Remarks by the President of the General Assembly,
Mr. Philemon Yang,
at the Joint Meeting of the Economic and Social Council and the Peace building Commission on ¡°Building and Sustaining Peace in Haiti¡±
Wednesday, 11 June 2025
[As Delivered]
Excellencies,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
I thank the President of the Economic and Social Council, and Chair of the Peacebuilding Commission for the invitation to participate in today¡¯s meeting.
My presence today is the result of the joint meeting I held last month with the President of the Economic and Social Council and the President of the Security Council, during which we discussed the challenges facing Haiti.
Indeed, the scale of suffering in Haiti is escalating at a pace that demands not just our attention, but our action.
Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ Children¡¯s Fund has sounded the alarm with devastating clarity:
Sexual violence against children increased by a staggering 1,000 percent, between 2023 and 2024.
Estimates indicate that children now make up half of all members of the gangs in Haiti.
Ongoing gang violence has displaced nearly a tenth of Haiti¡¯s population.
Over half of those displaced are women and children.
These challenges cut across peace and security, development, humanitarian and human rights concerns.
In other words: the core of the United Nations.
I commend United Nations agencies and partners working tirelessly to save, protect, and empower the people of Haiti.
I likewise praise the bravery of the Multinational Security Support Mission led by Kenya.
This Mission stands as a beacon of the important role Africa can and does play in global peace and security matters.
However, the Mission cannot undertake this charge alone.
The responsibility lies with all of us ¨C across the United Nations system.
A coordinated and effective international response is more important than ever before.
We must consider this in how we approach the implementation of Security Council resolution 2719 ¨C as well as the future of financing for peace operations and the role of Africa.
I will hold a meeting on 25 June on this issue.
Let us consider ways to close the funding gap and instill a sense of momentum for action, including in the context of Haiti.
Today, I urge us to consider how the General Assembly, Security Council, Economic and Social Council and Peacebuilding Commission can use their respective mandates to promote the building and sustaining of peace in Haiti.
What tools and resources can we leverage?
One issue that traverses these bodies ¨C and one on which we act together ¨C is that of small arms and light weapons.
The illicit trafficking and diversion of arms and ammunition to gangs in Haiti are fueling rampant crime.
It is of vital importance to get these arms off the streets of Haiti.
As you may recall, in March, I convened a joint meeting with the President of the Economic and Social Council on ¡°Small arms and light weapons control for preventing violence and advancing sustainable development.¡±
At that meeting, we learned of:
(i) The critical need to integrate small arms and light weapons control into broader development efforts, with a focus on women and youth.
(ii) That effective small arms and light weapons control requires an ¡°all of stakeholder approach at all levels.¡±
(iii) The need to take a gender responsive approach to arms control policies and disarmament and reintegration programmes.
Excellencies,
When we work effectively as one United Nations ¨C across our mandates ¨C we magnify the impact of our efforts.
We must do our utmost to ensure that Haiti is not abandoned to a future of fear and despair.
But instead, is embraced by a global commitment to peace, opportunity and dignity.
Thank you.
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Media Contacts
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