, Executive Director of the United Office on Drugs and Crime, as well as Ms. Vanessa Frazier and Mr. Jack Christofidis, Head of the Gang Suppression Force, GSF. Thank you for your enlightening briefings. I also wish to welcome the presence Of His Excellency— of Her Excellency, Ms. Reiner Fauban, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Religious Affairs of Haiti, as well as His Excellency, Mr. Roberto Álvarez Gil, Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Dominican Republic. Distinguished members of the Council, the A3 welcomes the progress made in Haiti's political transition, the advances made on the electoral framework, as well as budgetary planning for the electoral process, in addition to the preparations led by the Provisional Electoral Council, attest to a commitment towards moving to the restoration of constitutional order. We encourage all Haitian stakeholders to keep up this momentum through inclusive dialogue in a spirit of consensus and national ownership. We also would like to take note of the efforts undertaken so as to strengthen national institutions. In particular, through the establishment of specialized mechanisms to combat serious crimes, corruption, and illicit financial flows. Strengthening the rule of law and accountability are absolutely vital if we are to restore public confidence in the long term. The developments highlighted above offer encouraging prospects, but they should not obscure the fact that the security situation remains A cause of serious concern. As the paragraphs of the Secretary-General's report on the question concerning Haiti, specifically paragraphs 16, 17, 18, and 19, state— a report which we've taken note of— gang violence continues to claim victims and displace populations, undermining state authority, the repercussions being felt beyond Port-au-Prince.

Thank you.

We're particularly concerned by the ongoing territorial expansion and the growing sophistication of organized criminal networks, in particular, their control over strategic transport routes, ports, and essential supply chains. We therefore welcome the launch of the Gang Suppression Force and the efforts undertaken by UNSO, all geared towards supporting the GSF's deployment. The A3 await with a keen interest the further deployment of the force And it's ramping up to full operational capacity in keeping with its mandate and the stabilization efforts undertaken by the Government of Haiti.

So furthermore, the A3 welcomes the progress made in deploying international security support mechanisms, as well as the efforts aimed at strengthening the capacities of the Haitian National Police. We call for greater mobilization by the international community to ensure the human, financial, and logistical resources necessary for the full implementation of these efforts. The A3 wishes, however, to emphasize that security operations, essential as they may be, will only yield lasting results if they are accompanied by the rapid and effective restoration of state authority, the functioning of judicial institutions, and the consistent provision of essential public services in the areas recaptured by the government. It is equally crucial to dismantle criminal economic activities illicit arms trafficking networks, and all the mafia-style financial networks that fund the gangs and enable them to rebuild their capacity to cause harm. Lasting stabilization requires, in addition to enhanced security, efficient governance, inclusive economic prospects, and the restoration of trust between public institutions and the population. In this regard, the A3 takes note of the options presented in the latest Secretary-General report of May 29, 2026, pursuant to Resolution 2814, to support Haitian efforts to implement a process of disarmament, dismantling, and reintegration of gang members. This process would benefit from being placed under the auspices of the Haitian authorities to ensure full national leadership and ownership by the relevant institutions. We further reaffirm our support to a phased approach, led at the national level and tailored to the realities of the Haitian context, while complementing ongoing security efforts. In view— in the view of the A3, the success of this process will depend on a sustained commitment from international community based on consistent political support, adequate resources, predictable and sustainable funding. Regarding the particularly sensitive situation of children associated with gangs or in conflict with the law, as referred in the Secretary-General's report, The A3 strongly condemns their recruitment and use by gangs. The A3 emphasizes that these children must first and foremost be regarded as victims and as such must benefit from appropriate measures for protection, rehabilitation, and reintegration. The A3 believes that— believes in this regard that the success of future disarmament, demobilization, and reintegration programs will depend on their ability to address the socioeconomic factors that facilitate the recruitment of children into gangs. We would also emphasize that unless credible alternatives are provided in terms of education, vocational training, and economic integration, the risk of re-enlistment in criminal groups will remain high. The A3 therefore calls for strengthened cooperation among the Haitian authorities, the UN system, in particular UNICEF, and other relevant partners to design and implement sustainable reintegration programs centered on the best interests of the child and tailored to the realities of the Haitian context. This protection-oriented approach must be extended to all children. Furthermore, the perpetrators of serious crimes must be brought to justice and held fully accountable for their actions in accordance with the rule of law through credible, effective, and impartial national justice mechanisms. Distinguished members of the Council, the A3 reaffirms that the fight against impunity remains an essential pillar of lasting peace. Strengthening judicial capacity, anti-corruption mechanisms, and financial investigations is essential to consolidate the political and security gains made. In conclusion, the A3 countries wish to emphasize that the sustainable restoration of, of peace and stability in Haiti requires an integrated approach. Coherently linking security imperatives, the fight against transnational organized crime, political dialogue, the rule of law, justice, humanitarian action, and development. The current momentum presents a window of opportunity that must be capitalized upon and preserved. Success will depend above all on the commitment of Haitian stakeholders with the constant, consistent, and sustained support of the Security Council. Council and the international community. With this in mind, the A3 reaffirms its full solidarity with the brotherly people of Haiti, as well as its unwavering commitment to Haiti's sovereignty, unity, and territorial integrity. We reiterate our support for the effort led by the Haitian authorities and the people to restore constitutional order, lasting peace, and inclusive, sustainable development. I thank you.

I resume my function as President of the Security Council. I now give the floor to the Representative of the United States.

Thank you, Madam President. Good to see you. Welcome. And thank you very much to our briefers who have traveled here today. Many I was able to meet with and sit with in Haiti just a few weeks ago when I had the the opportunity to visit Port-au-Prince and Santo Domingo during my trip down. I was able to see the officials from both the United Nations, the Haitian government, the Dominican government, and a number of other brave and interested parties like UNICEF, the NGO Save the Children, and others who are working the incredibly heartbreaking issue of reintegration of children. In one case, sadly, we sat with an 8-year-old boy who had been groomed by the gangs to kill by teaching him to kill dogs. And fortunately, that, that young child has been rescued. But there are so many more to go. Colleagues, if you haven't been down to see the new Gang Suppression Force and to see the fight that's before us in Haiti, I highly, highly recommend you do so, and certainly try to do so before our mandate renewal this fall. I think many of you will find it incredibly enlightening. As you know, Haiti's just a few hundred miles from Florida, And in that regard, it is a critical interest to the United States, in addition to the Council, as it moves— these gangs move guns and drugs and terror throughout the Caribbean and onward to West Africa, Europe, and the United States. And as we've heard from the briefers today, they have literally turned entire neighborhoods, an entire city, the capital of Port-au-Prince, into a kill zone. They've taken over roads, ports, the main port, hospitals, prisons, and they are exporting their crime far beyond Port-au-Prince. What was incredibly disturbing, amongst many things, is that they are valorizing it. They're celebrating it on social media sites like TikTok and Facebook and Instagram, portraying themselves as revolutionaries as they recruit children to their cause, often terrorize the Haitian people by their executions and other forms of torture. And the most disturbing thing is they're making money off these social media sites, and that is something that we will be working to address in the very near future to shut that down. As the briefers have stated, these thugs stay in business by tolling primarily innocent civilians. They also conduct a sad number of kidnapping for ransom, where they force these impoverished families to literally sell whatever few belongings they still have in order to rescue their family members. And that's why the JSF's first priority, their top priority in their campaign plan that they briefed me on and they've laid out, is to take take back the streets and take back the lines of communication and commerce from the ports into the interior. But I do want to share this with you, colleagues, from the Mongolian commander on down, these men and women are the real deal. I was— and I've seen these kinds of forces all over the world, all over the Middle East, South Asia, and Africa. And I know a well-led unit when I see one, and I thought a number of these officers, planners, from the civilians in charge of UNSO to the Gang Suppression Force, the political operation, are dedicated, experienced, and have a good integrated plan laid out that now needs to be implemented. I saw Salvadorian aviation units, Jamaican special operations trainers, Chadian troops, and more coming in from around the world. In fact, 300 troops landed from Sri Lanka just while we were there. The soldiers and the police that I met were well-trained. They're well-armed and relatively well-equipped. The UN has had to step in in some cases. They are empowered with an offensive mandate, thanks to the work of this council. They are empowered with an offensive mandate to take on the barbecues of Haiti, these gang leaders, and bring them to justice, frankly, and arrest Haiti back from these wannabe dictators who treat its streets like a violent playground. The US is deeply grateful to the Standing Group of Partners, to the troop committee— troop and police contributing countries that are contributing to the GSF. I could tell you firsthand the mission would not be possible without their commitment and sacrifice, and we're particularly grateful to the Dominican Republic, who sees this rightly as an existential threat to its security and has been incredibly, I think, as accommodating as it can be and should be into facilitating the JSF into getting into, into position in Haiti, so to speak. I also want to take this opportunity to thank ASG Daniela Krosleck and the UN Support Office team. They've worked quite diligently alongside the Standing Group of Partners to ensure that the troop contingents are deployed as expeditiously as possible. Frankly, colleagues, I think over the past 10 months, the GSF has shown what the UN can do when it gets back to basics. And it's just the beginning. As the Special Representative stated, the GSF's progress will be measured, and that's so important, that it'll actually be measured against the objectives and benchmarks that Special Representative Christofidis has outlined.

