Interim Chief of MINUJUSTH Explains the New Mission

Photo Srdan Slavkovik UN/MINUJUSTH

24 Oct 2017

Interim Chief of MINUJUSTH Explains the New Mission

INTERVIEW WITH DSRSG-HC-RC and OFFICER IN CHARGE OF MINUJUSTH DR. MAMADOU DIALLO ON THE LAUNCH OF THE NEW MISSION
 

Interviewer:  Good morning sir, welcome and thank you for agreeing to do this interview. Could you please tell us what is the purpose of the Security Council's decision to establish MINUJUSTH?

DSRSG: United Nations Security Council Resolution 2350 which established MINUJUSTH set its objectives as: been continuing giving UN support to Haitian National Police, to bring it to up to speed and capacity to ensure law and order in Haiti, to continue support to the Haitian’s rule of law institutions, such as the judiciary and the correction facilities, to strengthen the political stability achieved by the presence of MINUSTAH, to strengthen the democratic process and the democratic institutions, to protect and promote Human Rights and in so doing, to work closely with Human Rights institutions in the country in protecting Human Rights. It is also mandated to provide support on Human Rights through monitoring and reporting to the Security Council on what is happening in Haiti in the area of Human Rights.

But more broadly, MINUJUSTH, the new mission has been set by the Security Council as the successor arrangement to MINUSTAH, to make sure that the gains and successes achieved by the presence of MINUSTAH are furthered and strengthen mainly the political stability, the security and the strengthening of the law and order institutions included but not limited to the Haitian National Police.

Interviewer: MINUSTAH stayed 13 years, how many years will MINUJUSTH stay?

DSRSG: Resolution 2550 of the Security Council initially established MINUJUSTH for a period of 6 months, starting in mid-October and ending in mid-April 2018. The horizon set for MINUJUSTH is a two year period, in which the Security Council has set very specific and details priorities and objectives for the mission: straightening the capacities and operational strength in the mobility of the Haitian National Police.  For example, 14,000 cadets are being trained to be able to provide security law and order in the country. Straightening the judiciary and the correction facilities in Haiti; promoting and protecting the rights of Haitian, straightening the political stability to good offices in promoting national dialogue between political actors, straightening human rights institutions and continuing the work to facilitate a smooth transition between the UN peacekeeping operations and the stabilization and long-term development in Haiti through a joint collaboration between the mission and the United Nations Country Team in Haiti.

Interviewer: Could you please give us a message for Haitians regarding this new mission?

DSRSG: For many Haitian, since I arrived a couple of weeks ago, and listening to the national media, there has been a sense of unease thinking that actually the departure of MINUSTAH in its configuration as a full-fledged UN peacekeeping operation may be perceived as a disengagement from the international community and the United Nations. For all the Haitians that are reading this interview, I would like to tell them that this is not the case. The presence of MINUJUSTH, all be it in a different configuration, in a different strength is a testimony of the United Nations desire to continue to be engaged in Haiti, being engaged with the Haitians and the Government of Haiti to further the gains made by MINUSTAH, to continue deepening and strengthening political stability, to provide for a strong support for the Haitian National Police for it to be able to provide law and order and security in the entire country and to straighten the judiciary and the correctional facilities and all of the bodies that will be tasked with protecting and promoting the rights of Haitian. This is the message that I will like to share with the Haitians who reads us. The United Nations is in Haiti. We remain engaged and we will continue to work closely with them to achieve long-term stability in their country and provide for a sound and solid basis for the country to engage in the development and the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals.

To watch the Video Interview in our MINUJUSTH Youtube Channel, please  visit: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wr6J46CjBCA