Yesterday was International Forest Day, the second most popular tree based holiday, behind Arbor Day. In the United States, forests and their benefits are largely taken for granted, but in Haiti deforestation is a national problem. Not too long ago, the American heartland looked more like scenes from the Mad Max film series. Read More
Month: March 2016
Haiti 2016: Challenges and Opportunities
This is an interactive presentation put together by Mennonite Central Committee (MCC) on the opportunities and challenges facing Haiti in 2016. It features perspectives from four civil society leaders (from RNDDH, GARR, MODEP and the Justice in Mining Collective) and touches upon subjects such as migration from the D.R., mining, cholera, elections, and democratic space in Haiti. Read More
Haitian Human Rights Leaders Make the Case for Electoral Verification at Washington Roundtable [Full article]
On Friday, March 4, 2016 representatives from the Organization of American States (OAS) and State Department joined two visiting Haitian human rights leaders and two U.S.-based academics in a discussion on Haiti’s current electoral crisis. Organized by the Haiti Advocacy Working Group (HAWG) and sponsored by Representative Yvette Clarke (D-NY), the discussion focused on the causes of the postponement of the electoral crisis, the selection of Provisional President Jocelerme Privert and efforts to move the electoral process forward. Read More
Haitian Human Rights Leaders Make the Case for Electoral Verification at Washington Roundtable
On Friday, March 4, 2016 representatives from the Organization of American States (OAS) and State Department joined two visiting Haitian human rights leaders and two U.S.-based academics in a discussion on Haiti’s current electoral crisis. Organized by the Haiti Advocacy Working Group (HAWG) and sponsored by Representative Yvette Clarke (D-NY), the discussion focused on the causes of the postponement of the electoral crisis, the selection of Provisional President Jocelerme Privert and efforts to move the electoral process forward. Read More
International Women’s Day: Haitian women carry a disproportionate burden

“We need to lighten the burdens on the backs of Haitian women.. On international Women’s Day, Haitian women commemorate the battle that we are still fighting to have our rights recognized and to play a full equal role in Haitian society. ” – Marie Frantz Joachim, Solidarite Fanm Ayisyen. Read More
International Women’s Day: Pushing Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment in Haiti

Today is International Women’s Day and this year’s theme is “Planet 50-50 by 2030: Step It Up for Gender Equality”. The objective is to build momentum and encourage states to make new commitments to effectively implement the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which are 17 goals intended to end poverty, protect the planet, and ensure prosperity for all by 2030. Read More
A Round Table Event on Supporting Free & Fair Elections in Haiti
Please join the Haiti Advocacy Working Group in a discussion on
Supporting Free & Fair Elections:
Perspectives from Haiti, the U.S. and the International Community
Friday, March 4, 2016 from 2:00pm-4:00pm
Cannon House Office Building, Room 402
Event Description
An accord was signed on February 6, 2016 between outgoing President Michel Martelly and the president of both houses of parliament detailing how institutional continuity would occur at the end of the presidential mandate. Read More
HAWG Statement on the Paris Agreement
When policymakers from around the world came together in December of 2015 to solidify an international climate agreement in Paris, France, we members of the Haiti Advocacy Working Group (HAWG) engaged this process through advocacy, programmatic strategy, and grassroots activism. As we laud the spirit of international collaboration for climate action that inspired the Paris Conference, we also recognize that the Paris Agreement which ultimately emerged from these negotiations must be strengthened and improved this year and in the years to come to avoid exacerbating existing problems in highly vulnerable countries like Haiti. Read More