Thank you.

And that is in line with this council's mandate. And I appreciate the coming forward with those measurements and those benchmarks so that the council can then evaluate progress. And again, this is how the UN was intended to work. Nations come together, stop the chaos before it spreads, and shoulder the burden collectively. To that end, we look forward to working with our co-pan, Panama, as the council seeks to renew the GSF mandate in September. And between now and then, I would call on— I've spoken to a number of the country representatives, but I would call on everyone with any type of airlift capacity to help deploy the troops and equipment, particularly help our colleagues in Sri Lanka and Bangladesh and Côte d'Ivoire to accelerate their deployment with airlift capacity. Obviously, the troops and equipment will get on the ground to help the Haitian people much faster if they come by air versus much slower sealift. So, again, I just can't emphasize that enough for all of our colleagues with any kind of commercial or military capacity to help in that regard. So, here's what victory looks like. Success looks like gangs no longer control half of Haiti. It means Haitian families can leave their homes without paying gang tolls, or in many cases, often having to sell their children to the gangs, or even provide their children at gunpoint to the gangs. And victory means, like, bringing these gang leaders to justice, either arrested or neutralized. The GSF can win each of these battles, and the first clearing operation, I think, was a step absolutely in the right direction. But importantly, the Haitian government knows— I was able to meet with both the Foreign Minister, who's here today, and the Prime Minister— they know that the long-term answer must be Haitian security forces that can hold ground, enforce the law, and defend their own people. And colleagues, I just want you to appreciate what a brutal fight this is ahead of the Haitian security forces. I was able to meet with some police officers, and they told me the story of just 2 weeks prior, a police patrol, one of the armored vehicles got stuck in a ditch. The gang surrounded it, lit a fire underneath it, so that the Haitian police officers inside faced a brutal choice: either be burned alive or leave the safety of their armored vehicle. Obviously, they chose the latter. They were flayed alive in the streets, pinned to the side of their burning armored vehicle to send a message. So I don't mean to be too graphic here, but I want everyone to understand the fight that is ahead of the Haitian government and the brave men and women who step into these security forces. In another instance, the gangs often literally blockade the roads for their checkpoints. So there's a real need for engineering equipment, heavy bulldozers and the like, to clear these roads and clear these checkpoints. In another instance, one of the operators who was brave enough to work with us, to work with the Gang Suppression Force to clear these obstacles, the gangs kidnapped the young man's family. And held them hostage until literally he came and traded his life. They executed him in the streets to again send a message. He traded his life for that of his family. So I just tell you those, just a few of so many painful anecdotes that we cannot— I just cannot underemphasize the brutality that these gangs are facing or imparting upon their own people. 27. Already, this program has graduated 2,000 new officers that are deploying to secure more territory across Haiti. And the US is also pleased that Haitian authorities are fulfilling their pledge to the Haitian people to return the country to democratic governance. We commend in particular the Provincial Electoral Council for its concrete steps, both budgetary and otherwise, towards organizing elections for the first time in a decade. Colleagues, the Haitian people deserve streets free of gangs, institutions free of intimidation, and a government chosen by them, by the people. Haiti's collapse could never just stay inside of Haiti. Gang violence, drug trafficking, arms smuggling, illegal migration do not know borders. A safer Haiti supports the interests of this entire region and of every nation that wants the Caribbean to be free of criminal control. So just let me be clear in case I haven't been. The United States stands with you. We stand with Haiti. We will continue to work with the Haitians, with the GSF, and with other international partners to restore security, share the burden, and help the Haitian people take its country back. Thank you, Madam President.

I thank the representative of the United States. I now give the floor to the representative of Panama.

Thank you, Madam President. We are grateful for the briefings by the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Haiti, Mr. Carlos Ruiz Massieu, the Executive Director of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, Ms. Monica Juma, the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict, Vanessa Fraser, And the Special Representative for the Gang Suppression Force, Mr. Jack Christofides. We greet the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Thérèse Kayikwamba, the Minister of Foreign Relations of Haiti, Reina Faubin, and the Minister of the Dominican Republic, Roberto Álvarez Gil, as well as the representatives of the delegations of Mexico and Jamaica who honor us with their presence here. Thank you, Thank you, Mr. President. Thank you for being here. We wish to begin by welcoming the visit of the Secretary General to Haiti and the Dominican Republic, which demonstrates that the situation remains a priority on his agenda in light of the tremendous challenges facing this nation, a nation which remains a historic symbol of liberation for all of our America. Likewise, we highlight the recent visit by the Executive Director of the UNODC, Ms. Monica Juma. This reiterates the commitment of the whole United Nations, including the Secretariat, agencies, funds, and programs to Haiti. The multiple factors that are impacting the multidimensional crisis affecting the Kindred Republic of Haiti are all The numbers speak for themselves. The dire situation is also clear from the more than 5.8 million Haitians who are facing acute food insecurity. This reality is clear to see with particular cruelty in the cases of sexual and gender-based violence, in the alarming rates of gang rapes on women and girls, and the forced recruitment of children who continue to be denied a real Any progress in other areas, including the electoral process. The United Nations Integrated Office, the Gang Suppression Force, the Support Office, the Sanctions Committee, regional organizations, and bilateral partners must all coordinate their work across the board, fully harnessing the synergies between their respective mandates which should be implemented in a mutually reinforcing way. To ensure that the response is truly comprehensive, it needs to restore control from the streets, address the humanitarian situation, institutions, the justice system, and at the same time create economic and social opportunities, particularly for young people. Who today lack opportunities and are therefore particularly vulnerable to recruitment by the gangs. In this context, we take note of the Secretary-General's letter setting out options for the establishment of a disarmament, dismantlement, and reintegration program. This note details an initiative which demands the urgent attention of this Council, particularly since it emphasizes providing alternatives to young people vulnerable to gang recruitment. This is an essential complement to security efforts. In addition, we highlight the arrival of additional troops and we express our most sincere thanks to the support office for their invaluable work. In addition, we particularly thank Chad, Sri Lanka, Mongolia, Jamaica, El Salvador, Guatemala, and all states which have either contributed or have committed to contributing contingents to this important mission. In terms of the priorities, the security situation— we hope that the deployment of the Gang Suppression Force will continue to grow in strength and to build on the progress already made in close cooperation with the other components of the security response. This coordination should also extend to humanitarian actors so as to preserve an environment allowing them to provide safe and uninterrupted assistance. Madam President, Stabilizing Haiti doesn't solely depend on restoring its security. This Council, together with the international community, must contribute to promoting a truly comprehensive approach combining security, strengthened institutions, justice, development, and human rights protection. However, the success of these efforts also demands the commitment, political will, and continued leadership of Haitian authorities and of Haitian people. Only through these collective efforts will it be possible to consolidate the minimum security conditions needed to progress with the country's recovery, laying the foundations for lasting peace and stability, and enabling the Haitian people through a free, inclusive, and credible electoral process to decide on the future of their own nation. Thank you very much.

I thank the representative of Panama, and I now give the floor to the representative of Latvia.

