IJDH has successfully helped Haitians enforce their human rights since 2004. The Institute partners with BAI to support grassroots struggles for justice in Haiti and in the powerful countries abroad where decisions about Haitians’ rights are often made. IJDH and BAI combine traditional legal strategies with organizing, emerging technology and public advocacy to address the root causes of instability and poverty in Haiti. We fight for justice with routinely excellent legal work, but also with creativity, humility, inspiration and humor, and a supportive work culture. We effect broad changes with modest resources by nurturing large advocacy networks. Notable achievements include: •Representation of 5,000+ Haitian victims of cholera in a class action lawsuit against the United Nations, in pursuit of justice and accountability for the UN’s direct role in causing the October 2010 outbreak. This case is currently in the appeals process; •A 2014 appeals court decision reinstating charges of torture, murder and other crimes against former dictator Jean-Claude Duvalier; •Convictions in twelve of sixteen rape cases that reached trial 2012-2014; •Successful prosecution of the Raboteau Massacre, a 1994 military/paramilitary attack on a pro-democracy neighborhood, that convicted the top military and paramilitary leadership of Haiti’s 1991-1994 “de facto” dictatorship. Among the convicted is the highest-ranked officer ever deported from the U.S. on human rights grounds; •Important training for social justice lawyers, who have used their training to advance human rights in Haiti, the U.S., and throughout the world; BAI/IJDH’s work has been featured in several award-winning documentaries, a Harvard University case study, and is the focus of the 2014 book How Human Rights Can Build Haiti.
External link for Institute for Justice & Democracy in Haiti (IJDH)
867 Boylston St.
5th Floor
Boston, Massachusetts 02116, US
No. 3, 2eme Impasse Lavaud,
B.P. 19048
Port-au-Prince, 19048, HT
Please, please, read and share! We Do Not Need To Let The Playbook Work!
Marleine Bastien and I felt compelled to respond to the dangerous, racist fabrications circulated about our Haitian neighbors in Ohio. The key takeaway is: "we do not need to let the playbook work." Please read our piece, and share it with your network if you agree with it. https://lnkd.in/ePZC68n7
Institute for Justice & Democracy in Haiti (IJDH) reposted this
We’re celebrating IJDH’s 20th anniversary this year! Since 2004, IJDH & BAI have won major human rights victories in court, trained a generation of public interest lawyers & supported #Haiti’s grassroots democracy movement. Rise with us for the next 20 years by joining IJDH as a monthly donor. https://bit.ly/3Yf9r4 #IJDH20
We’re celebrating IJDH’s 20th anniversary this year! Since 2004, IJDH & BAI have won major human rights victories in court, trained a generation of public interest lawyers & supported #Haiti’s grassroots democracy movement. Rise with us for the next 20 years by joining IJDH as a monthly donor. https://bit.ly/3Yf9r4 #IJDH20
Out today, IJDH’s latest update on the current status of #HumanRights and #RuleOfLaw in #Haiti covers key developments from December 2023 through May 2024 (IJDH’s previous Updates going back to May 2019 here: https://lnkd.in/efavMg_2). Although insecurity and humanitarian needs remain catastrophic - and a new coalition of armed groups called Viv Ansanm launched attacks unprecedented in scale in late February - this reporting period also saw a dramatic transformation of Haiti’s political landscape. A Transitional Presidential Council (TPC) was formed after de facto Prime Minister Henry finally lost international support that had been keeping him in power. The TPC is already dogged by controversy closely linked to the same types of internationally-enabled state capture and government collapse that precipitated and perpetuate Haiti’s crisis. And the transition is neglecting to include women, which not only violates their constitutional and human rights, but also threatens its effectiveness. Nevertheless, this formal commitment to a transition represents a genuine opening for a return to stability and democracy in Haiti. But the transitional government can only live up to its promise of a participatory, democratic transition if women play an empowered role and if the international community finally renounces its policies of harmful interference and begins acting in solidarity with Haitian sovereignty. The latest IJDH Update covers ongoing violations of the right to life and security of the person; government misconduct, including institutionalized violence and corruption; chronic impunity caused by a dysfunctional judicial system; further marginalization of vulnerable groups, especially women and girls; the challenging social and economic landscape; and difficulties faced by Haitian migrants. Historic and ongoing failures by the international community to respect the human rights of Haitians and interference in Haitian affairs are core drivers of these challenges. Read our full update now: https://lnkd.in/e_CDbVGj (forthcoming in French) Alexandra ("Sasha") Filippova, Brian Concannon and Kristina Fried
