Mr. Ivan Šimonović, Assistant Secretary-General for Human Rights, will conduct a visit of 4 days in Haiti from Wednesday, to inquire about the challenges related to human rights, with the Government, United Nations officials, the international community and civil society.

Last year, the President Martelly declared that Haiti was "open for business", thus signaling the reframing towards the socio-economic development in the long term. The Government has since identified the employment, education, energy, environment and the rule of law as priorities.

"At a time when Haiti concentrates its efforts on the eradication of poverty and on the socio-economic development, it is essential to tackle the structural challenges of human rights in order to achieve the desired results for the benefit of all Haitians," declared Mr. Šimonović," I am happy to see that the rule of law is one of the priorities of the Government."

Among the representatives of the Government, Mr. Šimonović plans to meet during his stay : the Prime Minister Laurent Lamothe, Dieuseul Desras Simon, President of the Senate, Levaillant Louis Jeune, the President of the Lower House, as well as officials from the United Nations Mission for Stabilization in Haiti (Minustah), the Country Team of the United Nations system and representatives of the diplomatic corps and civil society.

HL/ HaitiLibre