August 31, 2016: In late August 2016, The New York Times initially reported the United Nations' long-overdue admission that peacekeepers played a role in the initial outbreak of cholera in Haiti nearly six years ago, prompted by a leaked draft report written by Philip Alston, the UN’s Special Rapporteur on extreme poverty and human rights, which criticized the UN’s handling of the outbreak. The admission was the first time the United Nations has publicly acknowledged its role, though it did not take responsibility for causing the epidemic and stopped short of offering an apology to the victims of cholera in Haiti. In the days and weeks following the initial admission, the UN has announced it will “develop a package that would provide material assistance and support to those Haitians most directly affected by cholera.”
This public admission signals a potential shift towards greater transparency and accountability within the United Nations. The revelation also represents a major victory for the civil society organizations leading the effort to push for greater transparency and accountability within UN peacekeeping – such as the 37 organizations, including AIDS-Free World and the Institute for Justice and Democracy in Haiti, calling on candidates for UN Secretary-General to take an Accountability Pledge.
A selection of media highlights is below:
The New York Times
By Jonathan Katz
August 17, 2016
U.N. Admits Role in Cholera Epidemic in Haiti
The New York Times
By Jonathan Katz
August 18, 2016
U.S. Court Upholds United Nations’ Immunity in Cholera Suit
Rock River Times
By Rosa Freedman
August 18, 2016
UN finally admits role in Haiti cholera outbreak; how to compensate victims?
The Guardian, Nigeria (via AFP)
August 18, 2016
Haiti cholera victims welcome UN recognizing role in outbreak
The Washington Post
By Nick Miroff
August 18, 2016
U.N. accepts role in deadly Haiti cholera outbreak for first time
The Conversation
By Rosa Freedman and Nicolas Lemay-Hébert
August 18, 2016
As the UN finally admits role in Haiti cholera outbreak – here is how victims must be compensated
Swissinfo.ch (via Reuters International)
By Anastasia Moloney
August 18, 2016
U.N. remarks on Haiti cholera a 'groundbreaking' step to justice, say lawyers
The Guardian
By Ed Pilkington
August 18, 2016
UN makes first public admission of blame for Haiti cholera outbreak
Al Jazeera
August 19, 2016
UN admits role in deadly Haiti cholera outbreak
Fox News
By George Russell
August 19, 2016
UN stonewall on Haiti cholera epidemic starts to crumble
Reuters
By Michelle Nichols
August 19, 2016
U.N. chief: Moral responsibility to help Haiti cholera victims
The Washington Post
By Edith Lederer
August 19, 2016
UN to provide ‘material assistance’ to Haiti cholera victims
Reuters
By Anastasia Moloney
August 19, 2016
U.S. judge upholds U.N. immunity in Haiti cholera case
Reuters
By Anastasia Moloney
August 19, 2016
UN remarks on Haiti cholera a 'groundbreaking' step to justice, say lawyers
The New York Times
By Jonathan Katz
August 19, 2016
U.N. Leader Urges Member States to Fund Haiti’s Cholera Recovery
The Boston Globe (Op-ed)
By Ralph R. Frerichs
August 22, 2016
What the UN must do to wipe out cholera in Haiti
The New York Times (Op-ed)
By The Editorial Board
August 22, 2016
Dodging Accountability at the United Nations
The Washington Post (Op-ed)
By Joel Dreyfuss
August 22, 2016
Only Haitians can save Haiti
Al Jazeera (Op-ed)
By Lauren Carasik
August 28, 2016
New UN secretary-general must commit to accountability
*United Nations
August 19, 2016
Statement attributable to the Spokesman for the Secretary-General on Haiti
UN Photo/UNICEF/Marco Dormino