Strong show of solidarity for the fight for women’s rights in #Haiti: the United Nations Working Group on Discrimination against Women and Girls issued a strong condemnation of Haitian authorities for failing to protect women and being complicit in gang violence. It echoes IJDH's insistence that truly establishing security in #Haiti requires restoring democracy through an inclusive process that includes women’s leadership. Prior to this release, IJDH joined Haitian civil society members including partners Nègès Mawon & Haitian Women’s Collective at the UN to urge the Working Group to take action for accountability and the protection of women & girls in #Haiti. We welcome their condemnation as a step towards justice. The fight continues! Read the release: https://lnkd.in/e5FwycvV Photo caption: IJDH Senior Staff Attorney Alexandra ("Sasha") Filippova presenting at the WGDAWG civil society consultation. To her left, Pascale Solages, co-director of Nègès Mawon; Ilona Alexander, Secretary of the WGDAWG; and WGDAWG members Claudia Flores, Haina Lu, Dorothy Estrada-Tanck (Chair), and Laura Nyirinkindi
Bon fèt drapo! This #HaitianFlag Day, we're celebrating the Haitian revolutionaries who defeated France to create the world's first free Black Republic & those who keep up the fight for liberation and justice 🇭🇹
Last week, BAI and IJDH continued our efforts to bring Haiti’s fight for restitution and democracy free from foreign interference to the international stage at the Third Session of the United Nations (UN) Permanent Forum on People of African Descent, held from April 16 to 19, 2024, at the UN in Geneva, Switzerland. As part of their advocacy, the BAI and Haitian partners Mouvement de Liberté, d'Égalité des Haïtiens pour la Fraternité (MOLEGHAF), Étude et action pour les droits de l'homme (EADH), Sant Karl Levêque (SKL), and Ensemble des Citoyens Compétents à la Recherche de l'Egalité des Droits de l'Homme en Haïti (ECCREDHH) submitted to the Forum an Eight Point Framework Document for pursuing restitution for Haiti for the illegal “Independence Debt” extorted by France. In submitting the Framework to the Forum, the BAI and its Haitian partners hope to solicit the Forum’s support not just for long overdue monetary reparations, but also for Haitians’ efforts to reclaim the democracy that presenting the restitution claim requires. As BAI Managing Attorney Mario Joseph noted in his accompanying statement to the Forum, “Haiti holds the key to reparations for all people injured by slavery. But we Haitians need your help to reach the lock.” Read more, listen to Mario Joseph’s statement, and sign onto the Framework: https://lnkd.in/eyY9BxhR Photo caption: Although the BAI lawyers were unable to attend the Session in person, Haitian and diaspora civil society was well represented in Geneva. From left to right: Jacques Letang, Jocelyn McCalla, Michèle Voltaire Marcelin, Pascale Solages, Jennie-Laure Sully, Frantz André, Monique Clesca, Jemima Pierre, Eric Pierre, Michelle Austin Pamies, Yvens Rumbold, Dr. Marie Lemy, and Erik Crew.
Yesterday, BAI's Mario Joseph held a press conference to discuss the International Community's plans for Haiti, including the Transitional Council, that Haitians call their "7-headed snake." Mario called for a Haitian-led solution to avoid being swallowed by the snake. Watch the conference:
"Haitians have demonstrated their capacity to negotiate and compromise to get their democracy back on track, but each time the United States has blocked the plans in order to promote its friends at the expense of Haiti’s democracy." IJDH's Brian Concannon wrote a special piece for the Dorchester Reporter calling for an end to the United States' interference in Haiti.
Don't miss! Our Brian Concannon joins a strong panel including Amb. (ret.) Susan D. Page, Dr. Jean Eddy Saint Paul, Dr. Arturo Sotomayor, and Websder Corneille for this most timely discussion! Register here: https://rb.gy/04cv2a
Adjunct Lecturer at Indiana University | Creole Linguist & Translator | Founder of Haitian Creole Program | ESL Interventionist | Freelance Journalist
𝐔𝐩𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐭𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞. On the 37th anniversary of Haiti's 1987 Constitution, I will be discussing Haiti’s security situation and escalating humanitarian crisis, and figure out which scenario might work best for today’s country with four distinguished speakers, and one of them was the first US ambassador to the Republic of South Sudan and former assistant Secretary-General of the United Nations in Haiti. Hosted by the the IU Center for Latin American and Caribbean Studies, the webinar will take place on March 29th at 5:00 pm ET, and introduce by Dr. Serafin M. Coronel-Molina, CLACS' Director. 🔗 Article Link: https://lnkd.in/gN8Da-6S RSVP: https://lnkd.in/dAiqQKMb 🗣 𝐒𝐩𝐞𝐚𝐤𝐞𝐫𝐬: - Amb. (ret.) Susan D. Page, Professor of Practice at University of Michigan Law School, Former UN Special Representative for Haiti - Dr. Jean Eddy Saint Paul, Professor of sociology at Brooklyn College of the The City University of New York, and founding director of the CUNY Haitian Studies Institute - Mr. Brian Concannon, JD, Executive Director of the Institute for Justice & Democracy in Haiti (IJDH) - Dr. Arturo Sotomayor, Professor at William J. Perry Center for Hemispheric Defense Studies at the National Defense University 🙏🏿 This roundtable is co-supported by IJDH, and Haitian Association of Indiana. Hamilton Lugar School of Global & International Studies John Ciorciari Paul J. Angelo, PhD Scott Shackelford JD, PhD Leonce Jean-Baptiste, MBA 🖼 by Haitian artist & cartoonist Francisco Silva