Situation of human rights in Haiti

1990/56. Situation of human rights in Haiti

The Commission on Human Rights, Guided by the principles embodied in the Charter of the United Nations, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the International Covenants on Human Rights, Reaffirming that the Governments of all States Members of the United Nations are required to promote and protect human rights and fundamental freedoms, Alarmed by the proliferation of acts of violence in Haiti, particularly against arrested or detained persons, and by the apparent inability of the Haitian judicial system to put an end to such acts, Observing that the human rights situation in Haiti remains disturbing and even seems to have deteriorated since July 1989, particularly in rural areas, Noting that the state of siege introduced on 20 January 1990 was lifted on 30 January and that a general amnesty for prisoners detained for attacks on the security of the State was announced on 7 February, but that many persons remain imprisoned or exiled and that, particularly because of the threats to their security, Haitians are not able to express their opinions freely and to participate under satisfactory conditions in the preparation of elections, Taking account of the report of the Expert appointed by the Secretary-General, Mr. Philippe Texier, (E/CN.4/1990/44 and Add.1),

1. Expresses its appreciation to the Expert for his report and for the way in which he has discharged his mandate;

2. Welcomes the co-operation extended by the Haitian authorities to the expert during his visit to Haiti from 25 July to 3 August 1989;

3. Notes, however, that the Haitian authorities have not acted upon the assistance proposals which the Expert submitted to them under the advisory services programme;

4. Expresses the hope that the Haitian authorities will ensure that elections are held as scheduled and in appropriate conditions of honesty and security, under the supervision of impartial observers;

5. Requests the Haitian authorities to proceed forthwith to take the necessary measures to enable exiled opponents to return and to ensure their security, so that they can participate in preparing the elections;

6. Invites the Government of Haiti to bring back into force the full Constitution of 29 March 1987, which was adopted in a referendum by an overwhelming majority;

7. Also invites the Government of Haiti to expedite the investigation into the principal massacres, particularly those of 29 November 1987 and 11 September 1988, and to bring those responsible to trial;

8. Further invites the Government of Haiti to ratify the International Covenants and international conventions on human rights, in accordance with its undertaking of December 1988;

9. Requests the Chairman of the Commission on Human Rights to appoint an independent expert to examine developments in the human rights situation in Haiti and to help to devise measures capable of making the necessary improvements;

10. Calls upon the Haitian authorities to co-operate fully with the independent expert;

11. Requests the Secretary-General to provide the independent Expert with all necessary assistance in performing his task;

12. Requests the independent expert to report to the Commission at its forty-seventh session on developments in the human rights situation in Haiti;

13. Decides to consider the report of the independent Expert at its forty-seventh session under the agenda item "Question of the violation of human rights and fundamental freedoms in any part of the world, with particular reference to colonial and other dependent countries and territories".

53rd meeting
7 March 1990
[Adopted without a vote. See chap. XXII.]