- "The High Transitional Council is the body tasked with preparing the long-overdue elections," she said in a statement shared by the UN.
- Haiti Prime Minister Ariel Henry said his administration is a transitional government until elections can be held.
Image: THE UNITED NATIONS
The United Nations Special Representative in Haiti María Isabel Salvador has said the crimes in the Caribbean country have reached a new record high.
While making a presentation to the UN Security Council, Salvador said the situation has continued to deteriorate as gang violence grows.
Shen noted the recent event when the head of the High Transitional Council was kidnapped in daylight by gang members who allegedly dressed as police officers.
"The High Transitional Council is the agency tasked with preparing the long-overdue elections," she said in a statement shared by the UN.
Salvador added that killings, sexual violence, including collective rape and mutilation crimes continue to be perpetrated by gangs every day.
"This is in the context of ineffective service support for victims, or a robust justice response. The layer of complexity added to the security crisis by the vigilante groups remains," she added.
Salvador noted that between April 24 and September 30, the UN offices in Haiti (BINUH) registered the lynching of at least 395 alleged gang members popularly known as the “Bwa Kale” vigilante movement.
The revelation comes even as the country has a pending election in which Haiti Prime Minister Ariel Henry said his administration is a transitional government until elections can be held.
Henry has publicly committed to measures that include the enlargement of the High Transitional Council, a more politically diverse cabinet, and the establishment of the Provisional Electoral Council.
"A majority of actors must engage in constructive and meaningful negotiations to overcome the current political stalemate and move forward towards allowing the holding of inclusive, credible, and participatory elections as soon as security conditions permit," Salvador noted.
Inspector General of Police Japhet Koome had earlier this month announced the first group of police officers to be deployed to Haiti has kicked off a strenuous training in Kenya.
The group of about 200 officers was sent to Nandi Hills.
Officials aware of the developments said the team would later move to Magadi, Isiolo, Kitui, and later in Embakasi before being sent to the mission.