Human rights in Haiti : resolution / adopted by the General Assembly

The General Assembly,

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 all Member States are required to promote and protect human rights and to comply with the obligations laid down in the various instruments in this field,

Taking note of Commission on Human Rights resolution 1991/77 of 6 March 1991 on the situation of human rights in Haiti,

Deeply concerned at the grave events occurring in Haiti since 29 September 1991, which abruptly and violently interrupted the democratic process in that country and have resulted in the violation of human rights and the loss of human lives,

Concerned also at the current mass exodus of Haitian nationals from the country because of the deteriorating political and economic situation since 29 September 1991,

Noting the unanimous declaration on the situation of the displaced Haitians, adopted by the Permanent Council of the Organization of American States on 22 November 1991, and the subsequent dispatch by the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights of an investigating team to Haiti on 4 December 1991,

1.         Reaffirms its resolution 46/7 of 11 October 1991 concerning the situation of democracy and human rights in Haiti;

2.         Strongly condemns the overthrow of the constitutionally elected President, Jean-Bertrand Aristide, and the use of violence and military coercion and the subsequent violation of human rights in that country;

3.         Condemns also the flagrant human rights violations committed under the illegal Government set up following the coup of 29 September 1991, particularly summary executions, arbitrary arrests and detentions, torture, searches without warrant, rape, ransacking of private and public buildings, restrictions on the freedoms of movement, expression, assembly and association and the repression of popular demonstrations calling for the return of President Jean-Bertrand Aristide;

4.         Expresses its appreciation to the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees for the work it is doing in favour of the Haitian nationals fleeing the country and invites Member States to continue giving financial and material support for these efforts;

5.         Calls the attention of the international community to the fate of the Haitian nationals who are fleeing the country and requests its support for the efforts undertaken to assist them;

6.         Requests the Commission on Human Rights at its forty-eighth session to consider the report of the independent expert appointed by the Secretary-General to review the situation of human rights in Haiti, and invites the independent expert to submit an updated report to the Commission in the light of the events of 29 September 1991 and subsequent developments.