Institute for Justice and Democracy in Haiti

Originally Published on Al Jazeera Op-Ed written by Sandra Wisner, IJDH Bertha Fellow Today, the UN ends its 15-year long peacekeeping presence in Haiti. Ostensibly sent to reinforce security, build rule of law and promote human rights, UN peacekeepers leave a more problematic legacy, marred by human rights violations. Notably, this week’s drawdown comes nine years after peacekeepers sparked one of the deadliest cholera epidemics of modern times in the country. The organisation’s ongoing failure to remedy these harms – not only from cholera, but also peacekeeper sexual abuse and other violence towards civilians – has deeply undermined its legitimacy in Haiti. It also risks crippling the UN’s proposed new 30-member political mission, due to begin tomorrow and charged with promoting political stability and good governance in the context of a growing political stalemate and human rights crisis in Haiti. In June 2004, for the first time in […]

PDF version here Mario Joseph, Esq. is Living in Pursuit of Human Rights Behind the calls for justice for victims of sexual assaults committed by UN troops and especially the UN’s acknowledgement of the introduction of cholera by the Nepalese contingent of the UN’s blue helmets, there is a man who has been fighting for years to obtain justice for the most oppressed among us. This man, Mario Joseph, Esq., has been engaged in the struggle for human rights for over twenty-four years. He has never shied away from defending the most vulnerable victims of human rights abuses – particularly poor women or girls who have been raped and who cannot afford to pay legal fees necessary for filing charges against their assailants. Original Article posted in Le Nouvelliste     In 2016, the United Nations officially recognized its responsibility […]

A summary of IJDH and BAI’s visit to the Inter-American Commission of Human rights for a thematic hearing on the intersection and humanitarian impacts of corruption and social justice in Haiti.  [xxx] xxx Update 9/27/19: Monday, September 23rd at the IAHCR hearing, IJDH and BAI said an accountable response to the massacre in La Saline would include the removal of the senior, government officials implicated. Fednel Monchery (Director General of the Ministry of the Interior) and Richard Duplan (Delegate of the West Department)  were removed from their posts, this week. Also, this week, the Prosecutor responsible for oversight of those cases, Paul Eronce-Villard, who presented for the government of Haiti at Monday’s hearing, resigned from his position. Strikingly, it is reported he resigned “because the government had asked him to systematically repress those who call for both their fundamental rights […]

PDF Version BUREAU DES AVOCATS INTERNATIONAUX 3, 2ème rue Lavaud B.P. 19048 Port-au-Prince, Haïti Tel : +5092943-2106/ 07 Email: avokahaiti@aol.com Note de Presse Port-au-Prince, le 18 septembre 2019 Le Bureau des Avocats Internationaux  (BAI) dénonce la nouvelle dynamique de la Police Nationale d’Haïti (PNH) sous le leadership du Directeur Général a.i, Normil RAMEAU Le Bureau des Avocats Internationaux (BAI), dans sa mission première de défendre les droits des plus démunis, les droits inaliénables, imprescriptibles et inhérents à la personne humaine, en particulier ceux des victimes du choléra importé par la MINUSTAH, des femmes et filles victimes d’Agressions Sexuelles, des citoyens victimes  dans l’exercice de leur Liberté Publique de Terrorisme d’Etat et autres Abus de droit, déplore le fait que des agents de la Police Nationale d’Haïti (PNH) s’adonnent à une vaste opération de répressions violentes et d’exécutions sommaires contre des citoyens […]

PDF Version (French)

Human Rights Groups Petition Inter-American Commission to Protect Survivors of Haiti’s La Saline Massacre PDF Version (English)

PDF Version (English)

A summary of IJDH and BAI’s visit to the Inter-American Commission of Human rights for a thematic hearing on the intersection and humanitarian impacts of corruption and social justice in Haiti.  [xxx] xxx Update 9/27/19: Monday, September 23rd at the IAHCR hearing, IJDH and BAI said an accountable response to the massacre in La Saline would include the removal of the senior, government officials implicated. Fednel Monchery (Director General of the Ministry of the Interior) and Richard Duplan (Delegate of the West Department)  were removed from their posts, this week. Also, this week, the Prosecutor responsible for oversight of those cases, Paul Eronce-Villard, who presented for the government of Haiti at Monday’s hearing, resigned from his position. Strikingly, it is reported he resigned “because the government had asked him to systematically repress those who call for both their fundamental rights […]

