More than 100 people including members of Haiti’s medical and legal communities examined the issue of human rights at a public forum in Port-au-Prince June 14. IFES organized the forum at the Montana Hotel to look at the issues that professionals face when working with victims of organized violence. Human rights abuses are common in Haiti, which has endured years of political turmoil and poverty. The forum is designed to encourage citizens to begin talking about the consequences of violence on Haitian society.

In 2005, IFES began forming units of medical and legal experts in six departments in Haiti in order to provide counseling for victims. The experts working with IFES held smaller forums in the Artibonite, West, Plateau Centrale, South, North and Grande Anse regions prior to the national forum.

“The national forum is an excellent opportunity for the regional units to come together to share their lessons learned and to inform the public in general about the status of victims of violence in Haiti," said Pablo Galarce, IFES’ regional director for the Americas. Forum participants also included prominent members of women’s and human rights organizations in Haiti.

Wednesday’s forum analyzed the problems Haiti faces when basic human rights principles and rule of law are violated. Participants looked at the social and psychological consequences of organized violence and the legal rights of victims. They also agreed that more efforts should be made to inform Haitian citizens about their human rights.

IFES’ Victims of Organized Violence program in Haiti, which is funded by the United States Agency for International Development, has helped more than 900 victims since it began in February 2004. IFES works with local doctors, psychologists and local community groups to provide medical and psychological care to victims. The program also works to find ways to prevent torture and to increase the ability of local human rights organizations to effectively work with victims.