标签： Haiti

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti – In a significant move to strengthen democratic processes, Haiti’s Ministry of Women’s Affairs and Women’s Rights (MCFDF) convened a pivotal departmental conference on December 4th, 2025, at the Hotel Montana. The gathering, themed “No Democracy or Elections Without Women: Zero Violence!” (“Pa gen demokrasi ni Eleksyon San Fanm: Zewo Vyolans!”), marks the beginning of a nationwide campaign to empower Haitian women in the political arena and address systemic barriers to their participation.

Minister Pedrica Saint Jean delivered a powerful address, asserting that Haiti’s democratic renewal is inextricably linked to women’s inclusion. “There is no democracy without women,” she declared, framing the conference’s mission to conduct a departmental assessment, document instances of electoral violence, gather local testimonies, mobilize community stakeholders, and develop context-specific solutions.

The Minister highlighted numerous persistent challenges facing women in politics, including intimidation campaigns, physical and psychological threats, digital harassment, and systematic marginalization within political party structures. These obstacles, she noted, not only suppress female representation but fundamentally weaken the nation’s democratic foundations.

International support was evident through UN Women Representative Marie Goretti Ndwayo, who commended Haitian women’s resilience amid political and security crises. She reinforced that women’s political engagement serves as a critical catalyst for national progress.

Electoral Advisor Yves Marie Édouard and Minister Delegate for Electoral and Constitutional Issues Joseph André Gracien Jean both emphasized the necessity of enhancing security measures to create safe environments for women’s political involvement, free from fear of violence or coercion.

The conference featured expert panels delving into themes of political participation and electoral violence, followed by interactive workshops where participants shared experiences and formulated actionable recommendations. This inaugural West Department meeting initiates a series of ten departmental conferences scheduled to conclude on December 10th, culminating in a National General Assembly on women’s political participation in Les Cayes from December 12-14.

In a significant diplomatic move on December 4th, 2025, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio issued a compelling appeal for international collaboration to address the ongoing crisis in Haiti. Speaking at a high-profile signing ceremony at the State Department attended by Kenyan President William Ruto, Rubio urged nations across Latin America and the global community to contribute substantively to the Gang Suppression Force (GSF) initiative.

This multinational security effort operates under the mandate of United Nations Security Council Resolution 2793, which was formally adopted on September 30, 2025. Rubio characterized Kenya’s involvement as demonstrating ‘an extraordinary, truly heroic role’ in stabilization attempts, setting a benchmark for international participation.

The Secretary of State emphasized that unilateral efforts would prove insufficient, stating ‘We understand and believe they cannot do it by themselves.’ He explicitly called for both financial contributions and personnel deployments from partner nations, framing the situation as a test of global commitment to Haitian stability. Rubio quantified the need by suggesting that if five to ten countries committed resources equivalent to half of Kenya’s contribution, it would represent ‘an extraordinary achievement.’

This appeal marks a strategic pivot in international approach to the Haitian crisis, transitioning from planning to operational implementation phases with heightened urgency for multilateral cooperation.

In response to a recent fatal shooting incident in Washington D.C. involving an Afghan national, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services has enacted stringent new screening protocols targeting foreign nationals from 19 designated high-risk countries. The comprehensive policy shift empowers immigration officers to evaluate country-specific risk factors during case reviews, marking a significant hardening of U.S. immigration vetting procedures.

The newly designated nations subject to enhanced scrutiny include Afghanistan, Burma, Chad, Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Yemen, Burundi, Cuba, Laos, Sierra Leone, Togo, Turkmenistan, and Venezuela. This directive builds upon previous immigration restrictions established during the Trump administration’s initial term.

USCIS Director Joseph Edlow emphasized the security imperative behind these measures: ‘My fundamental duty involves ensuring exhaustive vetting and screening processes for all foreign nationals. This necessitates thorough evaluation of their origins and motivations. Recent tragic events have highlighted concerning vulnerabilities in our previous screening frameworks.’

The updated guidelines specifically authorize immigration officials to consider nation-specific circumstances as potentially adverse factors during case evaluations. Critical considerations include assessing countries’ capacities to produce reliable identification documents and maintain adequate record-keeping systems.

This policy enhancement reinforces the implementation of Presidential Proclamation 10949, which restricts entry of foreign nationals deemed potential threats to national security and public safety. The directive took immediate effect upon announcement, applying to all pending and new applications filed from November 27, 2025 onward.