Crisis in Haiti
The Haitian population still lives in fear several months after the uprising in Haiti which resulted in the departure of former President Jean-Bertrand Aristide. Armed groups continue active throughout the country, convicted human rights abusers remain at large and the proliferation of arms is widespread. The arrival in June of the United Nations Stabilization Mission, MINUSTAH, with a mandate that includes assisting the Haitian police in disarming all armed groups, protecting the civilian population and helping rebuild the administration of justice represents a major opportunity, and perhaps a last chance, to break the cycle of violence and impunity that has plagued the Caribbean republic for so many years. [more]