Remarks by the President of the General Assembly
Mr. Philémon Yang
at the ECOSOC Special Meeting on Haiti:
“Haiti’s Children Cannot Wait: Supporting Stability, Resilience and Prosperity in Haiti”
Monday, 2 December 2024
[As Delivered]
Excellencies,
Ladies and gentlemen,
I commend the Economic and Social Council for convening this meeting and for highlighting the plight of children and young people in Haiti.
I also recognize the efforts of the Economic and Social Council Ad Hoc Advisory Group on Haiti.
Their work in addressing the root causes of instability and the humanitarian crisis is vital.
Excellencies,
The escalation of violence in Haiti since February is deeply concerning.
Armed gangs are committing killings, kidnappings, sexual violence, and human rights abuses.
Illicit trafficking and diversion of arms and ammunition to armed gangs in Haiti are only fueling these criminal activities.
These crimes have spread fear and instability. Young people are especially at risk.
Children in Haiti face overlapping crises. They endure violence, hunger, malnutrition, and poverty.
According to the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), 365,000 children have been displaced by armed violence.
Nearly 400,000 are now denied their right to education, with 1,000 schools closed due to insecurity.
Many schools have been turned into shelters for displaced families. This denies children not only education but also a safe, structured environment.
It also exposes them to risks of recruitment by armed groups and sexual violence.
Deprived of their homes, protection, schooling, and opportunities, these children are robbed of their childhood and future.
This cannot be allowed to continue.
The need to protect and advance the rights of children and young people has long been universally recognized.
This commitment is evident in the convention on the Rights of Children, which is the most widely ratified human rights treaty to date.
In the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and most recently, in the Pact for the Future, I hope this special meeting will lead to more international support and resources for a swift response.
It is our collective and urgent responsibility to ensure Haiti’s children and youth have hope for a better future.
Children and young people are not just victims of crises.
They are also critical contributors to peace, security, sustainable development and human rights. Their potential must be protected and nurtured.
Let us do our utmost to ensure that the children of Haiti are not abandoned to a future of fear and despair, but instead embraced by a global commitment to peace, opportunity, and dignity.
I thank you.
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