The Défenseurs Plus collective acknowledges the publication of the presidential decree establishing the National Conference and its Steering Committee composed of 8 Haitian political and civil society figures. This represents an ambitious initiative aimed at addressing the multidimensional crises that the country has been facing for over 30 years. However, it is important to note a lack of clarity in some of the objectives of the national conference and a lack of legitimacy of the members of its steering committee, who were reportedly chosen without consultation with the country’s social and political actors. It is essential for the steering committee to demonstrate its commitment to inclusivity and transparency in order to gain the trust of the population, which, since 1987, has been waiting for mechanisms to establish a participatory democracy that can put Haiti on the path to sustainable development.

Indeed, according to the presidential decree published on July 25, 2024, the steering committee is responsible for overseeing the organization of the National Conference, developing the internal regulations, and ensuring the implementation of the adopted reforms. The committee is also tasked with setting up a participatory forum to bring together the various actors of Haitian civil society in order to develop and adopt resolutions tailored to the country’s governance challenges and socioeconomic problems. The two main objectives of the national conference mentioned by the leaders of the bicephalous executive are “the development of a new social project for Haiti” and “the revision of the 1987 Constitution in force.” How can the interim executive, without popular legitimacy, address these two major projects without real citizen participation in a context of political crisis?

While the presidential decrees establishing the National Conference and creating its Steering Committee, published on July 19 and 25, 2024, respectively, are a promising initiative to address the crises in Haiti, their success will depend on the ability of stakeholders to overcome the challenges related to the political crisis. Given the political mistrust observed in the country, the Défenseurs Plus collective believes that setting up such a conference and developing valid resolutions can be long and complex processes, requiring the involvement of everyone. The success of this initiative will largely depend on the available resources and the ability of executive leaders to engage in dialogue with all actors in Haitian society and to take into account recommendations from a process of ongoing consultation.

The Défenseurs Plus collective highlights that the steering committee for the national conference established by the government does not sufficiently reflect the diversity of Haitian society in terms of geography, ideology, and politics. Additionally, there are major concerns about the political affiliations of some members of the committee, which could hinder the process. It is legitimate to worry that these political affiliations could influence the committee’s decisions and compromise the impartiality of its actions. These various observations highlight the challenges the Steering Committee could face in its mission to oversee the work of the National Conference and its technical secretariat. Furthermore, the Défenseurs Plus collective emphasizes the non-publication of the political agreement of April 3, 2023, which should serve as a compass for the interim executive.

To address these major challenges, the Défenseurs Plus collective recommends that the Presidential Transition Council and the Provisional Government of the Republic establish a process of continuous and inclusive consultations in order to legitimize their political and administrative decisions. They also call for citizen vigilance from all social and political organizations in the country and the Haitian community abroad to properly conduct the National Conference process, safeguarding democratic and conventional gains during this period of political change.

Done in Port-au-Prince, July 29, 2024.

Antonal MORTIME

Co- director