The human rights and humanitarian situation in Haiti are bleak. The country’s current challenges have their roots in historical and political events, the effects of which have been compounded by a host of health and environmental crises as well as profound security challenges. The humanitarian needs of Haiti’s population are deep and wide-ranging, touching on the most basic necessities, including food, water, shelter and security. While millions of people in the country face extreme poverty, street gangs run rampant and wield considerable influence over the unelected government. Haiti has been described as a failed state on the brink of civil war.

While the international community has taken note, meaningful measures to help the country in the long-term have yet to be taken. Part of the challenge is that years of colonialism and foreign influence have had a major impact on the current situation, leaving the population deeply distrustful, or at least deeply divided, on the appropriateness and form of foreign intervention.

It is for this reason that on 23 September 2022, the Subcommittee on International Human Rights of the House of Commons Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Development (the Subcommittee) agreed to conduct a study on the human rights situation in the Republic of Haiti. It held three meetings on this topic and heard from 14 witnesses, including members of the Haitian diaspora in Canada, academics and civil society groups from both Haiti and Canada.