[rnddh-press] Press Release: Civil State Reform

[RNDDH Info]

The Haitian Government must take the leadership in the Civil State reform

PRESS RELEASE, Port-au-Prince, March 22 2007

 

The signatory organizations of this statement have learned that the
Organization of American States (OAS) will soon carry out the modernization
of the Civil State system in Haiti, and at the same time, retake over the
delivery process of National Identification Cards (CIN).  

 

Unfortunately, for such a sensitive and important issue, no State authority
has bothered to inform the nation of the goals and objectives of this
project which is about to begin. Nor have they specified the role that the
State will assume in this project for the short, middle and long term.  

 

We make a point of stating that the organization of the Civil State is a
responsibility that must be assumed by State authority in order to make
political decisions. The OAS can provide technical and financial assistance,
but in no case should it act as a substitute for the Haitian State. As well,
the Haitian State cannot neglect its responsibilities, nor can it transfer
its responsibilities to another entity.  

 

Nonetheless, the funds have already been distributed and a date has already
been announced for the commencement of this project. And yet no political
decision has been taken concerning the public institutions with which OAS
will work. No explanation has been given to define the terms which will
exist in between the OAS employees and Civil State officials, nor between
the National Identification Office (ONI) and other public institutions which
contribute to Haitian identification, such as the DGI, and Immigration
Services.

 

The modernization of the Haitian Civil State will mark, without a doubt, an
important step towards solving the problems of documentation and
identification of Haitians, insofar as the OAS project is carried out within
Civil State policies clearly defined by the Haitian State.  If not, the
project will not be sustainable, and after two years, there is a risk of
ending up where we started.  

 

In order to avoid disorder, misunderstandings and frustrations of citizens
in search of good identification documents, the signatory organizations of
this statement demand the Haitian State to: 

 

1. Take the political leadership of this Civil State modernization project,
by officially announcing to the nation the role the Haitian State will play
within the short, middle and long term, making this initiative viable and
guaranteeing its sustainability; 

 

2. Inform the nation of the transitional provisions which will be put in
place to bring about the use of original identification cards on national
territory;

 

3. Adopt measures to facilitate the registration of children from 2 to 18
years of age who do not have parents to make a declaration for them;

 

4. Watch over all of the initiatives taken to modernize the Haitian Civil
State, taking into account all of the identification problems occurring
within the current system, such as: family name spelling variations, lack of
means and materials, poor conditions of Civil State offices, lack of
supervision and follow-up of Civil State officers, discrimination towards
women and children within the distribution of birth certificates, etc.;

 

5. Take provisions to facilitate the registration and identification of
Haitians abroad, particularly those who are living in the Dominican
Republic.  

 

Signatory Organizations:

 

• The Support Group for Refugees and Repatriated Persons (GARR)

• The National Human Rights Defense Network (RNDDH)

• Justice and Peace (JILAP)

• Haiti Solidarity International (HSI)

 

Port-au-Prince, March 22, 2007.

 

For authorization, 

 

 

Colette Lespinasse, GARR

 

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