Who We Are
Your Generosity Keeps Us Fighting for Justice
The Bureau des Avocats Internationaux (BAI), the largest and most successful public interest law firm in Haiti, and the Institute for Justice & Democracy in Haiti (IJDH), a Boston-based human rights nonprofit, work with the people of Haiti in their non-violent struggle for the consolidation of constitutional democracy, justice, and human rights by pursuing legal cases, distributing information on human rights conditions in Haiti, and cooperating with human rights and solidarity groups in Haiti and abroad.
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Duvalier Prosecution
Jean-Claude Duvalier must not be allowed to evade justice in Haiti
Former Haitian dictator Jean-Claude “Baby Doc” Duvalier’s case for crimes against humanity is currently up for appeal. BAI and IJDH lawyers are working hard to help a group of survivors and families of victims of torture, illegal executions and enforced disappearances during Duvalier’s time in power (1971–1986) request that the Court overturn a previous decision not to investigate the former leader’s alleged responsibility for the crimes due to expiration of statute of limitations. IJDH live tweeted from the court last week and the New York Times quotes us.
“International human rights standards are very clear in cases such as this. Crimes including torture, executions, arbitrary detention and enforced disappearances are not subject to a statute of limitations and the alleged perpetrators cannot benefit from pardons nor amnesties,” said Javier Zúñiga, Special Advisor at Amnesty International, “With the case of Jean Claude Duvalier, it is the whole credibility of the Haitian justice system which is at stake. Only by respecting the procedures in the appeal case . . . will the Court be able to demonstrate the professionalism and independence of the Haitian justice system.”
Jean-Claude Duvalier returned to Haiti from 25 years exile in France in January 2011. He was then indicted by the Haitian authorities for embezzlement, theft of public funds, and crimes against humanity – including torture, executions, arbitrary detention and enforced disappearances – carried out between 1971 and 1986.
To learn more about the Duvalier Prosecution, click HERE.
Cholera
A Step in the Right Direction
Since October 2010, over 8,000 Haitians have been killed by the deadly cholera epidemic that was brought to Haiti by UN troops. With your help, IJDH and BAI are getting justice for the cholera victims.
You and over 28,000 individuals (and counting!) signed a petition launched by Oliver Stone calling on UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon to respond justly to the UN’s responsibility for the cholera. Our fight for justice was endorsed by the Boston Globe, and recently covered by NPR and the BBC.
Thanks to you, all this pressure is working. On December 11, 2012 Secretary-General Ban announced that the UN would join the $2.2 billion Cholera Free Hispaniola Initiative, which aims to eliminate cholera through investments in healthcare, public education, and clean water and sanitation infrastructure. The announcement is an important step- if implemented, it will save 4,000 lives per year. But it is only 10% funded. We need to keep applying pressure until poor Haitians are drinking clean water.
To learn more about Cholera Accountability Project , click HERE.
Immigration
Immigration Advocacy
On October 1, 2012, the DHS extended Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Haitians in the US to July 22, 2014, protecting Haitian nationals who came to the US in the wake of January 2010’s devastating earthquake from deportation. Haitians with TPS had two months to re-register, but Hurricane Sandy, which struck in late October, shut down the administrative infrastructure of regions where many Haitians in America reside. Thanks to the collective work of IJDH and a broad range of advocates, US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced on December 27, 2012 that they would extend the re-registration period to January 29, 2013. This extension helped many Haitians follow the procedures that allow them to live and work in the United States.
To learn more about our Immigration Advocacy, click HERE.
RYOT Matching Gifts
Help us raise $5,000 by tomorrow!
RYOT News is matching all donations made to IJDH through their site from now through Friday 2/15 at 3:00pm EST. This is the perfect opportunity to make your gift of $10 become $20… $25 become $50… and $100 become $200. It all adds up–supporters like you donated $1270 so far, which doubles to $2,540! Please help us raise $5,000 by tomorrow at 3pm EST! Donate here: http://www.ryot.org/partners/institute-for-justice-democracy-in-haiti
Thank you for supporting the fight for justice!
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