In a note, Sandra Honoré, the Special Representative of the Secretary-General of the United Nations in Haiti, deplores in the strongest terms the repeated use of violence during the demonstrations of recent days which caused the death of a Haitian citizen this November 20, in circumstances to be determined https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-15841-haiti-news-electoral-zapping.html wounded, including presidential candidates, on 18 November https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-15822-haiti-news-electoral-zapping.html as well as material damage caused to private property. https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-15841-haiti-news-electoral-zapping.html

"Freedom of peaceful protest and freedom of expression are civil and political rights guaranteed by international conventions, enshrined in the Haitian Constitution and supported by law."

Sandra Honoré strongly condemns the acts of violence and reiterates that "efforts should be made by all actors of national life in order to avoid any recourse to violence, intimidation of all kinds, defamation or acts that can contribute to the infringement of individuals rights and private or public property, in exercise of the right to demonstrate and freedom of opinion."

Emphasizing that in the context of strengthening the rule of law "it is up to the Haitian authorities to take the necessary measures to ensure that the right to peaceful protest is respected, that investigations are conducted promptly and that those responsible of violence are prosecuted and tried in accordance with the law."

Renewing the call for dialogue and respect for legal prescribed, the Special Representative of the Secretary-General of the United Nations in Haiti added that "it is also up to Haitians citizens to reject violence in all its forms in general and especially in the current electoral process, crucial for the consolidation of democracy and stability, only conditions for the development of the country and the respect for socio-economic rights of each and all."

HL/ HaitiLibre