Thank you, Madam President. I thank SRSJ Carlos Ruiz, Monsieur Executive Director of UNODC, Monica Juma; SRSG for Children in Armed Conflict, Vanessa Fraser; and Special Representative for the JSF, Jack Christofides, for their very comprehensive briefings. And I welcome the participation of Ministers of Foreign Affairs of Haiti and Dominican Republic to this meeting. Madam President, Haiti stands at a pivotal moment. While security, humanitarian, and political challenges remain profound, they also underscore the urgency of restoring democratic governance. We welcome the positive steps, namely amended electoral decree and the presentation of a revised balanced electoral budget, and we encourage the Haitian authorities not to delay announcement of a clear and realistic electoral calendar. Holding elections is essential to rebuilding public confidence, demonstrating accountability to national stakeholders and the Haitian people who desire peace, security and stability. The current window of opportunity provides momentum, which is why preparations for the electoral process, including the expected start of the voter registration, must take place alongside the efforts to ensure optimal security conditions for inclusive and credible elections. Madam President, the deployment of the GSF is a game changer, and we commend the GSF and UNSOCH for their efforts and support to Haiti under exceptionally difficult circumstances. And we express our appreciation to all the Member States for contributing personnel, equipment, and funds at this critical time. As security operations continue, it is equally important that the international and the Haitian national security forces fully comply with the UN human rights due diligence policy, human rights law, and international humanitarian law at all times. Compliance with human rights is a legal obligation, but also essential for strengthening public trust and ensuring the long-term effectiveness of security efforts. We also recall that women and girls are among those most severely affected by gang violence, which is why gender-responsive approach must be integrated and implemented efficiently. At the same time, lasting peace cannot be achieved through security measures alone, so we encourage the Haitian authorities to accelerate the development and implementation of a comprehensive and nationally owned Disarmament, Demobilization and Reintegration Strategy. And we reiterate that early implementation of the DDR programmes is key to achieve durable security gains and prevent gangs from regaining ground. Existing proposals prepared by national and international stakeholders, also reflected in the latest Secretary-General's report on DDR strategy, provide a valuable foundation. and should be carefully reviewed and adapted to current realities. Child protection and special pathways for women and girls associated with the gangs must be prioritized. Madam President, sustainable progress in Haiti requires continued institutional reforms, particularly within the justice sector. The main enablers of gang violence in Haiti, such as weak governance, widespread corruption, and fragile judiciary should be addressed and tackled decisively to achieve concrete judicial outcomes and restore the much-needed trust in public institutions. Structural reforms are fundamental for building resilient institutions capable of delivering justice, combating impunity, and laying foundation for lasting peace and economic development. We also expect a swift and full operationalization of the 2 specialized judicial powers, inaugurated in May to address mass crimes, including sexual violence. And we encouraged the Haitian government to ensure comprehensive protection to women and girls of Haiti who face constant danger, insecurity, harassment, and brutality. We have observed that participation of women in different levels of governance and decision-making institutions is well below the target of 30% established in the Constitution. Institution. Significant improvement of the lives of women and girls in Haiti cannot be expected without a full, equal, and meaningful participation in the elections and in decision-making institutions at all levels of governance. And finally, Latvia continues to fully support BINUC's work fostering inclusive political dialogue, supporting credible electoral process Strengthening the rule of law, advancing WPS agenda matters for positive change, recovery, and long-term stability that the Haitian people deserve. And Latvia remains committed to these objectives. I thank you.

I thank the representative of Latvia for her statement. I now give the floor to the representative of Denmark.

Thank you, Madam President, and welcome back to the Council. I also thank our briefers for their important contributions, and I welcome Their Excellencies the Foreign Ministers of Haiti and the Foreign Minister of the Dominican Republic to this meeting. Madam President, as we've heard, Haiti continues to suffer a multifaceted crisis of extraordinary magnitude. Gangs are terrorizing the country. Families are being uprooted and displaced. Civilians suffer under dire humanitarian conditions and heinous violations of their human rights. Against this backdrop, I would like to make 3 points. First, addressing security is essential. Denmark welcomes the progress made in the establishment and expansion of the Gang Suppression Force, with the deployment of new contingents on the ground. We commend Member States who have pledged their support, and praised the UN for its quick action to establish the UN Support Office. It is imperative that all national and international efforts aimed at establishing security in Haiti are undertaken in strict compliance with international law. The GSF must operate with the highest standard of conduct and discipline, with robust oversight and transparency. Such conduct is also essential to gain and maintain the trust of the Haitian population. On this note, we welcome the remarks made by Special Representative Christofides in underscoring the GSF's accountability framework. Cutting off the gangs' supply of arms and ammunition remains critical to establishing security. We reiterate the need for the full implementation of the UN sanctions regime to stem illicit flow of weapons and target transnational organized crime. Second, Madam President, Haiti's dire humanitarian situation and human rights crisis must be urgently addressed. More than 6.4 million Haitians are in need of humanitarian assistance, while internal displacement rises by the day and the healthcare system is on the verge of collapse. We pay tribute to UN personnel and humanitarian partners who continue to provide assistance to those in need in such dangerous circumstances. And we call for the urgent scaling up of humanitarian aid and funding for Haiti's Humanitarian Response Plan. At the same time, the human rights situation continues to deteriorate, with women and children bearing the brunt. Sexual and gender-based violence, including collective rape, is rampant. Children suffer grave violations, and abuses of their rights at the hands of gangs. These assaults must stop immediately, and we condemn them in the strongest terms. Ensuring safe exits of children from gangs is also crucial. We welcome the Secretary-General's letter of 29 May outlining options for a Haitian-led disarmament, dismantlement and reintegration programme, and call on the Haitian authorities to continue advancing nationally owned DDR efforts. We further call on the authorities to urgently address the systemic impunity by accelerating progress towards a functional justice system. Third, Madam President, there must be progress on the political process, including efforts to advance trust-building among Haitians, an inclusive transition through credible elections, is the only legitimate path to restoring constitutional order and democratic institutions. In this regard, we welcome the recent budget agreement for holding elections and urge the authorities to accelerate the process. In closing, let me reiterate Denmark's steadfast support to the people of Haiti. The Haitian authorities, with support from the UN and the international community, must continue the current momentum to re-establish security and make meaningful political progress. Denmark remains committed to working with all partners to this end. I thank you.

I thank the representative of Denmark for their statement. I now give the floor to the representative of Greece.

Thank you, Madam President.

Allow me firstly to I would like to thank our briefers for their edifying briefings. We also welcome the recent visit by the Secretary-General to Haiti, who conveyed a message of solidarity and highlighted the scale of the crisis, as well as the limited nature of the window of opportunity ahead of us. We stand with his appeal Haiti must keep its word while more than 6.4 million people are in need of assistance, and only 25% of the humanitarian response plan for 2026 was funded up to mid-June. We call for predictable funding in line with the needs.

I would like to make the following points. First, Greece welcomes the commencement of operations by the GAC suppression force and the operational support provided by the United Nations Support Office in Haiti. We note the force's gradual deployment, its initial patrols, and its targeted operation. The force's strategy offers a clear framework: removing gang control over territory, securing critical infrastructure, and strengthening the ability of Haitian authorities to contain gang violence. Its rapid and full deployment, supported by adequate and predictable resources, remains essential, particularly as gang violence continues to spread beyond Port-au-Prince. All operations must be intelligence-led, coordinated with Haitian institutions and conducted in strict compliance with international human rights law. We welcome the operationalization of the human rights due diligence policy framework. Robust oversight and zero tolerance for sexual exploitation and abuse remain indispensable. The arms embargo must also be fully implemented. Security measures must be accompanied by efforts to strengthen the resilience of communities and support Haiti's long-term stabilization. At the same time, security gains must create space for political progress. We welcome the amended electoral decree of the 2nd of July and the agreement on the revised electoral budget. These are important steps, but the electoral calendar remains under review and outstanding concerns must be resolved through inclusive dialogue. We urge Haitian stakeholders to accelerate preparations as credible, inclusive, and safe elections remain the only legitimate path towards restoring constitutional order. BNU's good offices and electoral assistance remain indispensable. Second, the findings of the Secretary-General's report on children in armed conflict remain deeply alarming. The United Nations verified 2,088 grave violations against 1,661 children in 2025, including the recruitment and use of 892 children. We welcome the PREGEN program and the reintegration of 573 children formerly associated with gangs. Children associated with gangs must be treated primarily as victims, not as security threats. We therefore welcome the recent transfer of 13 detained children allegedly associated with gangs to a transit center. We call for the full implementation of the handover protocol, operational child protection focal points, appropriate age determination procedures, detention alternatives, and safe, gender-sensitive reintegration pathways. We further urge all security actors to minimize child casualties, particularly in connection with unmanned aircraft systems, and to exercise maximum restraint during law enforcement operations. Greece also welcomes the National DDR Commission's roadmap and the Secretary-General's phased options for support to a Haitian-led DDR program. It must remain linked to community violence reduction, weapons management, justice reform, and recovery while providing safe pathways for disengagement, reintegration, and sustainable livelihoods. Disengagement must never confer impunity for serious crimes. We also welcome the inauguration of the 2 specialized judicial units for mass crimes, sexual violence, and financial crimes, and call for their full operationalization. Madame la Présidente—

Madam President, Greece reaffirms its unwavering support to BINU, EUNSO, and the GSF. The current dynamic should lead to lasting security, the restoration of democratic order, and the restoration of the dignity of all Haitians. Greece welcomes the remarkable resilience of the Haitian people in the face of prolonged challenges, and we reaffirm that our belief that their determination should be supported by international action that is both resolved and constant in nature. Thank you very much.

