PRESS RELEASE

N° 31/07

 

THE RAPPORTEURSHIP ON THE RIGHTS OF PERSONS DEPRIVED OF LIBERTY

 TO conduct on-site visit to haiti

 

Washington, D.C., June 15, 2007 - At the invitation of the Government of Haiti, the Rapporteur on the Rights of Persons deprived of Liberty and the President of the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) Mr. Florentin Melendez will conduct an on-site visit to the Republic of Haiti from June 17-20, 2007 in order to observe and receive information concerning the human rights situation in the country, and particularly to observe the situation of persons deprived of liberty in select detention centers of Port-au-Prince, which have already been the object of a study published on the administration of justice in Haiti “Haiti: Failed Justice or the Rule of Law? Challenges Ahead for Haiti and the International Community” and to conduct follow-up observations regarding the Commission’s recommendations on the subject of persons deprived of liberty.

 

The delegation will comprise Mr. Florentin Melendez, President of the Commission and Rapporteur on Persons deprived of Liberty, and staff members of the Executive Secretariat in Washington, D.C. While in Haiti, the Commission plans to meet with high-level government officials, members of civil society, including national and international nongovernmental organizations, and representatives of the UN Stabilization Mission in Haiti.

 

               The Rapporteur on Persons deprived of Liberty will organize a conference on the Inter-American system of human rights and the protection of persons deprived of liberty in the Americas. This event will take place on June 18th at 2pm at the Hotel Montana. On June 20th, the Commission will organize a seminar for government authorities and civil society on the protection of persons deprived of liberty.

 

During its visit, the IACHR will be prepared to receive petitions from individuals who allege that their human rights, or the rights of other persons, have been violated. The petitions must be presented in writing and can be delivered to the OAS National Office located at 4 rue François, Musseau, Port-au-Prince, Haiti between 9am-3pm from Monday, April 18th to Wednesday, April 20th. A sample form is available in the OAS National Office or on the Commission’s web site at www.cidh.org.

 

The Commission is grateful for the cooperation and the facilities provided by the Government of Haiti and by civil society organizations and institutions, and international organizations, including the OAS Special Mission, in the preparation of its visit.