Topic: 2025-Protecting Heritage Sites and Cultural Artifacts in Conflict Zones
Country: Haiti
Delegate Name: Ayden Fisher
Haiti is full of a vibrant culture that, after developing through centuries of slavery, expresses the heart of Haiti’s triumphs and struggles it has had to endure before and after its founding. These artifacts and pieces of culture are currently in danger. After gaining its independence on January 1st, 1804, Haiti has had a major portion of its population in poverty. As of 2024, Haiti has 36.4% of people in extreme poverty. Having to find money and shelter elsewhere, many join gangs in order to make any sort of a living. As these gangs increase their number, so do attacks and conflicts with other gangs start to arise. Historical sites now become targets for gangs and begin to meet unfortunate ends. One such site called the Haitian National Library was founded in 1939 and holds thousands of historical documents and archives. It was a meeting point for debates, political discussions, and poetic exchanges. The building was attacked by gangs on April 3rd, 2024, and then looted and ransacked. 200 years of documents were stolen and then presumably set on the Black Market to be sold for a profit. There are many more institutions that fell victim to these attacks such as École National Supérieure, Petit Seminaire Collège Saint Martial, and the École Nationale des Arts. The Bibliothèque Haïtienne des Frères de l’Instruction Chrétienne founded in 1912 has the largest by far collection of historical documents. Some of them being articles that span from as early as 1813 to 1900. These documents are at risk of meeting the same fate as the other four institutions that were attacked by gangs. Attacks on these institutions are detrimental to the remaining parts of history from Haiti’s early years of independence.
Given the severity these attacks set on the destruction of artifacts, Haiti exemplifies the need to protect the artifacts and cultural sites that may be in possible danger of future attacks. Haiti believes that artifacts are to be brought to secure warehouses or museums to be protected, and the Emergency Red List of Haitian Cultural Objects at Risk should be updated to catch any illegal selling and possession of artifacts. The destruction is unparalleled in the loss of heritage that has stood the test of time, and it is something that cannot be ignored
