Port-au-Prince, Haiti We, Haitian citizens and patriots, On March 27, 2025, a group of 15 public and private universities in the country and several other civil society and diaspora organizations launched an appeal convening the nation for a major mobilization to find a lasting solution to get the country out of the current situation: • After organizing 11 preparatory congresses: 10 departmental congresses coordinated by the Public Universities of the Regions (UPR) and a diaspora congress organized by the Haitian Studies Association (HSA) which brings together several hundred professors and intellectuals conducting research on Haiti, in universities around the world; • – After analyzing more than 60 reports on insecurity, transition, elections, constitution and other issues submitted by various organizations to the Congress Technical Secretariat; • – After holding more than 20 sectoral meetings, as well as preparatory congresses with various political, private and civil society organizations (youth, peasants, women, etc.); • – After the presentations, analyses, discussions and workshops organized at the NATIONAL CONGRESS on June 26 and 27, 2025; WE DECLARE 1. Security first – Let's mobilize to declare war on gangs We must declare war on gangs and stop relying on foreigners to save us from the scourge of insecurity facing the country. Let's rely on ourselves, responsible and coherent leaders. To begin, there must be no discord between state leaders at this critical time. All energies must be focused on controlling gangs, in accordance with a precise and well-thought-out NATIONAL SECURITY PLAN. 2. Security first – Mobilize maximum resources in the fight against gangs. State forces must not be dispersed in a multitude of disorganized actions that do nothing to contribute to the fight against insecurity. The maximum resources of the Treasury must be concentrated in an organized fight. To achieve this, all privileges enjoyed by CPT members and all other expenses related to travel abroad, symposia, conferences and vacations not necessary for the functioning of the state must be eliminated. 3. Security priority – Establish a robust intelligence system. Organize a robust intelligence system where all resources currently dispersed at the Prime Minister's Office, the Presidential Transition Council (CPT) and other departments are reassigned to the central intelligence effort nationwide. 4. Security priority – Border control. Haiti does not manufacture weapons or ammunition. Everyone knows they come from elsewhere. Therefore, significant resources must be mobilized at the maritime border and the border with the Dominican Republic. The authorities must take the initiative to call the Dominican government to intensify its efforts to combat cross-border trafficking of weapons and ammunition. This work can be done through bilateral efforts. 5. Security first – A major overhaul is needed within the Haitian National Police (PNH). Thorough and impartial investigations must be conducted at all levels of the PNH, using various technologies, to detect and arrest all police officers who collaborate with gangs or support them. We must publicly denounce the guilty, try them and punish them with the full rigor of the law. 6. Security first – The innocent cannot pay for the guilty. The police must not shoot at young men and women living in disadvantaged neighborhoods because of their appearance, without confirmation that these young people represent a danger to the lives of police officers or other people. 7. Security priority – Support for self-defense brigades Without the Self-Defense Brigades, many neighborhoods would have already fallen. The police must support the brigades within the framework of the National Security Plan to increase their effectiveness, in an orderly institutional framework, respectful of the judiciary and avoiding abuses. Further reflection must also be conducted on the role the brigades can play in society in the future. 8. Security priority – Protect strategic facilities The police and army must protect the country's strategic facilities, such as seaports, airports, energy and telecommunications facilities, through systematic vigilance operations. 9. Security first – Prosecute all those who support or finance gangs The judicial system must conduct thorough investigations on all individuals, in collaboration with United Nations Security Council agencies, foreign governments and human rights organizations, to identify gang sponsors and supporters, as well as those who buy weapons for gangs or finance gangs and their leaders. 10. Security first – Save child soldiers As part of the gang disarmament and dismantlement plan, we must take specific measures to disarm, train, reintegrate and supervise CHILD SOLDIERS who are also victims of gangs. They have already been victims of a society that abandoned them. 11. Solidarity with displaced populations More than a million people displaced by gangs live as refugees in their own country. We support the demands of these displaced people to create the conditions for their return home, providing them with institutional, financial and psychosocial support to live in peace. We do not forget our brothers and sisters who were forced to flee their country under difficult conditions and who are victims of violence, particularly in the Dominican Republic and the United States. 12. Solidarity so that businesses, jobs and lives can be restored Gangs have destroyed, vandalized, looted and burned a large number of businesses and social institutions in the West, Artibonite and Central Plateau departments. We support the claims of these businesses, workers and social institutions so that better conditions are put in place for them to receive ongoing support and resume their activities and daily lives. 13. End of transition. Transition cannot constitute a sustainable governance model. We must work to immediately get out of these transitions. The only way out lies in elections. But we must organize quality elections, independent of the mafia, foreigners and ruling leaders. This is why the Patriotic Congress wishes to mobilize society so that quality and trustworthy elections are organized as soon as possible, with the country's own resources. 14. Election. The current Provisional Electoral Council (CEP) KEP demonstrates neither the capacity nor the willingness to organize credible elections. Their selection was not consensual; their operation lacks transparency; no audit of important files has been carried out, etc. Significant work must be done on the composition of the Provisional Electoral Council (CEP) as well as its transparent operation with the participation of credible sectors of society. This is the only way to guarantee the population's trust in the elections. 15. Constitution. A Constitution is an important element of the organization of the State and society. Amending the Constitution, even with the best intentions, must not be taken lightly. It can do more harm than good to the country. All experts agree that the conditions are not met to organize a referendum to amend the 1987 Constitution, as the transitional government wishes. We say: "Stop!" Stop wasting our time! Stop wasting the country's resources! 