I thank the representative of Greece for the statement, and I now give the floor to the representative of France.

Madam President, I'd like to begin by thanking the Special Representative of the Secretary-General, Mr. Carlos Ruiz Massieu, the Executive Director of the UNODC, Ms. Monika Juma, the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Children in Armed Conflict, Vanessa Frazier, and the Special Representative for the Gang Suppression Force, Mr. Jack Christofides. I thank them all for their briefings, and I welcome here the Minister of Foreign and Religious Affairs of Haiti, Ms. Reina Forbin, and the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Dominican Republic, Mr. Roberto Alvarez Gil. Madam President, it is clear that the priority for Haiti is to restore security and to allow the restoration of basic services and the rule of law across its territory. This is an agenda that we are all committed to, to respond to a double urgency The urgency for the millions of Haitian people who on a daily basis suffer the violence of criminal gangs, forced displacement, and food insecurity. It is also urgent once a minimal level of security is restored and national roads are reopened to conclude the political transition process. Only the restoration of the country's democratic institutions through the holding of elections will allow for the laying of foundations for renewed governance capable of guaranteeing the lasting return to the rule of law and respect for human rights. To address this scourge of insecurity, we now have tools that we must make full use of. Firstly, the Gang Suppression Force. This continues to be deployed and it has a consistent strategy now. It's important to speed up its rollout so that with the support of the United Nations Support Office, UNSO, it can conduct as soon as possible the planned operations to recover territory from criminal gangs and secure essential infrastructure. France is already contributing to this through political, financial, and technical support. We will also ensure that the force sets exemplary standards in terms of human rights and humanitarian law. This is essential for the respective populations as well as to ensure the sustainability of the international effort. We also need to ensure that our decisions have a long-term effect to support Haitian authorities in building the capacities of the national police and of Haitian armed forces, as well as border controls and control of arms and munitions. France will continue to contribute to this bilaterally. Next, this security response— in order for this security response to be effective and sustainable, it needs to be part of a comprehensive approach to strengthening the entire police-justice-prison chain. The implementation of a disarmament, dismantlement, and reintegration program taking into account the specific situation of children is essential here. France stands ready to follow up with other members of this council on the options set out by the Secretary-General in May. Furthermore, we welcome the progress made in setting up the specialized judicial chambers that we support in the context of the French presidency of the G7. This is an essential part of combating impunity. BINU should also continue its work in strengthening national institutions, Human rights institutions and civil society. Finally, this council has set up an arms embargo. A more effective implementation of this would allow for the stemming of arms arriving in Haiti. This is an important complement to individual sanctions, which have a deterrent effect if they are effectively applied. Madam President, this council has fulfilled its responsibility by setting up a full architecture to support the return to security in Haiti with full respect for its sovereignty, its independence, and its territorial integrity. It is important to continue with our efforts in this area. France will continue to stand alongside the people of Haiti. Thank you very much.

I thank the representative of France for this statement, and I now give the floor to the representative of China.

President, I welcome Foreign Minister Kai Kuanba, presiding over today's meeting, and I thank Special Representative Ruiz-Mathieu, Executive Director Zuma, SRSG Fraser, and Special Representative Christoph Fidesz for their briefings, and also welcome the Foreign Ministers of Haiti and Dominican Republic and representatives of Mexico and Jamaica to today's meeting. Since the Security Council last considered the situation in Haiti, challenges to the political transition remain. The security situation is still severe and the humanitarian crisis remains deeply concerning. All parties in Haiti must demonstrate a greater sense of urgency and take pragmatic actions, work together with regional partners and the international community to respond to the crisis through comprehensive measures that address both symptoms and root causes. I would like to highlight the 3 following points. First, it's imperative to accelerate the political transition. The key to breaking the vicious cycle of crisis in Haiti lies in establishing a legitimate, effective, and accountable government and putting national governance back on the right track. The SG's report shows that differences persist among Haitian stakeholders on transition arrangements, election preparations, among others, and prospects for transition remain uncertain. The Haitian authorities and all political parties and groups must genuinely demonstrate political will, build broader consensus through inclusive dialogue, lay the groundwork for the early holding of credible and inclusive elections, and prevent further delays in the political transition. China supports BINU in continuing to play its good offices role and work together with regional organizations such as CARICOM to form synergy. Second, every effort must be made to improve the security situation. Although the Haitian police and security forces have made some progress in the operations in certain areas, violent crimes remain rampant and innocent civilians continue to suffer greatly. We call on the Haitian authorities to scale up efforts to combat gang violence and strengthen security governance, with focus on protecting civilians during security operations, especially vulnerable groups such as women and children. We have noted the progress in the deployment and operations of the Gang Suppression Force and hope that it will strictly comply with international law exercise utmost caution in the use of force, ensure transparency, timely reporting, and full accountability in its operations so that the Council can maintain close oversight. The persistent flow of illicit arms and ammunition is a major factor driving the escalation of gang violence in Haiti. China once again urges the international community, in particular the principal source country of Haiti's arms and ammunition, to strictly implement Council's arms embargo. We call upon the Haitian authorities to effectively strengthen control and supervision over arms and ammunition, and we support UNODC regional organizations and others in continuing to provide assistance. The Council and its Sanctions Committee should strengthen their oversight of relevant developments. Third, it's imperative to continue to alleviate the livelihood challenges of the population. Haiti's security turmoil is merely a symptom The deeper problem lies in the decades of state failure, which has led to economic decline and chronic underdevelopment. The Haitian authorities bear the primary responsibility in this regard. It must increase investment in people's livelihoods, provide basic services and guarantees such as food, education, employment, and effectively improve the living and development conditions of the population. China supports UN development and humanitarian agencies as well as international and regional partners in their continued constructive assistance to Haiti. We also hope that Haiti will keep strengthening its own capacity building to transform external support into endogenous drivers of self-sustaining development. President, ultimately, Haiti's future must be built by the Haitian people themselves. We support the Haitian people firmly taking their destiny into their own hands and achieving lasting peace, stability, and development at an early date. China stands ready to continue playing a constructive role together with the international community toward that end. I thank you, President.

I thank the representative of China for the statement. I now give the floor to the representative of the Russian Federation.

