This week, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has launched, in the premises of the Diplomatic Academy Jean Price Mars, a seminar on statelessness to the intention of senior officials of the Chancellery and of several other public institutions involved in the issue.

Organized in partnership with the Representation Office of the United Nations for Refugees (UNHCR), the seminar was aimed at informing and educate the representatives of various institutions concerned directly or indirectly by the problem of statelessness in order to enable them to intervene in favor of compatriots Haitians who may be affected and contribute to solving this problem internationally.

In his opening speech, Pierre-Richard Casimir the Foreign Minister recalled that according to the 1954 Convention relating to the Status of Stateless Persons, "Statelessness refers to the condition of someone who is not considered as a national by any country," by the application of its legislation. This situation, which may be of right or de facto, would affect around 12 million people worldwide, according to UNHCR.

According to the Chancellor Casimir, the Ministry is well aware of the difficulties often faced by Haitian nationals who are in a situation of statelessness, he is often informed through its diplomatic missions and consular posts of Haiti abroad. It is in this context that, following the instructions of the Government Martelly-Lamothe, several consulates were recently opened in countries or territories with a large Haitian community, such as Turkey and Caicos Islands, Suriname and Aruba.

The Minister of Foreign Affairs took advantage of the seminar, to reiterate the Government's commitment to provide all necessary services to all Haitian nationals, wherever they are and to their interests, as part of its efforts to consolidate the rule of law and improve the living conditions of the population.

HL/ HaitiLibre