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Featured Resources & Tools

  • Haiti After the Earthquake

    USIP assesses the damage done by the devastating earthquake, and recommends strategies for Haiti’s recovery and reconstruction.

All Resources & Tools

Latest from USIP on Haiti

  • February 25, 2010   |   Event
    Haiti: Six Weeks Later

    Six weeks after a 7.0 magnitude earthquake devastated Port-au-Prince, what are the top priorities for donors and for Haiti? What role will the United States play in the coming weeks, months, and perhaps years?

  • February 12, 2010   |   Event
    Haiti: Addressing Rule of Law After the Earthquake

    The Haitian government is leading efforts to address serious rule of law challenges brought about by the recent earthquake, including the destruction of key justice infrastructure and the loss of life within the justice system.  What can be done now to provide the Haitian people with rule of law?  How should the pre-existing rule of law strategy be altered to reflect the reality on the ground and to ensure long-term rule of law? 

  • January 22, 2010   |   Resource
    Haiti After the Earthquake

    USIP assesses the damage done by the devastating earthquake, and recommends strategies for Haiti’s recovery and reconstruction.

  • January 22, 2010   |   News Releases
    United States Institute of Peace Offers Experts on Haiti

    (Washington) – As the relief efforts continue in the aftermath of last week's earthquake, the United States Institute of Peace (USIP) offers experts for insight into the situation, including rule of law, U.N. peacekeeping issues, and disaster management projects.

On January 12, 2010, Haiti suffered a 7.0 magnitude earthquake that destroyed much of the capital city of Port-au-Prince and caused up to 200,000 casualties. This was the greatest natural disaster in the country’s history. The presidential palace and the parliament were among the buildings damaged or destroyed. Among the victims of this tragedy were the Head of the U.N. peacekeeping mission and 150 members of the U.N. staff, who were trapped in the collapse of the U.N. headquarters building. The magnitude of the destruction, human and material, will pose extreme challenges for the U.N. and the U.S.-led international recovery effort. USIP will work to assist the recovery effort as it moves from the emergency response to the reconstruction phase.

Current Situation

Haiti Devastated by Major Earthquake

In the wake of the January 12 earthquake, the U.S. Institute of Peace continues to provide its deep knowledge, skills and other resources to help the Caribbean nation.

Analysis

  • Read a new report, "Haiti After the Earthquake," by the USIP Haiti team identifying priorities for the international community's immediate and long term response to the earthquake.

News Releases

Multimedia

Prior to the earthquake, Haiti had been on a path toward stability and economic progress, led by the government of Haiti and strongly supported by the international community. In 2009, former President and U.N. Special Envoy to Haiti Bill Clinton and his deputy Paul Farmer, were appointed to assist in advancing the country's economic and social development. These recent appointments, a successful international donors conference in April, and a series of visits to Haiti by the U.N. Security Council, Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon and U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, comprised an unprecedented international commitment to progress in Haiti. 

The earthquake has demonstrated the need for ongoing, conflict-sensitive development in Haiti's infrastructure as well as immediate humanitarian relief.

More from USIP on Haiti:

Haiti's progress and the situation immediatly prior to the earthquake are described in recent USIP reports:

Prospects for Haiti's New Government
Peace Brief by Robert Maguire, January 2010

What Role for the United Nations in Haiti?
Peace Brief by Robert Maguire, November 2009

Haiti after the Donors’ Conference: A Way Forward
Special Report by Robert Maguire, October 2009

Going Forward

USIP's Haiti Working Group holds monthly, public meetings to discuss current events in Haiti.  These discussions feature experts exploring the roles of NGOs, the U.N., donor countries, the diaspora, and the Haitian government in bringing peace and stability to Haiti.  Audio recordings and written summaries of these discussions are available.  You can learn more about the Haiti Working Group and sign-up to join our mailing list.  

In the Field

USIP is supporting Haiti's effort to reform its legal code.  Haiti's criminal laws have not been amended since the 1860’s and are inadequate to deal with drug trafficking, organized crime, and corruption.  This legal reform project utilizes USIP's Model Codes for Post-Conflict Justice.  You can read a report on Haiti's legal code, a trip report, or learn more about the Model Codes project in Haiti.

USIP is working with Haitian civil society organizations, police officers, female judges, and the Haitian diaspora to provide training on peaceful dispute resolution.  You can learn more about USIP's Education and Training Center - International.

Contact us to learn more about USIP's work in Haiti.