分类： world

Human Rights Watch has called for the United Nations Security Council to urgently authorize a comprehensive international peacekeeping mission in Haiti to address the escalating violence fueled by criminal factions. The organization stresses the critical need for adequate funding, personnel, and robust human rights protections to ensure the mission’s effectiveness. Criminal groups have expanded their control beyond Port-au-Prince, intensifying violence in previously safer regions and severely disrupting access to essential services and humanitarian aid. The UN has reported over 3,137 fatalities in the first half of 2025, with nearly 1.5 million people displaced and half the population facing severe food insecurity. Currently, the Security Council is considering transforming the Kenyan-led Multinational Security Support (MSS) mission into a more robust ‘Gang Suppression Force’ (GSF). The MSS, operational since June 2024, has been hindered by insufficient resources and personnel. Nathalye Cotrino, a senior researcher at Human Rights Watch, emphasized the urgency, stating, ‘Time is running out to stop Haiti from falling entirely into the hands of abusive criminal groups.’ She urged the UN to ensure any new force is properly staffed, funded, and equipped with human rights safeguards. The proposed GSF would comprise up to 5,500 personnel, including police, military, and civilians, and operate independently or alongside the Haitian National Police. A new UN Support Office in Haiti (UNSOH) would oversee the GSF, providing logistical and technical support. Human Rights Watch warned that without adequate resources and human rights protections, the GSF risks repeating the MSS’s shortcomings. The organization also called for strict vetting procedures, comprehensive human rights training, and an independent accountability mechanism involving Haitian civil society. Cotrino concluded, ‘It has been two years since Haitian authorities asked for international help, and so far, that help has fallen far short.’

In a landmark move during the 2025 United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), leaders of the Alliance of Small Island States (AOSIS) issued a historic declaration advocating for the recognition of the ‘Special Circumstances of Small Island Developing States (SIDS)’ as a principle of international law. Established in 1990, the 39-member alliance emphasized the urgent need for global acknowledgment of the unique challenges faced by small island nations, spanning the Caribbean, Pacific, African, Indian Ocean, and South China Sea regions. The declaration builds on long-standing efforts to address issues such as climate change, economic vulnerability, and environmental risks through international policies and frameworks. Dominica’s President, H.E. Sylvanie Burton, echoed these sentiments in her UNGA speech, calling for greater autonomy and support for small island territories. The declaration calls for concrete legal, financial, and institutional actions, including easier access to non-debt-creating financial aid, meaningful participation in global decision-making, and protection from disproportionate environmental and economic risks. Palau’s President Surangel Whipps Jr. highlighted the importance of recognizing these vulnerabilities, stating that treating small islands like larger nations undermines their ability to thrive and contradicts the international community’s pledge to leave no one behind. Belize’s Prime Minister John Briceño expressed strong support, calling the declaration a powerful affirmation of SIDS’ unique challenges. AOSIS leaders are urging the UN, international organizations, and financial institutions to integrate these principles into global frameworks, particularly those addressing climate change, biodiversity, pollution, and ocean governance. The declaration warns that failure to act could weaken fairness, undermine international efforts, and limit small islands’ participation in global decision-making.

Dominica has achieved a significant milestone in its aviation history with the introduction of its first nonstop flights to St. Thomas and San Juan, operated by Contour Airlines. Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit, speaking at the official welcome ceremony, emphasized the importance of this new service, which fulfills a long-standing request from residents of St. Thomas for direct connectivity to Dominica. The flights will operate between Cyril E. King Airport in St. Thomas and Douglas–Charles Airport in Dominica, with additional routes linking Dominica to Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport in San Juan, Puerto Rico. Skerrit urged travelers to prioritize these flights to ensure their sustainability, stating, ‘Contour Airlines is here to stay, but their success depends on us filling those seats.’ Acting Tourism Minister Chekira Lockhart-Hypolite highlighted the broader implications of this development, noting that it enhances Dominica’s global connectivity and supports its tourism-driven economy. ‘This service is more than a new flight; it’s a step toward a more inclusive and interconnected Dominica,’ she said. Ben Munson, President of Contour Airlines, expressed optimism about the service’s potential, citing strong initial bookings and the strategic importance of these routes in bridging Dominica with key markets in the Caribbean and North America. The flight schedule includes three weekly nonstop services to St. Thomas and four weekly flights to San Juan, marking a new era of accessibility and opportunity for Dominica.