The United Nations in Haiti, including agencies, funds and programs and the United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH), celebrate this Saturday, October 24 the 70th anniversary of the creation of the United Nations (UN) . On this occasion, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon stressed that, seventy years after its creation, the UN "remains a beacon for all mankind." The United Nations "Work for all of the 7 billion people that make up the human family, and takes care of the earth, our only home," he added, praising "the dedication of those who made the supreme sacrifice in the exercise of their functions ".

"The UN is grateful of status acquired by Haiti as the first free black republic in the world, founding member State and its crucial support to the adoption of the Universal Charter of Human Rights to, and will continue to accompany the Haitian people on the realization of these universal human values," indicated the Special Representative of the Secretary-General of the United Nations, Sandra Honoré.

United Nations family works in this regard to support the Haitian authorities in their efforts, including the promotion and respect of the human rights, good governance, security, the fight against extreme poverty, equality equality, full employment, sustained economic growth and promote the rights to education, health, food safety, justice, energy, social protection, and the potable water and to a healthy environment.

The UN team in Haiti supports the Government of Haiti in its recent commitment to the 17 Sustainable Development Goals 2030 (SDGs), unanimously adopted September 25, 2015 by over 150 countries at the UN Summit on Sustainable Development.

As such, the UN congratulate for the significant progress in relation to some Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) on which the SDGs are based, including the increase in the enrollment rate, which rose from 50% in 1990 to 90% in 2015, as well as the achieving of gender parity in education. By noting these positive examples, the UN team also encourages and supports the Government of Haiti in its efforts to tackle even complex challenges related to SDGs.

The SDGs program is even more ambitious than the MDGs, because it not only aims to reduce poverty, it aims to eliminate it. It also includes more demanding objectives in terms of health, education and gender equality while focusing on five transversal pillars: People, Planet, Prosperity, Peace and Partnership.

SDGs thus face problems that are not addressed by the MDGs, such as climate change, sustainable consumption, innovation, and justice, and a culture of peace which remain priorities in the UN agencies in Haiti and activities of the Mission for Stabilization in Haiti (Minustah).

IH/ iciHaiti