Menu

United States Institute of Peace

Home ▶ Events

Haiti: Addressing Rule of Law After the Earthquake

Date: Friday, February 12, 2010 / Time: 4:30am - 6:30am 

Share This
Print the Page

The Haitian government is leading efforts to address serious rule of law challenges brought about by the recent earthquake, including the destruction of key justice infrastructure and the loss of life within the justice system.  What can be done now to provide the Haitian people with rule of law?  How should the pre-existing rule of law strategy be altered to reflect the reality on the ground and to ensure long-term rule of law? 

Prior to January 12th, Haiti was making significant progress towards the rule of law. Today, the Haitian government is leading efforts to address the serious justice and security challenges brought about by the earthquake, including the destruction of key infrastructure and the loss of life of justice personnel. Moreover, with the system weakened, certain criminal elements have been perpetrating serious crimes. What can be done now to ensure law and order in Haiti? How should the pre-existing justice strategy be altered to reflect the reality on the ground and to ensure long-term rule of law?

Speakers

  • René Magloire
    Former Minister of Justice of Haiti and currently Special Adviser to the President and the Ministry of Justice of Haiti
  • Tara Sonenshine, Introductory Remarks
    Executive Vice President, United States Institute of Peace
  • Vivienne O'Connor, Moderator
    Senior Rule of Law Adviser, United States Institute of Peace

 

Related Publications

Hard Work Ahead: Haiti’s Government Seeks to Restore Security with International Support

Hard Work Ahead: Haiti’s Government Seeks to Restore Security with International Support

Thursday, June 20, 2024

By: Keith Mines;  Kirk Randolph

Many Haitians expressed genuine sympathy and shared loss when an American missionary couple, Davy and Natalie Lloyd, were killed by gangs alongside Jude Montis, the local director of the Missions in Haiti organization where they were working. Following a confusing few hours of attacks and counter-attacks by rival gangs on May 23, the tragic shootings and subsequent burning of the male bodies quickly made national news in the United States, in part because of the prominence of the couple — Natalie Lloyd is the daughter of Missouri State Representative Ben Baker and Davy Lloyd’s family is prominent in Oklahoma.

Type: Analysis

Democracy & Governance;  Justice, Security & Rule of Law

How to Break the Cycle of Weak Elections in Haiti

How to Break the Cycle of Weak Elections in Haiti

Thursday, June 20, 2024

By: Arnoux Descardes

Haiti’s new Presidential Transition Council and the prime minister have a lot to do as they try to take back the country’s security from armed gangs while addressing the ongoing humanitarian crisis. They must also focus on leading the country to elections mandated to take place by February 2026. Given the weak and controversial elections Haiti has endured in recent cycles, the new government and its international supporters will need to focus on creating conditions for a viable election that will crown the upcoming period of social and political restoration.

Type: Analysis

Global Elections & Conflict

Keith Mines on the Latest from Haiti

Keith Mines on the Latest from Haiti

Wednesday, June 12, 2024

By: Keith Mines

While Haiti’s Transitional Council has appointed a prime minister to lead a temporary government and the Kenyan-led international security mission is expected to deploy soon, “[Haiti’s] gangs are still pretty strong,” says USIP’s Keith Mines. “There’s really going to be a fight for power … over the coming months.”

Type: Podcast

America’s Vital 21st-Century ‘Partnership With Africa’ — and Kenya’s Key Role

America’s Vital 21st-Century ‘Partnership With Africa’ — and Kenya’s Key Role

Wednesday, May 29, 2024

By: Ambassador Johnnie Carson

The state visit to Washington last week by Kenya’s President William Ruto provides a moment in which to assess not simply a major U.S. bilateral partnership in Africa, but the progress of the United States’ declared intent to build a strategic partnership with the continent overall. The U.S. government in 2022 declared that partnership vital to U.S. interests — a recognition of Africa’s rising economic potential and its inevitably central role in all efforts to build global stability and prosperity in this century. Former assistant secretary of state for Africa Johnnie Carson, now a senior advisor at USIP, assessed the visit and the progress in building that new, transatlantic partnership.

Type: Question and Answer

Global Policy

View All Publications