We thank the Special Representative of the Secretary-General, Mr. Carlos Ruiz Massieu, as well as the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Children in Armed Conflict, Ms. Vanessa Frazier, as well as the Executive Director of UNODC, Ms. Monika Juma, for their substantive briefings. We listened very carefully. Mr. Jack Christofidis, the Head of the Gangs We welcome the presence of the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Haiti, Ms. Reiner Forbin, and Mr. Roberto Alvarez Gil, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Dominican Republic. Haiti continues to teeter on the edge. Any progress requires colossal efforts, whereas the risk of irreparable descent into chaos is exorbitantly high. The scale of the humanitarian catastrophe on the island, as well as the insufficient international response thereto, Well, they were eloquently recounted by the Secretary-General following his trip to Port-au-Prince back in June. A fundamental step on the way towards stabilizing the situation in the country should be a return to the constitutional path of development, as well as a restoration of democratically elected authorities. Against this backdrop, the efforts of the provisional authorities, as well as the international community represented by Benu are focused on— and rightly so— are focused on preparing and holding the long-awaited presidential election. We are disquieted by the preparations dragging on, as well as by the postponements in timelines. We understand that the delays to a large extent are driven by the objective situation in the country, yet we hope that soon the final dates for the vote will be set, and these dates must be strictly complied with this time around. We call on the provisional government and all political forces to engage in dialogue, to work together responsibly for the benefit of Pan-Haitian interests. Haiti should decide its future independently, independently, without nefarious external interference, which is what caused many of the country's problems in the first place. The main threat to a safe electoral process in the country is gangs who, as reported by UNODC, have transformed from street gangs into well-structured criminal networks with diversified revenue streams and broad-based control over territory, transport facilities, as well as the socioeconomic life of Haitian society. Gangs should be pushed out of the areas they controlled by the Gang Suppression Force working together with the Haitian National Police and the National Army. We note progress on GSF deployment and UNSO operationalization. We are counting that now, now that all of the logistics and the basic infrastructure are in place, the international contingent can begin conducting decisive operations against Haitian gangs in keeping with its Security Council mandate. At the same time, we call on the GSF leadership and the UN presence in the country to pay particular attention to the whole range of accompanying measures without which results achieved by force won't be sustainable. We're referring first and foremost to comprehensive disarmament and dismantlement of the gangs, creating opportunities for reintegrating gang members, as well as improvements to the judicial and prison systems in the country to ensure the treatment of detainees is effective and fair. A separate priority should be upholding children's rights and humane treatment thereof, including cases where children have been recruited by gangs. We support the work on the options set forth in a separate SG report, Options for Providing International Support to the Disarmament and Reintegration Programme, on the understanding that primary responsibility for efforts on this track rests with Haitians themselves. Madam President, solving the gang problem solely by force without tackling their sources of funding and of weapons first and foremost is tantamount to attempts to pump water from a sinking ship without addressing the breach in the vessel's hull. Having said that, the latest UNODC report clearly states that arms smuggling into Haiti is continuing essentially without any restrictions. The embargo imposed by the Security Council is not working in practice. While non-compliance with sanctions measures on the Haitian side can be ascribed to the shortage in resources and competencies, why is the trafficking being ignored by the United States, being the main source of illicit supplies? That remains a mystery. Furthermore, as the report states, the restrictions Washington has imposed on vessels arriving from Haiti did nothing but create additional problems with deliveries of regular cargo and humanitarian assistance going into Haiti, doing nothing to curb weapons flows to gangs. We stand ready to work constructively with Port-au-Prince, as well as with all responsible members of the international community, so as to restore stability and peace in Haiti, something the Haitian people sorely need. I thank you for your kind attention.

I thank the representative of the Russian Federation for the statement. I now give the floor to the representative of Colombia.

Thank you, Madam President. I thank the Special Representative of the Secretary-General, Mr. Carlos Ruiz Massieu, the Executive Director of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, Ms. Monica Juma, The Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict, Ms. Vanessa Fraser, and the Special Representative for the Gang Suppression Force in Haiti, Mr. Jack Christofides. And I thank them all for their briefings. I also greet Her Excellency the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Religious Affairs of Haiti, Reina Faubin, His Excellency, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Dominican Republic, Roberto Álvarez, and the delegations joining us today. Colombia reaffirms its support for Haiti in its efforts to overcome the multidimensional crisis, to restore democratic institutions, and consolidate the rule of law. The inclusive national dialogue, the protection of human rights, and the holding of transparent elections are all crucial parts of achieving a sustainable form of stability in the country. The report confirms that Haiti continues to face tremendous challenges to overcome the multidimensional crisis, but it also provides some glimmers of hope. The commitment expressed by the transitional government to move ahead with the holding of elections this year was to restore democratic institutions and the launch of the operations of the Gang Suppression Force are all a window of opportunity that mustn't be missed. My delegation welcomes the deployment of the first contingents of the GSF, the launch of the UN Support Office in the country, and the establishment of the Kuwait Coordination Forum. The recent security gains speak to the value of an integrated response led by Haitian authorities. Nonetheless, these achievements will only be sustainable if they are accompanied by stronger institutions, efforts to combat illicit arms trafficking, and policies that address the root causes of violence and that create socioeconomic opportunities for the population. Colombia reiterates the call to ensure that all security operations are carried out strictly in accordance with human rights and the principles of due diligence. At the same time, we call for a differentiated approach to be taken to the protection and assistance for children and adolescents associated with gangs. In this regard, my delegation welcomes the report into operations for a disarmament, dismantlement, and reintegration strategy and its approach on strengthening the justice sector. DDR is part and parcel of peacebuilding. And preventing recruitment, particularly of minors. Colombia reiterates its readiness to continue contributing to these efforts through technical cooperation and the exchange of experiences, as was made clear by the recent visit to Haiti by the Director of the National Agency for Reincorporation and Normalization aimed at supporting the work of the Haitian National Commission for for disarmament, dismantlement, and reintegration through the exchange of lessons learned and tools honed through our own experience. Our experience has taught us that there can be no peace without justice. And along these lines, Colombia welcomes the establishment of the specialized judicial chambers and the increase in the budget allocated to the justice sector. We are, however, concerned by persistent impunity in high-profile cases and in cases of serious human rights violations. We also remain concerned by the high rates of prolonged pre-trial detention and barriers to accessing justice for victims and survivors of sexual and gender-based violence. Colombia reiterates the importance of fully incorporating a gender perspective in the institutional response. In this context, the Colombian delegation reaffirms the importance of guaranteeing due process and access to timely justice, this in accordance with international standards. Peacebuilding efforts in Haiti must go hand in hand with reforms to ensure an efficient judicial system so as to curb impunity and improve prison conditions. Just as there can be no peace without justice, nor can there be peace without the full, effective safe and meaningful participation of women. Colombia recognizes the commitment of the Haitian government and the work of BINU to promote the involvement of women and young people in the political process. We call for these efforts to be continued. Ensuring lasting stability in Haiti demands More than an immediate response to insecurity, it's vital to create economic opportunities, to build climate resilience, and to protect ecosystems as the very foundation of sustainable development and for a lasting peace. And in this vein, Colombia is advancing in implementing its own bilateral work plan with Haiti. To conclude, Colombia reiterates its solidarity with the Haitian people.

Will remain essential to support national efforts and to transform this progress into sustainable peace. Thank you very much.

I thank the representative of Colombia, and I now give the floor to the representative of Bahrain.

Madam President, At the outset, I would like to extend our gratitude to the President of the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Her Excellency Minister of Foreign Affairs, International Cooperation, and Francophonie, Mr. Carlos Ruiz-Mateu, SRSG for Haiti, Ms. Monica Juma, UNODC Executive Director, Ms. Vanessa Fraser, SRSG for Children in Armed Conflict, and of course, Mr. Jack Christofides, Special Representative for the Gang Suppression Force in Haiti. Thank you for your briefings. The Kingdom of Bahrain. The United States would like to extend its gratitude for the efforts undertaken so as to achieve a lasting solution in Haiti. We welcome the participation of Ms. Reina Fauban, Minister for Foreign Affairs and Religious Affairs of Haiti, as well as Mr. Roberto Álvarez Gil, Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Dominican Republic, in addition to the other participants Thank you, Mr. President.

I would like to welcome the results of today's meeting.

Madam President, the Kingdom of Bahrain would like to welcome the positive steps taken by the transitional authorities in Haiti with a view to advancing the political process, in particular, the publication of the revised electoral decree and the agreement reached on the budget for electoral preparations— $220 million.

Thank you.

