Tomorrow, July 7th, marks the one year anniversary of the assassination of Haiti’s President Jovenel Moïse. His murder came only days after the killings of activist Netty Duclaire, journalist Diego Charles, and nineteen others in Delmas 32. No one has been held to account.
Elections and Democracy
Recent Statements from Members of U.S. Congress on Haiti Governance
Members of Congress continue to speak out on matters related to the governance situation in Haiti and how it factors into the insecurity situation and international affairs.
From Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley “Haitians deserve a chance to determine their future”
Excerpts:
“For too long, U.S. policies and relations with the Haitian people have perpetuated anti-Blackness and exacerbated injustice…
“A lasting solution will require the United States to withdraw support for de facto ruler Ariel Henry, who lacks legitimacy with the Haitian people, and instead, partner with members of Haitian civil society working to end the corruption and impunity that drives people to flee the island. Read More
Opinion: De Facto Haitian Government’s Invitation to Americas Summit Reveals US Double Standards
Jake Johnston of CEPR (a HAWG member) recently published this piece on dynamic between Haiti, the U.S., and the Summit of the Americas.
“The United States is hosting the Summit of the Americas next month in Los Angeles. The gathering of heads of state has occurred roughly every three years since its first meeting, the last to be held in the US, in 1994. Read More
IJDH Publishes Latest Report on Human Rights and Rule of Law in Haiti
HAWG member IJDH has just published its latest update on the human rights and rule of law situation in Haiti, which covers key recent developments relevant to human rights in Haiti from December 2021 through May 2022. It follows our previous biannual publications and longer analytical assessment from May 2019. Read More
With New Global Fragility Act, US Must Avoid Past Mistakes and Let Haitians Control Their Own Democracy
HAWG members have been organizing and participating in consultations with the U.S. government surrounding the implementation process for the Global Fragility Act, a framework now called “Strategy to Prevent Conflict and Promote Stability” (SPCPS). This hopefully fruitful work will continue in coming months.
HAWG member IJDH staffer Sasha Filippova just published this op-ed on the hopes and cautions of this work. Read More
House Members send letter to Sec. Pompeo on Haiti
Press release from Rep. Levin’s office:
Reps. Levin and Lee Send Letter to Sec. Pompeo Expressing Concerns over Violence Against Civil Protesters in Haiti
March 27, 2019
Press Release
Representatives Levin and Lee led a letter with 104 total bipartisan House members asking Secretary Pompeo to investigate corruption and human right violations by the Haitian government.
Haiti’s Eroding Democracy – read the latest article by CEPR’s Jake Johnston
“Haiti stands as a stark reminder of the fragility of electoral democracy amid rising inequality and exclusion. After the fall of the Duvalier dictatorship in 1986, Haiti’s poor majority turned out en masse for general elections, but that cycle appears to be broken. Today, Haiti ranks among the lowest worldwide in terms of voter participation”
Read the full article from CEPR’s intrepid researcher/writer, Jake Johnston, here:
New report shows troubling weaknesses in electoral system
In the week of President-elect Jovenel Moïse’s recent inauguration, a new report by international legal observers argues that Haiti’s democratic institutions are suffering a profound crisis of confidence. Low turnout, voter disenfranchisement and lingering concerns about fraud raise troubling questions about the breadth of the incoming president’s mandate, according to the report, entitled Haiti’s Unrepresentative Democracy: Disenfranchisement and Disillusionment in the November 20 Elections. Read More
Haiti Inaugurates President amid controversy
Jovenel Moïse was recently inaugurated as Haiti’s new president as the country returned to constitutional order following a one-year extra-constitutional period of interim rule due to electoral delays. Moïse had previously come in first in an October 2015 election, only to have the results thrown out due to fraud. Rerun in November 2016 under the interim government that replaced former president Michel Martelly, the elections had Moïse securing more than 50 percent of the vote, winning in the first round. Read More
Election Observation Coalition Press Release
Preliminary Observations of the Coalition regarding the organization and the holding of the November 20, 2016 Elections:
On November 20 2016, the presidential and partial legislative elections were held in the national territory.
The Coalition of Electoral Observation composed of the following organizations observed the process leading up to the aforementioned election:
- Solidarity of Haitian Women – SOFA
- Council of National Electoral Observers – CNO
- Council of Non-State Haitian Actors – CONHANE
- National Human Rights Defense Network – RNDDH
- Center for Research and Analysis of Human Rights – CARDH
- Platform of Haitian Human Rights Organizations – POHDH
Before presenting its detailed report regarding the electoral process and election day, the Coalition wishes to share its first observations and impressions to all those interested in the issue. Read More