Originally published by Sam Bojarski in The Haitian Times, featuring IJDH’s Alexandra Filippova.

“Throughout 2020, human rights groups have raised the alarm about the rise in kidnappings and gang violence in Haiti. 

[…]

On Dec. 10 at 2 p.m. Eastern Time, the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR), will hold a virtual hearing on impunity for ongoing human rights violations and lack of judicial independence in Haiti. IACHR, an organ of the Organization of American States (OAS), is allowing the public to register for a Zoom broadcast. 

With elections likely this winter, observers have cited the rise in politically motivated violence as a major obstacle to a fair electoral process. 

Alexandra Filippova, senior staff attorney at the Institute for Justice and Democracy in Haiti (IJDH), which requested the hearing, said IACHR has deep expertise in identifying and addressing impunity as well as judicial sector challenges. 

IACHR examines human rights violations in the Western hemisphere. As a division of the OAS, it works with member states to resolve human rights issues and raise public awareness.  IACHR holds accessible hearing sessions multiple times each year, Filippova said, with the last hearing on Haiti occurring in September 2019.

[…]

Filippova said she hopes the Dec. 10 hearing will help identify concrete steps for addressing instances of impunity, as well as improving the independence and capacity of the Haitian judiciary. 

‘Since we think there is a clear and direct link between pervasive impunity and judicial dysfunction and current violence and human rights abuses, we also believe this is a path to broader human rights improvements in Haiti,’ Filippova said.”

Read the full article here.