Friday, March 8, 2013, Independent Expert on the situation of human rights in Haiti, appointed by the Human Rights Council of United Nations ends its twelfth visit in Haiti. This last visit is aimed at updating the information contained in the report to be presented and discussed at the Human Rights Council of the United Nations on 20 March 2013.

During his mission, the Independent Expert met with government officials, judges, lawyers, mayors and CASEC. He also met with the Special Representative of the Secretary General a.i. of the UN in Haiti, as well as other MINUSTAH officials and representatives of civil society. He also met with the diplomatic corps.

The Independent Expert also visited Jeremie, Gonaives, Port de Paix and Saint Marc to meet with civil society organizations, but also mayors, departmental directors and CASEC in order not to have the perception of the situation of the country only through the prism of Port-Au-Prince.

At a press conference before his departure, Mr. Michel Forst wished to recall that "it is necessary to strengthen the institutions of the republic in order to improve the process of policy making and the relationship between the state and citizens. Strengthening includes to give them the means and resources, but also allowing them to act and to develop the mandate they were granted by the constitution or organic laws, without attempting to divert and make them play a role that is not theirs."

After visiting the prisons of Gonaives, Jeremie, Saint Marc and Port de Paix, the Independent Expert noted that overcrowding in detention centers is still the main problem and it constitutes a cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment. "Being detained is the deprivation of freedom, while respecting all other human rights. The solution to the problem of detention centers in Haiti must undoubtably include addressing the pre-trial prolonged detention," said the Independent Expert.

After welcoming the implementation of major social programs in favor of Haitians living below the poverty line, such as Ti Mamanchéri, Abagrangou or the strategic program Edé pép, the Independent Expert has urged the government to sustain them within a framework of a national strategy on rule of law.

"It is for this reason, but also to ensure coherence among all departments related to the establishment of the rule of law, that I proposed the appointment of an Inter-ministerial Delegate for rule of law. It would have the objective to promote and coordinate the activities of the different ministers in this area and to ensure that the different pieces of the puzzle fit together in order to ultimately ensure the sustainability of the rule of law in Haiti."

Adding that "the holding of a fair trial of former President Jean-Claude Duvalier is an important event to show the population that justice works in Haiti and that from now on impunity will not be tolerated for the most serious crimes. The appearance of former President Jean-Claude Duvalier before the judges of the Court of Appeal in Port-Au-Prince in this regard is a victory of rule of law."

The independent Expert, whose mandate should be completed in March 2014, concluded by saying that he was "delighted to continue working in his last year as a mandate holder in harmony with the government in the implementation of the rule of law in Haiti."

See also :

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-7979-haiti-social-12th-mission-of-michel-forst.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-7295-haiti-social-worried-and-disappointed-michel-forst-complete-his-mission-in-haiti.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-7229-haiti-politic-11th-mission-of-michel-forst-in-haiti.html

HL/ HaitiLibre