Watchdog to Monitor International Mission in Haiti
Haiti has been experiencing a surge in violence in recent years, characterized by kidnappings, rapes, and murders. In a press release last week, UNICEF reported that there have been close to 300 cases of kidnappings, which is three times more than in 2021. The agency also estimates that 5.2 million people, or close to half of the population, require humanitarian assistance.
The violence is exacerbated by political uncertainty, which has plunged millions of people into dire need. Despite past international interventions, Haiti has been unable to achieve significant improvements because it has not been able to consolidate a political system that respects democratic governance and the rule of law.
A few years after the 2010 earthquake, many of us from the diaspora moved back to Haiti in the hope of contributing to the transformation and revival of our country of birth. At that time, I remember the hope we held despite the destruction. We were also able to move about freely, day or night. However, the situation has deteriorated since then, and the country is now facing a major security crisis.
International Assistance to Address Security Crisis
There is a growing consensus that Haiti needs international assistance to address the security crisis. However, there is disagreement about the form that this assistance should take. Some people believe that a new UN peacekeeping mission is needed, while others believe that Haitians should be given more time to address the problem on their own.
A few days ago, a key leader who hopes to lead a new transition was quoted saying that "there is a hand behind this wave of terror imposed on the civilian population by the gangs." He believes that "something must be done to put an end to the ordeal of the Haitian people, particularly those living in areas given over to armed gangs, including Liancourt (Artibonite), Carrefour-Feuilles, and the entire Port-au-Prince metropolitan area." However, he did not say what should be done or by whom.
On the political front, the opposition in Haiti has also run out of ideas and steam. The forces against Prime Minister Ariel Henry are essentially on pause until something happens. This could be the regime's self-implosion or something else.
On the technical front, the Haitian security forces are severely understaffed and underfunded. According to a recent UNDOC report, the Haitian National Police has only 14,000 active police officers, but only 9,000 of them are operational. This means that there is only one police officer for every 1,200 people in Haiti. The Haitian National Police (HNP) also lacks the necessary equipment and training to effectively combat the gangs.
To illustrate the reality of Haiti's security situation, it is helpful to compare it to other countries. The city of New York, for example, has a population of 8 million and a police force of over 36,000 officers. The Dominican Republic, with a population of 9 million, has a police force of 32,000 officers and an army of 28,750 active-duty personnel.
Haiti simply does not have the resources to effectively combat the gangs that are terrorizing its people. It needs international assistance to strengthen its security forces and to address the root causes of the violence.
The Case for a Watchdog
As I prepare to attend the Haitian Diaspora Convention in Montreal from August 25 to 27, 2023, under the theme "Break Down Walls, Build Bridges," I think about the challenges that Haitians are facing. The country is grappling with a surge in violence that has led many to flee their homeland. The rising influence of local gangs and their connections with regional counterparts for arms, ammunition, drug trafficking, and money laundering has spiraled into an international security crisis.
As Haitians living abroad, we want to stand in solidarity with those on the ground. The question is, what should our response be?
Haiti's army and police force are woefully inadequate in maintaining stability, securing the nation, and controlling its borders. Disturbingly, evidence even suggests infiltration of criminal gangs within the police ranks, compounding the challenges. Given these formidable obstacles and the grim realities on the ground, intervention appears increasingly inevitable. A Reuters article from last February cited a survey by local business risk management group AGERCA (Alliance for Risk Management and Business Continuity) in partnership with consulting firm DDG (Diagnostic & Development Group), revealing that 69% of nearly 1,330 respondents across Haiti expressed support for an "international force" as requested by the Haitian government. A more recent August poll showed that 63% of respondents agreed that there was a need to deploy a force to Haiti.
A Kenyan delegation is currently in Haiti to assess the security situation in anticipation of a possible UN-backed peacekeeping mission. This is not the first time that the UN has intervened in Haiti, but past experiences have shown that Haitians have had limited say in how these missions are structured. Additionally, once these missions have been authorized, Haitian civil society has not put in place any system to monitor and evaluate their effectiveness.
