Menu

United States Institute of Peace

Home ▶ Events

Conflict, Cops and Recovery in Haiti

Date: Wednesday, October 12, 2011 / Time: 5:30am - 7:30am 

Share This
Print the Page

Renewed internal conflict threatens Haiti's recovery.  On October 12, 2011, a panel of distinguished experts discussed the sources of conflict in Haiti and the challenges facing its security institutions.

Renewed internal conflict threatens Haiti's recovery.  Failure to control armed gangs, violent crime and drug trafficking weakens the rule of law, curbs economic growth and foments civil unrest.  Central to Haiti's future are its problematic security institutions: the weak Haitian National Police, the embattled United Nations peacekeeping force and the disbanded Haitian Army that President Martelly wants to rebuild. 


To prevent violence in Haiti, the U.S. Institute of Peace has partnered with the National Democratic Institute to conduct a series of conflict resolution trainings for local civic activists.  On October 12, 2011, a panel of distinguished experts discussed the sources of conflict in Haiti and the challenges facing its security institutions. 

Speakers

  • Ugo Solinas, Panelist
    Department of Peacekeeping Operations, United Nations
  • Matt Dippell, Panelist
    National Democratic Institute
  • Louis-Alexandre Berg, Panelist
    Georgetown University
  • Dr. Robert Maguire, Panelist
    George Washington University
  • Robert Perito, Moderator
    Director, Haiti Program, U.S. Institute of Peace

Explore Further

Related Academy Courses

 

Related Publications

Mapping Haiti’s Road Toward Justice: Lessons from Colombia and Guatemala

Mapping Haiti’s Road Toward Justice: Lessons from Colombia and Guatemala

Wednesday, July 10, 2024

By: Nicolás Devia-Valbuena;  Gabriel Rojas-Andrade

Haiti’s new interim government faces immense challenges, but none are as urgent as breaking the stranglehold that gangs have over the country’s capital, Port au Prince. Force alone will not bring peace, even with the arrival of the modestly-sized and Kenyan-led multinational security support mission. The country instead requires creative, whole-of-society — not just whole-of-government — mechanisms to divert gang members from crime and violence as part of a comprehensive counter-gang strategy.

Type: Analysis

Justice, Security & Rule of Law;  Reconciliation

Hard Work Ahead: Haiti’s Government Seeks to Restore Security with International Support

Hard Work Ahead: Haiti’s Government Seeks to Restore Security with International Support

Thursday, June 20, 2024

By: Keith Mines;  Kirk Randolph

Many Haitians expressed genuine sympathy and shared loss when an American missionary couple, Davy and Natalie Lloyd, were killed by gangs alongside Jude Montis, the local director of the Missions in Haiti organization where they were working. Following a confusing few hours of attacks and counter-attacks by rival gangs on May 23, the tragic shootings and subsequent burning of the male bodies quickly made national news in the United States, in part because of the prominence of the couple — Natalie Lloyd is the daughter of Missouri State Representative Ben Baker and Davy Lloyd’s family is prominent in Oklahoma.

Type: Analysis

Democracy & Governance;  Justice, Security & Rule of Law

How to Break the Cycle of Weak Elections in Haiti

How to Break the Cycle of Weak Elections in Haiti

Thursday, June 20, 2024

By: Arnoux Descardes

Haiti’s new Presidential Transition Council and the prime minister have a lot to do as they try to take back the country’s security from armed gangs while addressing the ongoing humanitarian crisis. They must also focus on leading the country to elections mandated to take place by February 2026. Given the weak and controversial elections Haiti has endured in recent cycles, the new government and its international supporters will need to focus on creating conditions for a viable election that will crown the upcoming period of social and political restoration.

Type: Analysis

Global Elections & Conflict

Keith Mines on the Latest from Haiti

Keith Mines on the Latest from Haiti

Wednesday, June 12, 2024

By: Keith Mines

While Haiti’s Transitional Council has appointed a prime minister to lead a temporary government and the Kenyan-led international security mission is expected to deploy soon, “[Haiti’s] gangs are still pretty strong,” says USIP’s Keith Mines. “There’s really going to be a fight for power … over the coming months.”

Type: Podcast

View All Publications