PDF Version BUREAU DES AVOCATS INTERNATIONAUX 3, 2ème rue Lavaud B.P. 19048 Port-au-Prince, Haïti Tel : +5092943-2106/ 07 Email: avokahaiti@aol.com   Note de Presse   Port-au-Prince, le 18 septembre 2019 Le Bureau des Avocats Internationaux  (BAI) dénonce la nouvelle dynamique de la Police Nationale d’Haïti (PNH) sous le leadership du Directeur Général a.i, Normil RAMEAU Le Bureau des Avocats Internationaux (BAI), dans sa mission première de défendre les droits des plus démunis, les droits inaliénables, imprescriptibles et inhérents à la personne humaine, en particulier ceux des victimes du choléra importé par la MINUSTAH, des femmes et filles victimes d’Agressions Sexuelles, des citoyens victimes  dans l’exercice de leur Liberté Publique de Terrorisme d’Etat et autres Abus de droit, déplore le fait que des agents de la Police Nationale d’Haïti (PNH) s’adonnent à une vaste opération de répressions violentes et d’exécutions sommaires contre […]

PDF Version (French)

Human Rights Groups Petition Inter-American Commission to Protect Survivors of Haiti’s La Saline Massacre PDF Version (English)

PDF Version (English)

We are seeking Fall 2019 Interns for the positions listed below. IJDH Fall Development and Communications Internship A semester-long internship for undergraduate and graduate students interested in communications, international human rights, and advocacy. Apply by: August 23, 2019 IJDH Fall Legal Internship A semester-long internship for current 2L, 3L or LLM students with a demonstrated background in human rights, social justice and/or international law. Deadline to apply: Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis until placements are filled.

JOB OPENING: COMMUNICATIONS & DEVELOPMENT ASSOCIATE SOIL is currently seeking a Communications and Development Associate to assist with communicating project activities and outcomes to our network of donor and grant funders, and with researching and securing additional funding opportunities. As a nimble, fast-paced organization, SOIL is looking for a hard-working candidate that’s enthusiastic, creative, flexible, and committed to the mission of our organization and its success. Location: Remote based. Portland or Washington D.C. preferred but not required. Up to 25% travel including extended stays in Haiti possible. Application Deadline: August 16, 2019 About SOIL: SOIL is a non-profit research and development organization working in Haiti to transform a public health crisis into a regenerative environmental solution. In urban Haiti, SOIL is affordably and effectively increasing access to safe, dignified, and sustainable full-cycle sanitation services. For a small monthly fee, SOIL provides over 1,000 households […]

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Renée Metelus, Communications Coordinator  Institute for Justice & Democracy in Haiti  T: +1-678-522-1255 E: renee@ijdh.org Institute for Justice & Democracy in Haiti  Names Franciscka Lucien as New Executive Director Boston, MA (July 15, 2019)—Today, the Institute for Justice & Democracy in Haiti (IJDH) welcomes Franciscka Lucien as its new Executive Director. Franciscka succeeds Brian Concannon who informed the Board in September 2018 of his intention to step down.  “We are thrilled that Franciscka is taking the helm of IJDH. Franciscka has an impressive track record of improving access to human rights for marginalized communities in Haiti. She brings clear vision, thoughtful leadership, and a deep commitment to centering impoverished communities and their rights to the organization,” said Joia Mukherjee, Chair of the IJDH Board of Directors.  IJDH is a non-profit organization that works to catalyze stability […]

by Judith Mirkinson, National Lawyers Guild and Seth Donnelly, Haiti Action Committee PDF Version Here Content Warning: Viewers may find some testimonies and images disturbing.

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PDF version here Mario Joseph, Esq. is Living in Pursuit of Human Rights Behind the calls for justice for victims of sexual assaults committed by UN troops and especially the UN’s acknowledgement of the introduction of cholera by the Nepalese contingent of the UN’s blue helmets, there is a man who has been fighting for years to obtain justice for the most oppressed among us. This man, Mario Joseph, Esq., has been engaged in the struggle for human rights for over twenty-four years. He has never shied away from defending the most vulnerable victims of human rights abuses – particularly poor women or girls who have been raped and who cannot afford to pay legal fees necessary for filing charges against their assailants. Le Nouvelliste, 5/29/2019     In 2016, the United Nations officially recognized its responsibility for the introduction […]