new york –
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau called on world leaders to come together to develop a serious and immediate plan to meet the humanitarian needs of the Haitian people as the Caribbean nation continues to be plagued by gang violence, hunger and political instability.
“We have to make sure that a better, brighter future is provided for everyone, especially the next generation of Haitians,” Trudeau said Monday at a high-level meeting of the U.N. advisory group on Haiti.
The speech came after bilateral talks between Trudeau and his country’s acting prime minister, Garry Conilles.
Conille took over the role earlier this year after Ariel Henry was fired amid escalating unrest and violence perpetrated by criminal gangs that have seized control of large parts of the Haitian capital.
UN Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed said gangs are sowing chaos and making vulnerable communities more vulnerable to prey. A June UN report said some 580,000 people have been forced from their homes and the country faces severe shortages of food, water, shelter and health care.
Haiti last held elections in 2016. The country recently took the first step toward holding new elections by establishing a transitional electoral council. During his meeting with Trudeau on Monday, Conille said Haiti is preparing for elections, possibly in 2026.
Trudeau called on other world leaders to support the transitional government while warning that the status quo cannot continue, and repeated calls he has made over the past two years to impose sanctions on Haiti’s political and business elite for backing gangs that are fomenting anarchy.
Trudeau also said Kenya needed more support for police officers in leading the global effort to eradicate gangs. Kenya leads a controversial international mission in Haiti that the United Nations says is needed to stem violence and curb the flow of weapons to other Caribbean countries.
Foreign Affairs Minister Melanie Joly said Canada was focused on responding to the ongoing humanitarian, security and political crisis but had no plans to send troops to the area, adding that Canada would continue to provide financial support.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau attends a bilateral meeting with UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres at UN Headquarters on Sunday, Sept. 22, 2024. The Canadian Press/Sean Kilpatrick
“What’s happening in Haiti is obviously tragic,” Jolie said. “We see the numbers, we see too many innocent children, innocent women, innocent men facing hunger, real hunger problems.”
Canada’s U.N. Ambassador Bob Rae said there have been positive developments recently, but the situation remains shocking during a visit to Haiti a few weeks ago.
“The situation is bad, very bad,” said Ray, who attended Monday’s meeting with Trudeau.
The Prime Minister also met with Nobel Peace Prize laureate Malala Yousafzai before attending a lunch hosted by German Chancellor Olaf Scholz.
On Monday afternoon, Trudeau will make his first appearance as a guest on CBS’ “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert” and will be delivering a very different type of conversation.
Trudeau arrived in New York on Sunday to speak at the Future Summit, where he said leaders could choose to stick with the status quo or come together to face global challenges.
The goal of the summit is to reform the UN, revitalize multilateralism and find solutions to new challenges, such as Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the war in Gaza and the civil war in Sudan, which have left international organisations struggling to resolve conflicts and primarily stalled humanitarian work.
The Future Pact, a 42-page blueprint for addressing a wide range of global challenges in the 21st century, was approved during the opening session of a two-day summit ahead of the 78th UN General Assembly.
The agreement had faced strong opposition from Russia, Saudi Arabia and other countries, who opposed some of the language on issues such as climate change and reform of international financial institutions.
Its fate remained in doubt until the last moment, with UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric saying Secretary-General Antonio Guterres was preparing three speeches for any outcome.
“International challenges are moving faster than our ability to solve them,” Mr. Guterres warned last week. The agreement’s passage offered some optimism at a time when rising geopolitical instability around the world cast a pall over the General Assembly.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is due to address a special session of the UN Security Council on Tuesday about Russia’s continued aggression in the country. Russia is a permanent member of the Security Council and has strongly criticised its aggression in Ukraine as a violation of the UN Charter.
Jolie will deliver a national statement for Canada at the UN General Assembly in a speech that will highlight “Canada’s commitment to advancing multilateral cooperation, human rights, democracy and the rule of law,” according to a news release from her office.
“In a time of so many global crises, the world needs a strong, effective and modern United Nations,” Jolie said in a statement.
“I am confident that through constructive dialogue, common learning, and joint problem-solving at this year’s[UN General Assembly]we can work together effectively to address some of the most important issues of our time.”
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 23, 2024.
With files from The Associated Press and Dylan Robertson in Ottawa