While civil society organizations may not be able to prevent the deployment of a new UN mission, they can play a crucial role in shaping its objectives. To this end, it is essential to establish a Haitian-led consultative body that will monitor, evaluate, and report on the mission. This body, which can be called a "Watchdog," should be composed of a diverse range of stakeholders, including diaspora Haitians, human rights advocates, and security analysts. This will ensure that the mission is accountable to the Haitian people and that it is effective in achieving its goals.
The Significance of the Watchdog
A consultative body serves as an invaluable asset for both Haitian civil society and the United Nations (UN). It injects expertise and insights necessary for understanding the Haitian context and devising effective strategies. Crucially, it ensures that Haitians are empowered to influence the mission's effectiveness and its accountability to their needs. This consultative body can:
Shape mission objectives to align with Haitian aspirations, focusing on key issues like security, poverty, and development.
Monitor mission progress, identifying challenges and gaps to ensure it remains on the right track.
Offer recommendations to enhance mission efficiency, which may encompass resource augmentation, strategic pivots, or strengthened coordination.
Ensure transparency by disseminating regular activity reports, and keeping Haitians informed about the mission's operations and impact.
Composition, Structure, and Immediate Next Steps
Given the gravity of Haiti's situation, swift and resolute action is essential. The establishment of a consultative watchdog is not merely an option—it's a necessity. Haitians should no longer remain passive observers but become active participants in the forthcoming UN mission. This watchdog should comprise a global representation of Haitians, including experts in security, governance, human rights, and monitoring and evaluation. It's essential that this diverse panel prominently feature women and youth voices.
The watchdog's framework demands a steering committee, responsible for setting the agenda and overseeing activities in key domains like security, governance, and human rights.
As the Kenyan delegation assesses the on-ground situation in Haiti, the immediate priority for Haitian civil society is the prompt establishment of this consultative watchdog, preempting the UN mission's approval. Crucially, the watchdog's effectiveness pivots on securing requisite expertise, funding, and technological resources. Collaboration between the diaspora and local organizations can profoundly shape its operational effectiveness. Notably, Haitians should take on the role of primary funders to guarantee their autonomy and authentic independence.
Haitian Diaspora Convention: Forging Unity, Solutions, and Purposeful Action
As we meet in Montreal this weekend, we have yet another opportunity to come together and put our weight on the balance of those seeking a solution to Haiti's crisis.
The Breaking Down Walls and Building Bridges convention will take place over three days. The roundtables and workshops will focus on the issues of security, governance, and the diaspora's role. I believe that the diaspora has yet another opportunity to make a significant contribution to Haiti's recovery.
During debates, I will be advocating for the creation of a Haitian-led watchdog.
This watchdog would be a consultative body that would monitor, evaluate, and report on the upcoming international mission to Haiti. It would be composed of a diverse range of stakeholders, including diaspora Haitians, human rights advocates, and security analysts. This would ensure that the mission is accountable to the Haitian people and that it is effective in achieving its goals.
The diaspora can play a vital role in the establishment and operation of a watchdog. By investing in this effort, we can catalyze our discussions into meaningful action. We can also help to build the organizational structures needed to track the mission's progress and offer recommendations for improvements. Lastly, the Watchdog can become an authoritative voice that informs the Haitian community about the mission's activities
This weekend, representatives from across the world will meet to discuss the crisis in Haiti. We all love Haiti, so these conversations will be difficult. We will surely have different readings of the root causes and contradictory solutions. But despite these expected differences, I will enter every conversation with the absolute knowledge that we all want the same thing: a safe, just, and prosperous Haiti for all Haitians.
The convention is a collective effort, and its outcomes will embody our indomitable spirit of unity and resilience. Our presence in Canada will send a powerful message to the world: Haiti's identity is not limited by its difficulties, but embodied by the resolve of our people to rise above them.