Friday July 11, 2014 Marie Maude Joseph was given freedom without any punishment after she tortured and enslaved in her house in Haiti a young innocent girl. The incident of the minor young girl Eveline F. and her abuser Marie Maude Joseph being set free has raised the issue of transparency within the Haitian justice system. The Haitian Government Commissioner in Saint Marc, Me Lumeran Dieunel, the highest judicial authority in the region, has left a demoralizing effect, on those that witnessed the “trial” and all the Haitian children under forced labor AKA “Restavek”, of whether justice will ever be served to those children that are abandoned by their families into slavery. Local political, religious and civil leaders in Saint Marc, Haiti were directly informed but unresponsive, to include Député Altes Toussaint, and the community at large via radio. This case was just one of many human rights crimes that occur in Saint Marc, Haiti on a daily basis. Rights of minors are violated in the thirdworld country of Haiti. Up to 400,000 children are treated as laborers, tortured and forced to work under harsh conditions while their abusers don’t have to worry about being caught because the court is probable to give a verdict of freedom. USAID and MINUSTHA are financially invested to support human rights in Haiti. Local nonprofit organizations like FEFBA are active by providing legal expertise to victims, typically young women. Haitian law and international human rights treaties prohibit torture, child labor, forced labor, and enslavement. The Haitian National Police actively investigate reported cases of child abuse. The Haitian judicial system, however, has failed to punish the abusers. On July 11, 2014 Ayiti Now Corp reported to the Haitian National Police Chief in Saint Marc a severe case of child abuse. The abuser, Marie Maude Joseph, the wife of a local lawyer, was arrested after the victim testified against the abuser, the abuser self incriminated herself and the Government Commissioner witnessed the child’s body full of scars and wounds. The abuser’s family returned to court shortly after the arrest with a relative also practicing law and without formal hearing the abuser was released. The victim was temporarily assigned to a member of the abuser’s family. After consistent demands, Ayiti Now Corp was able to reunite the child with the biological father. The human rights violation, the crime, the abuse of a minor, the enslavement of a minor, the torture of a Restavek minor are unpunished offenses in the Haitian judicial system. Haiti has a very blurry line between personal interest, institutional interests, and professional ethics, with a deep rooted sense of a “code of silence”. The Haitian Justice Department must punish child abuse, torture, and child labor as provided by Haitian law. Abusers must be made aware that the judicial system has zero tolerance for this crimes. Children in “domesticity” must know that the law and the judicial system will protect them from abuse as provided by Haitian law. https://www.haiti-now.org/
The Haitian Justice Department must punish child abuse, torture, and child labor as provided by Haitian law. Abusers must be made aware that the judicial system has zero tolerance for this crimes. Children in “domesticity” must know that the law and the judicial system will protect them from abuse as provided by Haitian law. https://www.haiti-now.org/