Claude Joseph the Minister of Foreign Affairs chairs the Haitian delegation which participates by videoconference in the 71st Session of the Executive Committee of the Program of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) which takes place from October 5 to 9, 2020.

During a speech, Chancellor Joseph made a point of highlighting the negative impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on the economies of member states, national health and social protection systems with a significant increase in migratory flows.

He insisted on the strong involvement of Haiti in the activities and programs of the UNHCR, in particular on the efforts to implement the commitments entered into by Haiti, in application of the 1954 Convention relating to the status of stateless persons and that of 1961 on the reduction of statelessness.

By way of illustration, Claude Joseph referred to the publication by President Jovenel Moïse, on November 13, 2019, of a decree on the simplification and improvement of access to birth registration procedures with a view to prevention of the risk of statelessness in rural and very difficult-to-access areas; continued strengthening of civil status reform, through the publication of the Decree on the Unique National Identification Number (NINU) and the identification card, as well as the distribution of civil status registers and birth declaration forms through several jurisdictions in the country along with the appointment of Civil Status Officers.

IH/ iciHaiti