We also wish to— $120 million. We also wish to underscore the need for inclusive ongoing national dialogue with all political and civilian stakeholders so as to bolster trust and overcome the obstacles, all with a view to ensure that free regular elections are held, allowing us to restore democratic institutions in a lasting manner. Madam President, the Kingdom of Bahrain has been following ongoing violence and armed conflicts perpetrated by gangs with great disquiet, in addition to the humanitarian tragedies resulting therefrom— hundreds of deaths, injured, and thousands of displaced people. There is also an alarming increase in violence against women and girls. Against this context, the Kingdom of Bahrain would like to underscore the important role played by the Gangster Pressure Suppression Force, the GSF. We underscore the need for logistical cooperation, a job being done by UNSO. There is a need for all security forces to fully uphold the HRDDP policy as well as international norms governing the protection of civilians in joint operations. Furthermore, we'd like to reaffirm the strategic. I would like to underline the significance of the disarmament, dismantlement, and reintegration program. This is an essential guarantee allowing for security gains— temporary gains— to be transformed into lasting stability. Madam President, youth empowerment and child protection are fundamental pillars of lasting peacebuilding and efforts aimed at breaking cycles of violence. Against this backdrop, we reiterate the need to invest in education, to broaden the prospects and opportunities offered to young people, as well as to strengthen community initiatives which help to protect young people from recruitment and exploitation by armed groups, thereby strengthening their ability to partake in building By way of conclusion, we'd like to underscore our unswerving solidarity with the brother people of Haiti so that they can overcome and turn a new page in their history. We reiterate our commitment to humanitarian principles, as well as our commitment to working hand in hand with the international community and the United Nations so as to tackle current challenges and build the future. Thank you, Mr. President. a safer, stabler future. The Kingdom of Bahrain would also reiterate our unswerving support to BINU, as well as international and regional efforts aimed at promoting security and an economic recovery, in keeping with the aspirations of the brother people of Haiti who wish to live in stability and development. I thank you.

I thank the representative of Bahrain. For their statement, I now give the floor to the representative of the United Kingdom.

Merci, Madame la Présidente.

Thank you, Madam President.

SRSG Uris Massieu, Executive Director Juma of UNODC, SRSG Frazier for Children in Armed Conflict, and Jack Christofides, the Special Representative for the Gang Suppression Force, for their briefings today. I also welcome the Foreign Minister, Minister Faubin from Haiti, and Foreign Minister Álvarez Gil from the Dominican Republic to this chamber, alongside representation as well from Mexico and Jamaica.

I want to start by welcoming the Secretary-General's recent visit to Haiti, which comes at a critical time for the Haitian people. Nearly 1.5 million people are currently displaced, more than half the population is food insecure, and access to essential services is severely restricted.

Within the most report— recent reporting period, BINU documented 853 survivors of sexual and gender-based violence, in which collective rape accounted for 84% of cases. I will outline 3 urgent priorities to help address these intersecting crises.

To the Human Rights Compliance Mechanism for the Gang Suppression Force, delivered by the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights. This builds on our support for the human rights elements of the GSF's predecessor, the MSS Mission, and reflects our firm conviction that accountability and civil protection are fundamental to restoring trust and stability in Haiti. Second, To implement the Handover Protocol for Children Associated with Gangs without delay, including establishing the promised task force and framework. We also call on the government to develop credible and resourced disarmament, demobilization, and reintegration programs that tackle the drivers of instability and protect the most vulnerable. Thirdly, recent progress on Haiti's electoral timetable is welcome. We encourage continued momentum towards holding credible elections, which are vital for Haiti's transition. Madame la Présidente, listening today, many have referred to this being a critical moment, a window of opportunity. The United Kingdom remains committed to supporting a Haitian-led pathway to sustainable peace, where improved security is matched by strengthened rule of law, and respect for human rights. We will continue to work with all Haitian stakeholders and our international partners to this end, for the benefit of all the people of Haiti. Thank you.

I thank the representative of the United Kingdom for their statement. I now give the floor to the representative of Pakistan.

Thank you, Madam President. and Special Representative GSF, Mr. Christofidis, for their briefings. Madam President, as we heard from the SRSG and other briefers, Haiti is gripped by complex multidimensional challenges which require a comprehensive multifaceted response, including the support of this Council. At the same time, durable solution of the country's long-drawn instability hinges on the decisive political and governance choices to be made by the Haitian stakeholders, as we have heard. President, I will make 4 points. First, political stability is essential.

We welcome the Haitian authorities' focus on improving the security situation with a view to holding of elections.

We hope that all political actors will work in unison to ensure the organization of elections in an agreed timeframe.

Second, security is indispensable. Protracted violence has had a devastating toll on the society. Atrocities perpetrated by gangs and violent actions of vigilante groups are deplorable. We hope that the arrangements put in place by Security Council Resolution 2793, including the GSF supported by UNSAUR, will help create necessary space for the Haitian security institutions, more importantly the National police to take over the long-term security responsibilities in the country.

Third, the humanitarian situation remains dire, with children and women facing the brunt.

Association of children with gangs is a central challenge. We welcome the SG's letter detailing range of options for implementation of the DDR strategy.

And we remain optimistic that the Haitian National Commission for DDR would continue to lead in formulating a strategy best suited to Haitian conditions.

And fourth, the perennial issue of flow of illegal weapons into Haiti must be addressed.

Effective regional and international efforts to implement 2653 sanctions regime can go a long way to curb the illicit arms flow into the country and disrupt the ability of gangs to perpetrate violence.

And, President, long-term stability of Haiti requires a holistic and responsive Haitian-led and owned process underpinned by dialogue and cooperation and backed by well-coordinated and executed international and regional support.

What Haiti needs today is unity of purpose in the best interest of the Haitian people.

Pakistan stands ready to play a constructive role in helping Haiti achieve durable peace, progress, and prosperity. I thank you.

I thank the representative of Pakistan Thank you, Mr. President, for their statement. I now give the floor to Her Excellency, Ms. Reina Fauban, Minister for Foreign Affairs and Religious Affairs of Haiti.

Madam President, members of the Security Council, Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen, at the outset, I would like to We applaud the Congolese presidency of the Security Council for the month of July. We wish you every success. On behalf of the Prime Minister of the Republic of Haiti, His Excellency Alex Didier Fils-Aimé, and of the Haitian people, to express our deep gratitude to Security Council members, as well as to all members who are continuing to assist Haiti in its quest for peace, security, stability.

Thank you.

Democracy and prosperity. Furthermore, I would like to thank the Special Representative of the Secretary-General, as well as Head of BINU, Mr. Carlos Ruiz Massieu, for his briefing, in addition to thanking the SG for his quarterly report and his letter dated 29 May 2026, submitted pursuant to Security Council Resolution 2814. I also wish to thank Mr. Jack Christofides, Special Representative for the Gang Suppression Force, in addition to Special Representative of the Secretary-General, Ms. Vanessa Fraser. She is SRSG for Children in Armed Conflict. The children of Haiti are the first to be hard-hit by this crisis, a security and humanitarian crisis, and it is for their benefit that we should work together So as to restore security in a lasting fashion so that they can grow up in peace, access education, and build the future that they deserve. We'd also like to thank the Executive Director of UNODC, Ms. Monika Juma, for her briefing. I welcome the participation of the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Dominican Republic, my counterpart, Mr. Roberto Álvarez Gil.

Thank you, Madam Chair.

