In a press release, the National Human Rights Defense Network (RNDDH) expressed concern about the alarming situation at the Rehabilitation Center for Minors in Conflict with the Law (CERMICOL) and demanded that the authorities concerned immediately end the cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment inflicted on the people incarcerated there.

It should be recalled that CERMICOL has 6 cells, 2 classrooms, a library and a playground. It was designed to accommodate 100 minors. However, for several years, CERMICOL's capacity has been largely exceeded, due to the chronic dysfunction of the Haitian judicial system.

Today, women, boys, girls and men in conflict with the law for the jurisdictions of Port-au-Prince and Croix-des-Bouquets are all housed at CERMICOL (except adult men incarcerated under the orders of the jurisdiction of Croix-des-Bouquets who are, for their part, at the Tabarre Police Station).

CERMICOL has therefore become a penitentiary complex.

Indeed, as of August 29, 2024, there were 370 detainees crammed into CERMICOL (93 boys, 149 women, 10 girls and 118 men.)

Download the full document (PDF in French): https://www.haitilibre.com/docs/1_CP_CERMICOL_09Sept2024.FR.pdf

HL/ HaitiLibre