Attachments
Your excellency,
I hope this letter finds you well. I am writing to express Amnesty International’s deep concern regarding the announcement that Kenyan law enforcement officers may lead an “international specialised force” as requested by the Haitian government, to temporarily assist the Haitian National Police (HNP) in addressing insecurity caused by gang violence. We would like to bring to light some crucial issues that must be considered before endorsing the deployment of such a force in Haiti.
There is a troubling history of abuses and impunity associated with past multinational or foreign interventions in Haiti, including the cholera epidemic, sexual exploitation and abuse without accountability, and excessive use of force. The lack of accountability and access to justice for victims of these abuses is alarming. Any deployment of foreign security forces must include clear, mandatory and enforceable parameters to prevent the unlawful use of force, negligence resulting in harm to local populations, and any other abuses by any individuals deployed as part of any multinational effort; these must also include clear measures to protect individuals against sexual exploitation and abuse. Mechanisms for safeguarding the rights of local populations and providing accessible and effective remedies for victims, including for sexual exploitation and abuse (and care for any resulting children), must be in place prior to any deployment.
Furthermore, the human rights record of any security force deployed to help bring stability to Haiti should be closely assessed. Accordingly, we emphasize the importance of examining the human rights track record of Kenyan security forces in full before endorsing their deployment to Haiti. Amnesty International has recently condemned the continued unlawful use of force against protestors by Kenyan police in the country.
The use of excessive and unnecessary force, including lethal force, by security forces in Kenya has led to increased deaths and injuries of both adults and children. Only recently, since March 2023 Amnesty International has documented at least 30 cases of police killings of protesters, including those during the anti-government protests on 20 and 27 March (12 killings), during the Saba Saba protest (12 killings), and on 19 July (6 killings). These deaths have been attributed to suffocation from tear gas and lethal shootings.
Furthermore, preliminary investigations have revealed that the police have used beatings, arbitrary arrests and detention of protestors, and the indiscriminate and disproportionate use of tear gas and water cannons, among other serious human rights violations to police the protests.
Amnesty International and 14 other partner organizations in Kenya under the banner of Missing Voices continue to document Kenya's police history of extrajudicial killings and enforced disappearances. For example, in 2021 and 2022, a total of 371 people were reported to have been killed or disappeared in the custody of the police.
Additionally, the human rights crisis Haiti has been experiencing has caused thousands of Haitians to flee the country and look for sanctuary in countries in the Americas. However, instead of providing them with the international protection they are entitled to, governments across the region have been implementing mass deportations and racist policies. A responsible and human response to Haitians looking for safety needs to be put in place in the Americas concurrent to any discussion about increasing stability in the country. No Haitian national should be sent back to the country or to any place where they could be at real risk of serious human rights violations. Instead, they must receive access to protection without discrimination, including fair and individualized assessments for refugee status, and other pathways to regularize their status, in accordance with international human rights standards.
Finally, any consideration regarding the possible deployment of stabilization support, in addition to establishing in advance the safeguards proposed above, should also at minimum go through a meaningful consultation with Haitian civil society and adopt policies and practices that support a Haitian-led solution for long-term stability in the country. The international community should support Haitian efforts to address roots causes of the violence.
We strongly urge you to take these concerns into account when considering endorsing the deployment of the proposed force. Protection of human rights should always be at the forefront of any decision-making process.
Yours sincerely,
Renzo Pomi Amnesty International Representative at the United Nations