We express our support for the statement that the Ambassador of Jamaica will be delivering on behalf of CARICOM. I would also like to thank Security Council members for their constructive comments, in particular to Ambassador Waltz for his statement in which he shared with the Council the main remarks following his recent visit to Haiti. Today, I would like to send a message, a message of hope, both to our international partners and the people of Haiti. Genuine progress is being made on the ground. We are closer than we've been in years to restoring security and holding elections that are free, credible, inclusive, and participatory. Now is not the time to give up. Time to back down. It's the time for the international community to stand resolutely side by side with the Haitian people, to lock in progress that's already been made, and to help Haiti to return to the path to peace, security, stability, democracy, and hope, and this in a lasting fashion. Madam President, despite the challenges, Haiti is making progress. Our security forces, as well as the Gang Suppression Force, are fully mobilized with a view to restoring security. Our government remains fully committed to restoring constitutional order, all the while implementing the reforms that are necessary for strengthening security, reinforcing public institutions, and improving the lives of our people, especially the living conditions. The electoral process today has gone further than it's ever gone over the last decade. 2 of the 3 phases necessary for the holding of national elections have already been completed. The remaining phase falls to the Provisional Electoral Council, which should publish the official electoral calendar in the coming days. The political party registration process has been completed. The voter registration process is underway. The electoral process is fully operational because now more than ever, the Haitian government stands convinced that the only way for Haiti to make progress lies in the holding of elections. Madam President, Haiti needs free, credible, inclusive, and above all, participatory elections— elections which restore trust, elections which strengthen democratic legitimacy, elections which pave the way to lasting peace and stability. This is what 12 million men, women, and children in Haiti are hoping for. Today, 7 of Haiti's 10 departments are ready for electoral activities without any major security impediments. The deployment of the Gang Suppression Force in the 3 remaining departments is absolutely vital to guarantee that every Haitian citizen can exercise his or her fundamental right to choosing his or her leaders freely without impediments. Security is a necessary bedrock for legitimate elections. The government has taken significant steps to restore security. Since January 2026, over 2,000 police personnel were trained within the framework of the P4000 government program. Meanwhile, 1,500 new members are being recruited into the Haitian Armed Forces. If progress continues as planned, by the end of this year, the National Police would have been reinforced by 4,000 additional police personnel. Meanwhile, the Armed Forces would see 1,500 new servicemen join their ranks. Our objective is clear: progressively Consolidating Haitian security institutions so that they can uphold our country's security. Concrete results have already been made on the ground, and they're encouraging. 3 IDP camps have been closed, allowing many families to go back to their homes. In parallel, the government is pledging a new approach to the humanitarian response, moving from aid to trade, the goal being to create long-term opportunities for the Haitian people, especially for our young people. Alongside these efforts, we've reactivated our National Disarmament, Dismantlement, and Reintegration Commission. We are also continuing the implementation of significant reforms to the judiciary, the objective being to strengthen the rule of law and accountability. 2 specialized chambers aimed at punishing mass crimes, sexual violence, and serious financial crimes have been inaugurated. Nonetheless, we're cognizant that progress is fragile. It is in this spirit that we call on the Security Council to support the full deployment of the Gang Suppression Force, as well as the renewal of its mandate, so as to furnish it with the support it requires to fulfill its mission. Genuine progress has been made on the ground. Now is not the time to back down. Madam President, for far too long, Haiti was defined by its crises. Today, Haiti wants recognition for the progress it's made. The Haitian people is demonstrating remarkable resilience. Our institutions continue to operate. Security is improving. Recapturing of territory is ongoing. The electoral process is progressing. The Republic of Haiti, under the leadership of the Prime Minister, Alexis Didier Filssime, is making this progress. The momentum is genuine. We cannot lose this momentum.

Thank you.

This is why we need partnerships. We need sustained international commitment so as to lock in the progress that's already been made. Today, the international community is faced with a choice. The international community can lock in the momentum Haiti has achieved thanks to considerable efforts, or it can risk seeing years of collective efforts compromised at the very moment when Haiti is closer than it's ever been to restoring security and holding elections. For that reason, today, supporting the full deployment of the Gang Suppression Force, as well as renewing the GSF's mandate, is tantamount to supporting security. Supporting security means standing side by side with Haiti. This is an investment in democracy, regional stability, as well as international peace and security. Working together, let's make sure that this progress, fragile for the time being, becomes irreversible. Let's work together to allow the Haitian people to definitively turn a page on this violence and instability, to build a future of peace, security, and stability. Because it is high time to lock in these gains. I thank you.

I thank Her Excellency Ms. Fauban for her statement. I now give the floor to His Excellency Roberto Álvarez Gil, Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Dominican Republic.

Madam President, Mr. Carlos Ruiz Massieu, Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Haiti. Madam Monica Juma, Executive Director of the UNODC. Madam Vanessa Fraser, Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict. And Ms. Reina Faubin, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Religious Affairs of the Republic of Haiti. Distinguished members of the Council, we congratulate the Democratic Republic of the Congo on its leadership of the work of the Council this month. Thank you, Mr. President. Thank you, Mr. President. And we thank all of the briefers for their valuable presentations. Almost one year on from the resolution— the adoption of Resolution 2793, and just a few weeks before this council decides on its renewal, it is time to take stock. And in so doing, we should look beyond solely what we have built to what remains to be done so that Haitian society can begin to return to life as normal. Our stocktaking should recognize 2 realities. The first is encouraging. Just one year ago, the international community was discussing what might be the right kind of instrument to support the recovery of security in Haiti. Now, this debate is now behind us. The country has a gang suppression force, a United Nations support office that is fully established, a command and operations structure, and— that is already beginning to bear fruit. The progress made warrants the recognition of this council. We should in particular thank the United States for the leadership shown in this initiative, and Canada and the other states that have contributed with their efforts, resources, and logistical support to make it possible. We also express particular thanks to those countries that have contributed that that is the most valuable: their men and women. On the ground. Their commitment stands as a concrete demonstration of solidarity with Haiti. But there's also a second reality. The force was authorized up to a ceiling of 5,550 troops. However, to date, little more than 1,000 are in Haiti. This difference poses the main challenge to the mission's success. We have committed troops, resources to sustain them, and a functioning command structure. The greatest obstacle to their deployment remains logistical. That is the limited availability of strategic air transport to quickly move the precommitted troops and equipment. It— a purely logistical challenge shouldn't stand between the action of the international community and the protection of entire people. Therefore, we appeal to all member states that have this ability to share them with this mission. A handful of decisions would be enough to significantly speed up the arrival of troops and their equipment. Distinguished representatives, but the urgency of the situation also has a strategic dimension. Time is not on Haiti's side. Every week of delay allows the criminal gangs to consolidate their territorial grip expand their sources of financing, hone their operational capacities, and to recruit new members, many of whom are children who suffer tremendously, as has been so graphically explained today in this meeting. Completing the force isn't purely an operational priority. It is the essential precondition to beginning to reverse the current trend. Security is also essential for the political transition. The Dominican Republic would like to see Haiti hold free, inclusive, and credible elections. But we have to recognize a clear reality. It is not elections that will give rise to security. It will be security that enables elections. This secure environment is the vital bridge between the political transition and democratic legitimacy. While vast swathes of the country remain under gang control, it is hard to It's hard to see how, as Minister Faubin has said, it's hard to see how the necessary conditions for a free and representative electoral process can exist. Madam President, the restoration of security alone, however, is not enough. It will also be necessary to continue to strengthen the Haitian National Police, the judicial system, and disarmament, demobilization, and reintegration programs, as well as to more effectively combat the illicit trafficking of weapons and financing of criminal organizations. This effort should be supported by a more rigorous application of the sanctions regime established by Security Council Resolution 2625. That regime was designed not only to sanction the heads of criminal gangs, it also covers those that finance the gangs, that facilitate arms trafficking, that launder resources from their illicit activities, or that provide either material or political support to them. Up to now, the regime's application has mainly focused on a very small number of criminal leaders, while those who finance, facilitate, or benefit from the activities of these organizations remain to a large extent outside the scope of this regime. We should fully use this instrument to identify and also sanction sanction those who both maintain and enable the operation of these criminal gangs. Breaking these support networks is vital to achieving a lasting peace in Haiti. We fully concur with the appeal made by the Executive Director of the UNODC, Ms. Monica Juma, in highlighting a regional strategy to address criminal— transnational criminal networks operating in coordination with Haitian gangs. The crisis cannot be addressed solely within Haiti. It is essential to break up the regional networks that fuel and sustain these criminal gangs. We recognize the efforts that have been made by the Haitian government to strengthen its own institutions. These include— these steps include incorporating new officers into the national police, training security personnel, and establishing specialized judicial chambers to address the most serious crimes. These steps show that in parallel to international support, Haiti is also shouldering its responsibility in rebuilding the state's capacities. An international force can help to recover the territory, but only robust Haitian institutions will be able to preserve it permanently. The Dominican Republic will continue to play its part. We will continue to cooperate with the United Nations supporting the gang suppression force. Strengthening our combating of the illicit arms trafficking, and contributing within our means to stabilizing our neighboring country. Madam President, within just a few weeks, this Council will decide on the renewal of the mandate of the force and of the U.N. support office in Haiti. The Dominican Republic fully supports this renewal. But extending the mandate will not suffice if we fail to harness the opportunity to overcome the obstacles that continue to prevent the force from reaching its authorized strength. Renewing it without closing this gap would be tantamount to renewing a promise without ever fulfilling it. There is a genuine window of opportunity, as has been broadly highlighted today. Rarely have an expanding international force, a fully operational UN support structure, available resources, renewed international commitment, and institutional progress all converged in Haiti. And this opportunity won't be there indefinitely. It's our collective responsibility to make the most of it while it's here. Over the past 4 years, this Council has taken important decisions on Haiti. We don't need another strategy. We need to fully implement the one that we already have. That means completing the force deployment, strengthening the arms embargo, fully applying the sanctions regime established by this Council, and continuing to strengthen Haitian institutions. The Haitian people have demonstrated extraordinary resilience after so many years of suffering. They don't need another resolution. They need the decisions that have already been taken by this Council to finally deliver peace, security, and hope that have eluded them for so long. This ultimately is the historic responsibility that we share today. Thank you very much.

