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Haiti

https://www.idea.int/democracytracker/

June 2024

First contingent of UN-backed Kenyan police force arrives
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The first UN-backed contingent of police from Kenya, has arrived in Haiti to address a surge in gang violence that led to a severe humanitarian crisis in the country. The mission is the result of UN Security Council Resolution 2699, approved in 2023, with the mandate of providing “operational support” to the Haitian National Police to regain control of the country. Additional forces from the Bahamas, Bangladesh, Barbados, Benin, Chad, and Jamaica are expected to join the contingent as well. Their mission is to stabilize Haiti's security crisis, including gangs’ control of 80 per cent of the capital, and to regain control of key infrastructure such as airports, ports and hospitals and highways. After months of anticipation, there is caution due to past failures of foreign interventions in Haiti to secure lasting peace, as well as scandals that have emerged around them. These include the UN’s previous mission, which ended in 2017 and faced criticism for sexual abuse and cholera outbreaks. The Kenyan police will support but not replace the Haitian National Police, aiming to restore order while avoiding a security vacuum post-mission.

Sources:  Haitian Times, New York Times, AP News, El Pais, UN Security Council

May 2024

Garry Conille appointed as Haiti´s new Prime Minister
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The Transitional Presidential Council (CPT) of Haiti has appointed Garry Conille as the new Prime Minister, following the selection of Fritz Belizaire in late April. That process was tainted by allegations of procedural irregularities. The decision regarding Conille comes amid escalating gang violence in Port-au-Prince. Conille, a UN development specialist, had been UNICEF's regional director for Latin America and the Caribbean since January 2023 and had served as Haiti's prime minister from 2011 to 2012. The date for the installation of Conille's government is yet to be announced, with Boisvert managing affairs in the meantime. Conille was selected from a pool of over 200 applicants, and his appointment has received international support, including from the OAS and the Caribbean Community (CARICOM). Conille faces great challenges amidst the severe humanitarian crises that the country is undergoing. He has pledged to restore security, drive economic recovery, and organize elections in 2025. 

Sources: Africa News, Haitian Times (1), Haitian Times (2), CBS News  

April 2024

Prime Minister Ariel Henry resigns as the Transitional Presidential Council is formed
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On 12 April, the formation of the Transitional Presidential Council, in charge of assigning a new Haitian government, was finalized. The Council, whose mandate runs out in February 2026, will seek to bring stability to the nation and reform justice through the establishment of autonomous state bodies, such as a Provisional Electoral Council. This prompted Ariel Henry, who has served as Prime Minister since July 2021, to resign on 24 April. On 30 April, the Transitional Council, which consists of nine Haitian politicians and civil society actors', out of which seven have voting rights, announced Fritz Bélizaire as the new Prime Minister. Bélizaire, who served as the Sports Minister in 2006-2011, was chosen by four of the Council members. Council members who oppose Bélizaire have threatened to challenge the decision or resign from the Council. At the same time, Haiti’s powerful gangs have continued to threaten more violence if their demand to have a seat at the negotiation table is not met.  

Sources: The British Broadcasting Corporation, Caribbean Life, National Public Radio, Le Nouvelliste 

March 2024

Security crisis prompts PM’s imminent resignation
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Pressured by the escalating security crisis, Prime Minister Ariel Henry announced on 12 March that he will resign upon the establishment of a transitional council. A state of emergency was declared on 3 March, following a prison break involving 4,700 inmates. Gang violence, which has killed over 1,550 this year, spiraled after Henry traveled to Kenya in February to finalize a multinational security force agreement (which has since been postponed). The escalation of violence followed an offensive by gang coalitions which targeted police, government offices and the airport, among other key objectives, preventing Henry’s return. Since the beginning of March, more than 53,000 have fled the capital, basic services in the country have shut down, as schools and hospitals have been targeted by gangs. The UN World Food Programme (WFP) fears that 1.4 million Haitians are on the brink of famine.  Thousands have fled to the heavily guarded border of the Dominican Republic and in March alone, 13,000 Haitian migrants were forcibly repatriated.  

On 12 April, the Caribbean Community (CARICOM)-backed transitional council, which will choose the new prime minister, was established. 

Sources: EL PaisCaribbean Life, Le Nouvelliste, International Organization for Migration, Amnesty, United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, International IDEA 

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Global ranking per category of democratic performance in 2023

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Representation
154/173
Rights
156/173
Rule of Law
161/173
Participation
143/173
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Basic Information

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Population Tooltip
11 584 996
System of government
Semi-Presidential system
Head of government
Garry Conille (since 2024)
Head of government party
Independent
Electoral system for lower or single chamber
Two-Round System
Last legislative election
2016
Selection process for head of state
Direct election (two-round majority)
Latest Universal Periodic Review (UPR) date
31/01/2022
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Human Rights Treaties

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State Party State party
Signatory Signatory
No Action No action
United Nations Human Right Treaties
International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights
State Party
International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights
State Party
International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination
State Party
Convention on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women
State Party
Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman and Degrading Treatment or Punishment
Signatory
Convention on the Rights of the Child
State Party
International Convention on Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families
Signatory
International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance 
Signatory
International Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities
State Party
International Labour Organisation Treaties
Forced Labour Convention
State Party
Freedom of Association and Protection of the Right to Organise Convention
State Party
Right to Organise and Collective Bargaining Convention
State Party
Equal Remuneration Convention
State Party
Abolition of Forced Labour Convention
State Party
Discrimination (Employment and Occupation) Convention
State Party
Convention concerning Minimum Age for Admission to Employment
State Party
Worst Forms of Child Labour Convention
State Party
Regional Treaties
American Convention on Human Rights
State Party
Additional Protocol to the American Convention on Human Rights in the Area of Economic, Social and Cultural Rights
Signatory
in
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Performance by category over the last 6 months

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Representation neutral Rule of law
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Representation neutral Participation
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Global State of Democracy Indices

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Explore the indices
Representation
Representation
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/1
high 0.7-1.0
mid 0.4-0.7
low 0.0-0.4
Rights
Rights
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high 0.7-1.0
mid 0.4-0.7
low 0.0-0.4
Rule of Law
Rule of Law
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high 0.7-1.0
mid 0.4-0.7
low 0.0-0.4
Participation
Participation
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high 0.7-1.0
mid 0.4-0.7
low 0.0-0.4

Factors of Democratic Performance Over Time

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