Special Report: Haiti. Hope for the Future

Abstract : During Rene Preval's first year as president of Haiti, his country has witnessed the democratic election of a new parliament, the return of relative security, and the first hints of economic recovery. Still, massive problems remain to challenge Preval, the UN Mission in Haiti, and Haiti's primary international partner, the United States. The report reviews the events of the past year in Haiti from the perspective of Haiti's history and its prospects for the future. The report concludes that Haiti has reached a potential turning point that the United States and the international community cannot afford to ignore. This report draws on information provided by guest speakers and participants in a series of public forums hosted by the United States Institute of Peace's Haiti Working Group. That group brings together government officials, academic experts, and representatives of non-governmental organizations, the media, and the Haitian diaspora. Meetings are held on a not-for-attribution basis. The report also reflects impressions gained by the author during a visit to Haiti in November 2006. The report was written by Robert M. Perito, director of the Haiti Working Group and a senior program officer at the United States Institute of Peace.