The Collective Defenseurs Plus, Organization for the promotion and defense of human rights, notes the passivity of the government authorities in the face of the rising prices of basic necessities and the scarcity of fuel in the country. Haiti is plunged into a deep structural crisis that aggravates the socio-economic conditions of the popular masses, causing acute food insecurity affecting nearly 4 million 500 thousand Haitians and Haitians. These figures were published by the National Coordination for Food Security (CNSA) at the beginning of the year 2022. The galloping inflation exceeds 29% according to the latest figures published by the Haitian Institute of Statistics and Information Technology (IHSI) ) in 2022. This reality has resulted in a rise in the prices of basic necessities, and makes the difficult situation of the Haitian population even more vulnerable.
According to the IHSI, for the months of June and July 2022, food products representing more than 50% of the budget of Haitian families have increased by more than 2.2% at an annual rate of 30.7%. Local products increased by 21.8% in June 2022 compared to June 2021, while imported products showed a positive change of more than 40%. Also, the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) in its latest report reported that the rise in the prices of basic necessities due to insecurity could cause cases of acute malnutrition in the country, especially among children in the areas run by armed gangs, if the authorities concerned do nothing to improve the situation.
Based on these findings, the Defenders Plus Collective urges the government authorities to respect article 22 of the Haitian Constitution, which states: “The State recognizes the right of every citizen to decent housing, education, and food.” et à la sécurité sociale ». Moreover, the right to food is one of the fundamental human rights guaranteed by Article 11 of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, ratified by the Haitian State in 2012.
Therefore, every Haitian must be able to enjoy economic, social and cultural rights in order to ensure their well-being. The 1987 constitution obligates government authorities to work for the happiness of the Haitian people and the prosperity of the nation. To this effect, the Collective Defenders Plus asks the authorities concerned to take adequate measures in order to stop this food crisis which has already caused the accentuation of other harmful social phenomena in the country. The government authorities must in this sense, solve the problem of insecurity and indiscriminate violence in the country that affect the living conditions of the population.

Done at Port-au-Prince, on August 10, 2022

Chaïna ÉTIENNE
Director of Programs
Tel: 509 38 92 7055