Recommended by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in 1989 and adopted by the United Nations General Assembly in December 1990, July 11th is designated as World Population Day. Its primary objective is to emphasize the urgency and importance of population issues. While it is true that all populations in the world face problems, the situation of the Haitian population is dire. It faces challenges related to food, migration, insecurity, housing, and various other issues that characterize the violation of human rights. On this occasion, the Defenseurs Plus collective calls for the implementation of a set of public policies to assist the population.

In terms of food, over 4.9 million Haitians are experiencing food insecurity according to a report by the organization Plan International published in March 2023. As for the situation of internally displaced persons due to insecurity, the numbers continue to increase. One of the latest surveys on the situation of these displaced persons is from the International Organization for Migration, which mentions 113,000 displaced persons for the period from June to August 2022. These numbers continue to rise when considering the evolving situation in areas such as Carrefour Feuilles (Fouchard, Caridad, Fort Mercredi, and Decahette) where camps have been established, including the Collège l’Essentiel and Thomazeau in the north of the capital.

The most affected regions by this situation are the departments of the West and Artibonite. In relation to the situation of the newly displaced persons from Croix-des-Bouquets and Thomazeau, the Defenseurs Plus collective appeals for vigilance regarding the “Bwa kale” movement, urging neighboring populations not to associate the displaced with gangs. In addition to these challenges on World Population Day, we must also consider issues of gender equality, the absence of a population policy, access to public services (electricity, healthcare, clean water, education), vulnerability to natural disasters, land planning problems, the situation of children, and the massive migration of Haitians abroad.

Considering the situation in which the Haitian population operates, where everything is urgent, the Defenseurs Plus collective calls on the population to fight for the respect of their rights. Simultaneously, it urges the current authorities to fulfill their legal obligations regarding the respect of human rights, as dignity is inherent to every member of the population.

Created in Port-au-Prince, on July 11, 2023

Frimens Deverson DUVAL,Communications Assistant

Phone: +509 37 16 35 26