Law & Justice

On October 16, the United Nations (U.N.) will end its 13-year controversial peacekeeping mission in Haiti. The U.N. Mission for Stabilization in Haiti known by its French acronym MINUSTAH has been plagued by a series of controversies from sexual abuses to the current cholera epidemic. The UN cholera epidemic has killed over 10,000 Haitians and sickened 800,000 more. It took the U.N. nearly six years to acknowledge its role in spreading cholera and to issue a formal public apology to the Haitian people. Join our Time2Deliver campaign to press the U.N. to keep its promise to Haitian people and urge your country to contribute to the cholera fund if it has not already done so. Read the full article HERE The U.N.’s Legacy in Haiti: Stability, but for Whom? Jake Johnston, World Politics Review  After 13 years and more than $7 billion, […]

Following the announcement of  Department of Homeland Security’s six-month Temporary Protected Status (TPS) extension for Haiti, the Haitian American Lawyers Association of New York (HALANY) has been holding free clinics in Flatbush, NY, to help Haitians renew their TPS. The Association has also assisted participants in finding Haitian Creole-speaking immigration attorneys statewide. Full Article HERE  Haitian Bar Association hosts clinics for those in danger of losing temporary protected status Rob Abruzzese, Brooklyn Daily Eagle  July 13, 2017 Haitian American Lawyers Association of New York (HALANY) have been hard at work this summer as they have held a pair of temporary protected status (TPS) renewal clinics in Flatbush this summer to help Haitian immigrants who are in danger of losing their status. The first of these events was held at the YMCA in Flatbush last month and another was held this past weekend at […]

The United Nations Security Council ended a three-day visit to Haiti on Saturday, after hearing a variety of concerns during the meetings  with President Jovenel Moïse, Haitian lawmakers,  Haitian civil society and cholera advocates. Among the issues Haitians raised were the compensation for the cholera victims, child support for the abandoned children fathered by U.N. peacekeeping soldiers and the desire for a new, smaller mission to be Haiti’s last. On cholera, the Security Council delegation reaffirmed its support for the new efforts undertaken by the UN. Tell U.N. it’s time to deliver. Join our Time2Deliver campaign and urge your country to contribute to the cholera fund. Click HERE for the full article. Cholera, babies left by U.N. peacekeepers top list of Haiti’s woes Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald June 24, 2017 PORT-AU-PRINCE The 15-member United Nations Security Council ended a visit to Haiti Saturday, promising to […]

In less than five months the United Nations will wrap up its 13-year controversial peacekeeping mission in Haiti known as MINUSTAH, but failure to take necessary step to remedy the victims of cholera and sexual abuse in Haiti, U.N. can risk tarnishing its global image. The U.N. mission has been marred by a series of scandals. A mission the was supposed to protect human rights in the countries is now responsible for spreading a deadly but preventable disease in the country which is responsible for the death of nearly 10,000 Haitians, and sickened many more thousands. Additionally, its peacekeeping soldiers have sexually abused women, men and children. All those victims from cholera outbreak to sexual abuse and child support. Read  the full article HERE. Haitian women press for recognition from U.N. peacekeeper fathers   Makini Brice, Reuters Jun 1, 2017 For Roseleine Duperval, the United […]

The Bureau des Avocats Internationaux, Institute for Justice and Democracy in Haiti and other international human rights organizations sent a letter to the Haitian government demanding that it renew the mandate of Gustavo Gallon, the United Nations’ Independent Expert on Human Rights in Haiti. The organizations stated in the letter that they regretted that the Haitian government rejected a proposal to extend Gallon’s mandate for a one-year period. They said that they hope that Haiti’s officials will consider the recommendations made by Gallon to advance human rights in the country. A French version of this letter can be found HERE.

In the wake of the UN’s decision to withdraw its military peacekeepers from Haiti, the Haitian government is now faced with questions about what, if any, military force should replace them to avoid a security vacuum. Haiti’s national army has been disbanded for 22 years, and, for many Haitians, the thought of reconstituting an army brings back memories of the political repression and destabilization associated with the prior military regime. Thus, while many Haitians do support the idea, others fear it will quickly become politicized and thwart Haiti’s democratic progress. Part of the article is shown below. Click HERE for the original article. With End of UN Mission Ahead, Haiti Seeks to Revive Its Military Voice of America (Associated Press) April 19, 2017 GRESSIER, HAITI — Their heads held high and chests puffed out, nearly 100 Haitian men in camouflage fatigues do jumping jacks or march around […]