HUMAN RIGHTS MOVEMENT
The Global Justice Clinic, the International Human Rights Clinic at Harvard Law School, and the Lowenstein International Human Rights Clinic at Yale Law School issued a statement on February 13, 2021 expressing grave concern about the deteriorating human rights situation in Haiti. Credible evidence shows that President Jovenel Moïse has engaged in a pattern of conduct to create a Constitutional crisis and consolidate power that undermines the rule of law in the country. The three clinics call on the U.S. government to denounce recent acts by President Moïse that have escalated the constitutional crisis. They urge the U.S. to halt all deportation and expulsion flights to Haiti in this fragile time; to condemn recent violence against protestors and journalists; and to call for the release of those arbitrarily detained. With long experience working in solidarity with Haitian civil society, the clinics urge the U.S. government to recognize the right of the Haitian people to self-determination by neither insisting on nor supporting elections without evidence of concrete measures to ensure that they are free, fair, and inclusive.
The Clinics also sent a letter expressing similar concerns to the member states of the United Nations Security Council ahead of their meeting on February 22, 2021, which is expected to include a briefing on Haiti from the Special Representative of the Secretary-General and head of the UN Integrated Office in Haiti (BINUH).
February 14, 2021
This post reflects the statement of the Global Justice Clinic, and not necessarily the views of NYU, NYU Law, or the Center for Human Rights and Global Justice.