I thank His Excellency Mr. Alvarez-Gil for that statement, and I now give the floor to the representative of Mexico.

Thank you, Madam Chair.

Madame la Ministre des—

Madam Minister of Foreign and Religious Affairs of Haiti, Her Excellency. Ms. Reina Forbin, the Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Dominican Republic, His Excellency Mr. Alvarez Gil, Madam President. We thank the Special Representative of the Secretary-General and Head of the United Nations Integrated Office in Haiti, Mr. Carlos Ruiz Massieu, the Special Representative for the Gang Suppression Force in Haiti, Mr. Jack Christofides, the Executive Director of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, UNODC, Ms. Monica Juma, and the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict, Ms. Vanessa Fraser. We thank them all for their briefings. Madam President, the humanitarian situation in Haiti remains dire and a matter of concern. We recall that more than half the population, almost 6.4 million people, including 2.8 million children, require emergency assistance. The Haitian Red Cross and the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement have reported that there are more than 1.4 million internally displaced persons in the country, whose vulnerability is only heightened by the expansion of gang control. In this regard, Mexico recognizes the progress made in the deployment of the UN Support Office in Haiti, the UN UNSO, and we encourage it to work with the Gang Suppression Force, the GSF, so that both entities maintain regular, transparent, substantive dialogue with member states. Mexico will continue contributing to building Haiti's national capacities through the training of a new contingent of the Haitian Armed Forces. And with this latest training session, we will have contributed to the training of more than 1,000 personnel across different modalities decided by the Haitian government. To move ahead with security and peacebuilding efforts in Haiti, We call for the Security Council to look closely at the options put forward by the Secretary-General to promote Haitian-led disarmament, dismantlement, and reintegration. In addition, Mexico strongly supports the call of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Children in Armed Conflict— that is, minors recruited or used by by the gangs should be treated strictly as victims and not as perpetrators. We welcome the proposed DDR program in the SG's report that proposes a differentiated preventive approach for children and young people that are at risk of being recruited. The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime has revealed the urgent need to curb the illicit flow of weapons fueling the internal violence. We need to strengthen the effective application of the arms embargo imposed by this council through stricter export controls and rigorous end-user verification mechanisms. Mexico welcomes the progress at the political level that gives some grounds for hope. The conclusion of the Transitional Presidential Council's mandate, the peaceful transition of executive authority, and the signing of the National Pact for Stability, as well as the organization of elections, have been important steps towards restoring constitutional order in the country. We encourage Haitian authorities to keep up this momentum and to hold free, inclusive, and credible elections within the planned timeframe. It's essential that all interested Haitian parties renew their commitment to resolving their differences peacefully, working towards the holding of elections and restoring democratic institutions. Mexico believes that it's important, with the support of the United Nations, to identify the minimum material conditions needed for the holding of free, inclusive, and credible elections. Madam President, we recognize that security progress can only be consolidated if it translates into effective strengthening of national institutions. The international response will be all the more effective to the extent that it does strengthen national institution— institutional capacities, fosters Haitian ownership over the stabilization process, and ensures a consistent approach across security, justice, institution building, humanitarian assistance, and development. In this regard, my country highlights the recent signing of an electoral cooperation instrument with Haiti. We reiterate our readiness to continue supporting the strengthening of institutional capacities in those areas identified as priorities by Haitian authorities. Madam President, BINU's work is vital at this juncture to continue consistently guiding the efforts of all actors in the country towards peace, to facilitate inclusive inter-Haitian dialogue, and to promote community violence reduction programs. These are all much-needed steps to forge ahead in the political process and in strengthening the rule of law. The protection of human rights and public security remain at the heart of these efforts. In this context, we recognize the training provided by BINU to the Haitian National Police in sexual and gender-based violence prevention and response. To build a lasting peace, we need to address the root causes of violence and strengthen the social fabric. To that end, the Mexican government, together with the United Nations, this year organized a workshop bringing together more than 40 local leaders to develop concrete proposals for social reconstruction. This initiative is consistent with the objectives of the National Youth Leadership Forum coordinated together with the UNDP, which seeks to create genuine opportunities for women and young people to participate actively in decision-making in their country. Finally, Madam President, Mexico reiterates the importance of ensuring that the work of the UN remains focused on consolidating the Haitian state and facilitating the emergence of a new social pact which overcomes inequalities and historic injustices that have been endured by the Haitian people. We reiterate our full readiness to continue working with Haiti to resolve the structural challenges that the country faces. Thank you very much.

I thank the representative of Mexico for that statement, and I now give the floor To the representative of Jamaica.

Thank you, Madam President. I am honored to deliver this statement on behalf of the 14 member states of the Caribbean Haiti, CARICOM. Let me begin by acknowledging the briefers and acknowledging the presence of Foreign Ministers Forbán and Álvarez-Gil. We very much welcome the hopeful indications of progress outlined by Foreign Minister Forbán. Madam President, as CARICOM member states, we remain deeply concerned by the multidimensional security crisis in Haiti. We reaffirm our unwavering solidarity with the Haitian people, our respect for Haiti's sovereignty, and our commitment to supporting a Haitian-led solution to the challenges the country faces. We recognize that while some incremental improvements have been made, the overall situation remains dire. CARICOM commends the efforts undertaken by the Government of the Republic of Haiti. With the support of important bilateral, regional, and multilateral partners, including CARICOM, the UN, and the OAS, to lay the foundations for free, fair, and peaceful elections. However, given the expiration of the Transitional Presidential Council's mandate in February this year without elections having been held, CARICOM reiterates the importance of achieving this critical objective through Haitian-led democratic processes. Acknowledging that the elections originally planned for August 2026 can no longer be achieved, and that voter registration, initially scheduled to begin in April, only commenced in July, the Haitian Electoral Council and the Government of Haiti are currently engaged in discussions to agree on a revised electoral timetable in light of the prevailing security situation. Despite these challenges, CARICOM considers that the holding of elections remains a priority, underscoring our continued commitment to Haiti's long-term stability, democratic governance, and constitutional order. Considering that the Gang Suppression Force has yet to be fully deployed, while its mandate is expected to expire at the end of September 2026, CARICOM continues to strongly advocate for the renewal of this mandate. Renewing the mandate remains a critical safeguard against a further deterioration of the security situation, as well as the risk of widespread instability and anarchy. Madam President, Haiti featured prominently on the agenda of the recent CARICOM Heads of Government Meeting held in St. Lucia from the 5th to the 8th of July this year. Discussions included consideration of establishing a permanent CARICOM presence in Port-au-Prince. It was also reaffirmed that the CARICOM Eminent Persons Group will continue to support the Haitian government in its engagement with national stakeholders and international partners. Heads of government further committed to providing humanitarian support in response to the continuing needs of the Haitian people. And the modest improvements observed on the ground. Of particular concern is the worsening humanitarian situation affecting Haiti's most vulnerable populations, especially women, girls, and youth. Sexual and gender-based violence has increased significantly amid escalating gang activity, placing women and girls at heightened risk. Gang violence has also had severe consequences for Haiti's youth, contributing to rising unemployment and increasing the recruitment of children and young people into criminal gangs. At the same time, widespread food insecurity and Haiti's deteriorating economic conditions have further intensified the humanitarian crisis. CARICOM encourages sustained international cooperation and support in addressing the ongoing crisis in Haiti and calls for We urge the financial community to deepen its engagement with the Government of Haiti and other key stakeholders in pursuit of a stable, secure, and democratic future for the Haitian people. Haiti deserves a future of peace, prosperity, and democratic governance— a future deserving of every citizen of the world. in every country. I thank you.

I thank the representative of Jamaica for that statement. There are no more names inscribed on the list of speakers. I now invite council members to informal consultations to continue our discussion on the subject. The meeting is adjourned.