As part of the commemoration of the World Day of Social Justice, this Tuesday, February 20, Renan Hedouville, the Protector of the Citizen in a message, sounds the alarm on the precarious living conditions of the Haitian population including the vulnerable and poorest categories.

He recalled that in the 2007 adoption of UN General Assembly Resolution 62/10 on Social Justice, member states including Haiti made a commitment to promote national and global economic systems based on the principles of justice, equity, democracy, participation, transparency, accountability and integration.

"However, social inequalities are widening and threatening development in Haiti. Basic livelihoods remain limited. Many citizens are deprived of housing, clean water, food, medical care and decent work. Also, poor conditions, in which workers work, especially women in the outsourcing factories worrying : low wages, violation of the principle of equal work, equal pay, harassment etc... As for the mechanisms of application of national standards and regulating the situation of the Haitian worker, the concerns remain constant.

[...] The absence of an employment policy for young people or the difficulties for them to start a professional career under the false pretext of lack of experience, constitute among other enormous challenges to social justice in Haiti."

In front of this table, Hedouville reminds that the State is obliged to protect and guarantee the rights of all citizens. The implementation of social measures in favor of the population or at least the application of social justice focused on social security with regard in particular to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights in Articles 22 and 25 which stipulates :

Article 22 :

"Everyone, as a member of society, has the right to social security and is entitled to realization, through national effort and international co-operation and in accordance with the organization and resources of each State, of the economic, social and cultural rights indispensable for his dignity and the free development of his personality."

Article 25 :

"1. Everyone has the right to a standard of living adequate for the health and well-being of himself and of his family, including food, clothing, housing and medical care and necessary social services, and the right to security in the event of unemployment, sickness, disability, widowhood, old age or other lack of livelihood in circumstances beyond his control.

2. Motherhood and childhood are entitled to special care and assistance. All children, whether born in or out of wedlock, shall enjoy the same social protection. "

The OPC has the prerogatives to ensure the respect and protection of the rights of individuals including economic, social and cultural rights believes that it is imperative to encourage the state to create conditions to guarantee these rights he recommends "[ ...] the establishment of a public policy aimed at strengthening social justice and the reduction of extreme poverty, considered in many ways as a violation of human rights."

HL/ HaitiLibre