Sophia Martelly, the First Lady of the Republic of Haiti, accompanied by Michel Brunache, the Minister of Justice and Public Security, and Jean Renel Senatus, Government Commissioner, took part, this Thursday, March 8, 2012, to the release of several women prisoners of the civil prison of Petion-Ville, on the occasion of International Women's Day.

The ceremony was attended by Jocelyne Casimir, Dean of the Civil Court of First Instance, of Mrs. Florence Elie, Director of the Office of Citizen Protection and Mr. Frantz Charles Dhonnet, Director of the Prison Administration. Representatives from the U.S. Embassy, of the MINUSTAH, of Representative of Secretary General of the UN, of organization of defense of human rights and of the Corrections Unit were also present.

8 women prisoners [Thimot Yanique, Dédé Mirlande, Alphonse Gelcius, Auguste Celan Elmise, Exumé Barbara, Guilloux Kettely, Lafrance Evelyne, Pascal Esther] were pardoned. 7 other [Manoucheka Larosilière, Dorisma Osane, Frédéric Malia, Hilaire Hélène, Jeune Edlène, Joseph Vania, Emmilise Guerrier (83 years)] benefit of habeas corpus by a court decision and a final, Sheila Casimir has received a 'Mainlevée' (withdrawal).

"The 8 women prisoners were freed by presidential decree and returned to their home," stressed Michel Brunache who promised to work, in conjunction with the Government Commissioner and the entire justice system, in order to alleviate the problems of detention and intervene on the reduction of penalties, selon le cas.

This ruling is in response to situations of mass incarceration in the cells and the problems of prolonged pretrial detention... These women and girls have been released, according to the Government Commissioner, with monitoring of organizations of defense of human rights, to avoid derogations to the protection and rights of citizens.

The presence of the First Lady of the Republic at the ceremony follows her visit in December 2011 in this prison, to ascertain the situation of women prisoners of Petion-Ville. She congratulated the Haitian Justice of having considered the records of these women.

See also :

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-4624-haiti-social-sophia-martelly-concerned-following-her-visit-to-the-prison-of-petion-ville.html

HL/ HaitiLibre