Haiti
Cluster Munition Ban Policy
Summary
Haiti has promised to ratify the convention on several occasions since it signed in 2009. It has voted in favor of key United Nations (UN) resolutions promoting the convention, most recently in December 2020. Haiti has attended several meetings of the convention as an observer state, most recently in September 2019. Haiti is not known to have used, produced, transferred, or stockpiled cluster munitions.
Policy
The Republic of Haiti signed the Convention on Cluster Munitions on 28 October 2009.
Since then, Haiti has pledged to ratify the convention on several occasions.[1] In September 2019, Haiti told States Parties that its national parliament was considering a draft decree to approve ratification of the convention.[2] The proposal was submitted to the legislature before 2017.[3]
Haiti did not participate in the Oslo Process that created the Convention on Cluster Munitions but signed the convention on 28 October 2009.
Haiti has attended several meetings of the convention, most recently the Ninth Meeting of States Parties in Geneva in September 2019.[4] It participated in a regional workshop of the convention in St. George’s, Grenada in March 2020. Haiti was invited to, but did not attend the first part of the Second Review Conference held virtually in November 2020.
In December 2020, Haiti voted in favor of a UN General Assembly (UNGA) resolution that urges states outside the convention to “join as soon as possible.”[5] Haiti has voted in favor of the annual UNGA resolution promoting implementation of the convention since 2016.[6]
Haiti has also voted in favor of UNGA resolutions expressing outrage at the use of cluster munitions in Syria, most recently in December 2020.[7]
Haiti is party to the Mine Ban Treaty. It is not party to the Convention on Conventional Weapons (CCW).
Use, production, transfer, and stockpiling
Haiti is not known to have used, produced, transferred, or stockpiled cluster munitions.
[1] In 2012, the Senate president said that the National Assembly was considering ratification of the convention. “Haïti – Politique: Assemblée Nationale en vue de ratifier des accords internationaux” (“Haiti – Politics: National Assembly to ratify international agreements”), Haiti Libre, 30 January 2012.
[2] Statement of Haiti, Convention on Cluster Munitions Ninth Meeting of States Parties, Geneva, 2 September 2019.
[3] “Aujourd’hui, ma délégation est en mesure de confirmer que le projet de décret de ratification de la Convention sur les armes à sous-munitions a été soumis à l’appréciation du pouvoir législatif.” (“Today, my delegation is able to confirm that the draft decree ratifying the Convention on Cluster Munitions has been submitted for consideration to for consideration”). Statement of Haiti, Convention on Cluster Munitions Seventh Meeting of States Parties, Geneva, 4 September 2017. Official audio recording, UN Digital Recordings Portal.
[4] Haiti participated in the convention’s meetings of States Parties in 2013, 2014, and 2017.
[5] “Implementation of the Convention on Cluster Munitions,” UNGA Resolution 75/62, 7 December 2020.
[6] Haiti was absent from the vote on the first UNGA resolution on the convention in 2015.
[7] “Situation of human rights in the Syrian Arab Republic,” UNGA Resolution 75/193, 16 December 2020.