The governments of Haiti and El Salvador must ensure that the deployment of Salvadoran military personnel respects human rights

Following clarification by Stéphane Dujarric, spokesperson for the United Nations Secretary-General, that the vast majority of Salvadoran military personnel recently deployed to Haiti are not part of the Gang Suppression Force (GSF), authorized by the UN Security Council, and therefore fall outside the mandate and monitoring mechanisms of the United Nations Support Office in Haiti (UNSOH), Ana Piquer, Amnesty International’s Americas Director, said:

“The Prime Minister of Haiti, Alix Didier Fils-Aimé, and the President of El Salvador, Nayib Bukele, must ensure that all operations conducted by Salvadoran forces in Haiti comply with international human rights law. The Haitian Prime Minister’s commitment not to tolerate violations must translate into effective safeguards. Both governments must make public the agreement governing the deployment and explain how they oversee the deployed forces, what rules govern the use of force, to whom they are accountable, and how people can report possible violations without fear of reprisals.”

The Prime Minister of Haiti, Alix Didier Fils-Aimé, and the President of El Salvador, Nayib Bukele, must ensure that all operations conducted by Salvadoran forces in Haiti comply with international human rights law.”

Ana Piquer, Amnesty International’s Americas Director

“The Haitian population has the right to live free from violence and fear. Security operations can exacerbate risks for communities already facing a profound humanitarian crisis, particularly when conducted near homes, schools and hospitals. Both governments must take effective measures to protect people’s lives and physical integrity, prevent forced displacement, and ensure access to food and medical care. Any use of force must comply with the principles of legality, necessity and proportionality. Protecting children, including those recruited by armed gangs, requires personnel trained in human rights, specific protocols and specialized care.”

“The authorities of both countries must ensure prompt, independent and impartial investigations into all allegations of human rights violations, bring those suspected of criminal responsibility to justice in fair trials, and provide reparations to victims. At the same time, the fate and whereabouts of the four Salvadoran military personnel missing since 18 October must be established and, if they are being held by an armed gang, they must be released immediately and unharmed. The response to gang violence must not replicate the abuses and impunity that have characterized previous interventions in Haiti.”

The response to gang violence must not replicate the abuses and impunity that have characterized previous interventions in Haiti.”

Ana Piquer, Amnesty International’s Americas Director

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