IIMA Side event on July 4th, 2012 (20th HRC session):”Haiti: two years after the earthquake”

On 4^th July 2012, the Istituto Internazionale Maria Ausiliatrice (IIMA) organized a side event at Palais des Nations, Geneva, with the support of VIDES International. The event was co-sponsored by the Permanent Missions of Haïti, Uruguay, Costa Rica, Ecuador, El Salvador, Holy See and the NGOs Platform on the Right to Education. The event focused on the current situation in Haïti, with special regards to education, and on results of the humanitarian intervention in the country after two years from the earthquake. The panel consisted of representatives of governments, UN and civil society and as such, the issue was addressed from multiple perspectives. IIMA and VIDES International, represented by Sr Dieudonne Jean Louis (IIMA) and Beltsie Abelard (VIDES), both from Haïti, presented and recommended best practices.

The moderator of the side event, Ms. Maria Francisca Ize-Charrin, former Director of the Field Operations and Technical Cooperation Division (OHCHR), emphasized the significance of the side event as a follow-up to a previous event on Haïti organised by IIMA and VIDES. The first one, in 2010, focused on the importance of ensuring educational continuity to children during humanitarian crisis. Ms. Ize-Charrin said that, two years after this disaster, it is important to assess the effectiveness of the adopted strategies.  

The first speaker was the UN Independent Expert on the situation of Human Rights in Haiti, Mr. Michel Forst, who thanked IIMA and VIDES for the event and congratulate Salesian Sisters for their excellent work in Haïti. He had met them during a visit of the country and was “exceptionally impressed by the quality of the human relationship and the effectiveness of their educational work”. The Independent Expert explained that Haïti is now experiencing a “positive dynamic of change” and he described the progress made since 2010 in both infrastructural reconstruction and reforms aimed at re-establishing the rule of law and strengthening institutions. Mr. Forst recognized that the democratically elected President, M. Michel Joseph Martelly, prioritizes human rights and emphasised that rule of law does not only include civil and political rights, but also social, economical and cultural rights such as the right to education. He stated that these are of the utmost importance for the development.

Mr. Jean Bony Alexandre, representative of the Permanent Mission of Haïti, underlined the serious commitment of President Martelly’s government to education, which is one of the priority issues, together with employment, environment and rule of law. In particular, the government committed itself to ensuring free and compulsory education; guaranteeing the construction of new primary schools; promoting quality education; providing school buses for disadvantaged children; and assuring access to basic social services. Moreover, it established a fund uniquely devoted to education. Mr. Alexandre also illustrated the efforts of the government to improve social services with a focus on children. He noted that although change is occurring, more time is needed. Haïti lacks the necessary resources and still depends on international aids. Mr. Alexandre concluded by thanking Mr. Forst and by drawing attention to the fundamental role played by Salesian Sisters and other religious congregations in the field of education and development.  

Ms. Dieudonne Jean Louis, representative of IIMA, shared good practices of quality education carried out in Haïti, where IIMA promotes the right to education for all children, especially those living in poor areas of the country. Ms. Dieudonne explained that immediately after the earthquake (January 12^th 2010), that caused the destruction of 4000 schools in Haïti, Salesian Sisters of Don Bosco were able to ensure an educational continuity by organizing psychosocial activities to help children to recover from trauma. Two months later, they started academic activities in tents. Then, in the following months, IIMA carried out projects aimed at: infrastructural reconstruction and rehabilitation of schools; improvement of the Haitian educational system towards a quality education through training of teachers and improving vocational training; support to students’ families through microcredit activities and through adequate shelters; promotion of the right to health for all children through nutritional support in schools; promotion of students’ cultural identity and civil responsibility in order to encourage youth to remain in Haïti and contribute to the reconstruction of their country as responsible citizens. In conclusion, Ms. Dieudonne thanked the Haitian government for the support provided and encouraged it to ensure not only the right to education for all children but also the right to quality education and vocational training.

Next to speak was Ms. Maria Clara Martin, Chief of the Americas Section, OHCHR, who first thanked Salesian Sisters of Don Bosco for their commitment around the world to ensure education for all children, especially the most vulnerable. Ms. Martin remarked on the importance of the right to education as a fundamental right required to enjoy all human rights and to escape poverty and social exclusion. She also underlined that, in order to achieve these goals, education must meet the criteria of equality and equity. As regards Haïti, she noted that due to the deficiencies of Haitian educational system even before the earthquake, it is difficult to distinguish contexts of chronic emergency and those related to development. Ms. Martin commended Haïti’s commitment to education but drew attention to the challenge presented by the effective implementation of national programs and plans. She finally described the MINUSTAH initiative (UN Stabilization Mission in Haiti) in the north-east of the country aimed at ensuring the right to education for all. In particular, a monitoring programme of public policies – especially focused on educational policies - was established by MINUSTAH’s Human Rights Section, whose human rights-based approach was highlighted by Ms. Martin. She concluded by confirming OHCHR’s commitment to Haïti.

The following panellist, Ms. Estela Queirolo de Tealdi, counsellor at the Permanent Mission of Uruguay, illustrated the contribution of Uruguay and other South America states in the humanitarian response in Haiti, both immediately after the earthquake and in reconstruction activities. She particularly emphasised the necessity for all stakeholders involved in a humanitarian crisis to remain committed to mainstreaming a human rights perspective in both humanitarian aid and reconstruction efforts, and to deliver adequate and timely assistance. 

Next to speak was Mr. Kishore Singh, UN Special Rapporteur on the Right to Education, who listed the current challenges faced by education: quality education, especially in public schools; equal access to education of boy and girls, in urban and rural or isolated areas; adequate vocational training; equal access to University.  Special attention was given to quality education which is – in Mr. Singh’s view – a crucial aspect in providing education for all. Mr. Singh encouraged all States to ensure free primary education for all children and to provide financial support for ensuring secondary education in disadvantaged areas. The Special Rapporteur stated that mass education is the only way to allow development. He also stated that strengthening the institution of school and promoting education as a common good are actions that contribute to the eradication of poverty. 

Ms. Hélène Bonvalot, representative of Caritas France, which is member of Caritas Internationalis, described their intervention after the earthquake which mainly focused on marginalized urban areas and isolated rural areas and was largely aimed at the reconstruction of educational and social infrastructures.    

Mr. Alfred Fernandez, representative of the NGOs Platform on the Right to Education, emphasized the importance of education, by defining “poverty as lack of education” and highlighted that education is the main instrument for human rights’ enjoyment. For this reason, the right to education must be always ensured, even during emergency situations. Mr. Fernandez noted that, though access to education depends on political will, civil society should promote education as a right. He concluded by affirming that it is useless to guarantees education if it is not quality education.

The final panellist, Ms. Beltsie Abelard, a young Haitian representative of VIDES, closed the event with an account of how Salesian Sisters of Don Bosco contributed to ensuring educational continuity after the earthquake and to brought back hope to Haitian children and young people, encouraging them to remain in Haiti and engage in the process of reconstruction.

The contribution of these distinguished speakers was invaluable, as was their emphasis on the need to invest in quality education as the foundation of all human rights and sustainable development. Each hailed the side event as a great success.