SG calls Latin, Carribbean leaders to support Haiti to combat gang violence

Anjali Sharma  

GG News Bureau
UNITED NATIONS, 2nd March. UN head António Guterres on Friday called for greater support for an international mission to help Haiti combat gang violence during his remarks at the  Community of Latin American and Caribbean States regional summit in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines.

Saint Vincent and the Grenadines is hosting the summit of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States which comprises over 30 countries.

Mr. Guterres urged the bloc meeting “to help foster solutions for the region and for the world”, highlighted the need for solidarity in the areas of peace and security, sustainable development, social cohesion and climate action

“Latin America and the Caribbean have shown how uniting for peace is possible and makes a difference,” he said.

He pointed to the “significant strides” made in the peace process in Colombia and the joint declaration signed recently by Guyana and Venezuela aimed at reducing border tensions.

Guterres noted that organized crime continues to plague many countries.

“Arms trafficking has become the most important security threat to the region,” he said.

“It will not be possible to fight it effectively without much stronger international cooperation, from the source to the streets.”

He praised the security partnership launched recently by Andean countries to assist Ecuador, while the new Government in Guatemala “offers a chance to advance democratic development, the rule of law and other key aspects of the peace agenda.”

SG warned that the dire situation in Haiti is getting worse by the day, as gangs hold the country hostage and use sexual violence as a weapon.

UN Security Council authorized a multinational security support mission to back-up the national police, which Kenya has offered to lead.

Several countries, including CELAC members, made additional pledges of support during an event on the sidelines of the G20 meeting in Brazil last week.

“I welcome these efforts, but much more must be done to secure the deployment of this mission without further delay and a political solution that could resolve the country’s fundamental problems,” he said.

He also addressed sustainable development and reported that efforts to achieve a more just and equitable global future are in danger.

Guterres said millions in the region are facing hunger and poverty, and as many countries are drowning in debt.

He cited that world leaders endorsed his proposal for $500 billion in annual financing to boost sustainable development but “unfortunately, the resistance has been severe”.

Guterres expressed hope that the Summit of the Future at UN Headquarters this September will make progress towards reforming “a global financial architecture that is unfair, outdated and ineffective”.

He arrived in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines on Thursday.

SG expressed solidarity with small island developing States who are on the frontlines of the fight against climate change at a press conference in the capital, Kingstown.

He appealed for greater action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, which he said “is essentially a responsibility of the G20 countries” as these richer nations are the main polluters.

“But, we need much more climate justice, which means much more finance available at reasonable cost for adaptation and mitigation for developing countries and in particular for small island developing States,” he added.