16. Governance – It's the business of the country's children, with complete serenity! Bad governance is one of the main causes of all the difficulties the country faces today. It generates insecurity and favors its spread throughout the country. It impoverishes the country and makes us dependent on international charity. It is our sole responsibility as Haitians. We, children of the country, must unite to decide which direction to take to save our country; 17. Governance – Rethinking the executive power. The current governance model is very costly. And for what result? The current PTC, composed of nine members, as well as the government, have failed! They have not solved the insecurity problem. We have lost territory after territory. They have not put us on the path to fair elections. Therefore, should society leave this PTC at the head of the country forever, when it cannot even enforce the April 3 agreement that legitimized it? A necessary change is therefore essential. Several resolutions have been proposed to the Congress to identify more effective forms of governance, ranging from reducing the number of PTC members to appointing a president from the Superior Court. We ask the Congress Follow-up Committee to communicate with all other social, economic and political forces in the country to reach a consensus on the necessary changes to get the state out of the disaster it is plunged into. 18. Governance – Control of executive power during the transition. The country has just experienced four years of governance without any counterbalance to executive power. We have seen the consequences. This is why we demand that any decision made in the framework of the country's governance incorporate an executive control mechanism. It is therefore necessary to create a control body within the government. This body must be established upon the election of the government, and not later. 19. Ethics and morality in public life Participants in the Patriotic Congress observed that ethical and moral values are losing ground in society, particularly in the political and economic sectors. We recognize that this issue constitutes a major challenge for the national education system, which must make it a priority in its curricula and teaching practices. We recognize that the issue of ethics and morality begins within the family; training must also take place within local communities. At the same time, we call on state leaders in particular to refrain from setting a bad example for society. We ask them to lead the country with morality, respecting ethical values. We ask private sector leaders and all other professionals to do the same. RESOLUTIONS ADOPTED Before the nation, we commit to continuing the work! All the work accomplished under the auspices of the Patriotic Congress for national salvation must not remain a dead letter. While asking responsible parties, each at their level, to implement the recommendations of this declaration, we will not give up and will continue the work so that the country can achieve the long-awaited final results. RESOLUTION 1: SUPPORT MOBILIZATION We began to mobilize for national salvation. We want to remain mobilized to continue facilitating dialogue between all sectors of the country, to create the necessary conditions to launch the country on the path to building a new Haiti, together, in stability, security and justice. A new Haiti where everyone is valued, where everyone has access to all essential services and where everyone respects each other. RESOLUTION 2: FOLLOW-UP COMMITTEES To continue this saving work, participants in the PATRIOTIC CONGRESS FOR NATIONAL SALVATION decided to create a Follow-up Committee composed of representatives from universities and the various organizations signatory to the Declaration of March 27, 2025. This Committee has the mission to: • Promote the Final Declaration of the Patriotic National Congress to get authorities to implement the following recommendations; • Bring together forces from across society in a patriotic movement to save the country; • Invite citizens to participate in the next meetings that will take place; • Organize work to continue reflections on all other major issues that the Congress was called upon to address, such as the urgent humanitarian catastrophe, economic recovery, impunity in the judicial system, corruption within the state, decentralization, the education system, etc. • Create a space for dialogue between Haitians from all backgrounds to reach an agreement guaranteeing the country's commitment to democracy and development. This commitment involves organizing free, honest and credible elections that will facilitate the installation of a trustworthy government. • Adopt a strategy that ensures the implementation of the Congress recommendations, so that they become reality. RESOLUTION 3: UNIVERSITY WORKING GROUP ON HAITI The Patriotic National Congress demonstrates the capacity of the country's universities to bring together educated people and create conditions conducive to reflection and interaction with the population on the country's problems. As the Congress continues its vital mission, we call on universities to remain united under the banner of knowledge and science, to continue energizing all other aspects of national life. For example, the Congress will make known to the widest audience the exceptional research and scientific analysis work carried out by universities over the past five years within the framework of the "Trase Nouvo Chimen" (TNC)/"Designing new roadmaps" project, in various communal sections, on various aspects of local life. This university think tank should share national knowledge and offer scientific and moral training to guide our leaders, both at the central and local levels, and guide them towards solutions to economic, social, political and ecological problems, to create wealth and ensure the well-being of the entire population. The country is fortunate to have experts, both inside and outside its borders. It must benefit from the knowledge and analytical capacities of all its citizens. IN CONCLUSION Haitians, Haitian patriots! Over the past six months, the honest, upright and competent citizens who participated in the Patriotic Congress and its organization have clearly demonstrated that Haiti still has valuable patriotic citizens. We have demonstrated that the country has competent and capable people. We have demonstrated our discipline and ability to come together, to dialogue with respect, even when we do not always agree, to find, among ourselves Haitians, lasting solutions for our country. This is why we, participants in the PATRIOTIC CONGRESS FOR NATIONAL SALVATION, have decided not to give up. We will continue to assume our civic responsibility to facilitate the dialogue that will allow us to emerge from the crisis. The country deserves it. We all deserve it. For the PATRIOTIC NATIONAL CONGRESS Marc Prou, PhD, general coordinator For the Steering Committee in the 10 departments of Haiti and the Diaspora Yves Voltaire, rector of UPNip Manejacques Dodat Jean, PhD, Rector UPAG Carole M. Berotte Joseph, PhD, HSA, former rector in the United States of America