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ADF initiated its work in Haiti in 1985, shortly before Jean-Claude ("Baby Doc") Duvalier was deposed as "President for Life." Since that time, ADF has provided assistance to the Haitian people in their struggle for democracy without pause. Over the years ADF, with support from the National Endowment for Democracy, USAID/Haiti, and several private foundations, has provided assistance to numerous Haitian NGOs promoting the development of democracy. ADF’s diverse programs have addressed civic education, organization of grassroots democratic networks; human rights education and protection; legal assistance and education; support for an independent media; and voter education and participation in electoral processes.
Haiti
Central America and Caribbean: Haiti
ADF initiated its work in Haiti in 1985, shortly before Jean-Claude ("Baby Doc") Duvalier was deposed as "President for Life." Since that time, ADF has provided assistance to the Haitian people in their struggle for democracy without pause. Over the years ADF, with support from the National Endowment for Democracy, USAID/Haiti, and several private foundations, has provided assistance to numerous Haitian NGOs promoting the development of democracy. ADF’s diverse programs have addressed civic education, organization of grassroots democratic networks; human rights education and protection; legal assistance and education; support for an independent media; and voter education and participation in electoral processes.ADF conducted several programs in Haiti to strengthen civil society and improve the prospects of democratic governance. ADF’s diverse activities included civic education; organization of grassroots democratic networks; human rights education and protection; legal assistance and education; support for an independent media; and voter education and participation in electoral processes. These programs were among the very first democracy-building activities funded by USAID anywhere in the world.
ADF has conducted four types of programs in Haiti to strengthen civil society and improve the prospects of democratic governance. These programs include:
- Large scale civic education programs through local NGO networks;
- The civil society and local government components of the Democracy Enhancement Project phase I and the civil society component of phase II;
- The Human Rights Fund including its Community Police Relations Program; and
- The Citizens' Networks Program: Mobilizing Popular Organizations for Democratic Governance.
Please see Highlights for more details on all of ADF’s work in Haiti.
Highlights Haiti: Civic Education
With funding from the NED and USAID, ADF developed partnerships with a number of Haitian CSOs to conduct civic education from 1985–1991. The first phase of this activity took place prior to the departure of Jean Claude Duvalier...
Highlights Haiti: Democracy Enhancement Project
ADF received funding from the USAID-funded Democracy Enhancement Project (DEP) over a period of eight years, from 1991-1999, to support the development of civil society and democratic governance in Haiti...
Highlights Haiti: Human Rights Fund (HRF)
In July 1994, ADF developed and operated the Haiti Human Rights Fund at the height of one of the worst human rights crises in Haiti’s troubled history. ADF provided urgently needed assistance to victims of politically motivated violence and supported Haitians to redress human rights abuses...
Highlights: Haiti Community Mobilization and Development
ADF implemented the Citizens’ Networks (Réseaux des Citoyens) Program funded by USAID from 2000-2002 to foster to conditions necessary for greater influence of civil society organizations on policies, civil society oversight of public institutions and the responsiveness of elected officials...
National Survey of Haitian Democratic Values And Implications For The Development Of Democracy
National Survey of Haitian Democratic Values And Implications For The Development Of Democracy
Human Rights Fund Haiti
HUMAN RIGHTS FUND HAITI
Summary
During the three years of military rule and President Aristide's exile, large elements of Haiti's mosaic of peasant, human rights advocacy and citizen action groups felt compelled to shut down or adopt low profiles. Others continued to speak out against the injustices their members experienced and seek local resources with which to expand their aid to the victims and their families. They urgently needed additional resources, an opportunity to coordinate their actions and a focal point for mutual support and counsel.
To fill this need, the United States Government, through the U.S. Agency for International Development Mission to Haiti (USAID/Haiti), launched a series of human rights round-table discussions in April 1994, and established the $1 million Human Rights Fund in July 1994.
From July through November 1994, the fund provided critically needed services, including urgent medical care and trauma counseling, temporary housing, safe haven and subsistence allowances, and legal aid, asylum advice and prison monitoring to nearly 2,500 families, including over 700 direct victims of violence. With the return of President Aristide, the number of new cases dropped dramatically, and by February 1995, this portion of the Fund’s work ended.
The Fund shifted its focus to training civic education trainers and developing the "Files of Abuse and Persecution" (FAP) database.
Note: Artwork in report is by Frantz Ewald
Summary
During the three years of military rule and President Aristide's exile, large elements of Haiti's mosaic of peasant, human rights advocacy and citizen action groups felt compelled to shut down or adopt low profiles. Others continued to speak out against the injustices their members experienced and seek local resources with which to expand their aid to the victims and their families. They urgently needed additional resources, an opportunity to coordinate their actions and a focal point for mutual support and counsel.
To fill this need, the United States Government, through the U.S. Agency for International Development Mission to Haiti (USAID/Haiti), launched a series of human rights round-table discussions in April 1994, and established the $1 million Human Rights Fund in July 1994.
From July through November 1994, the fund provided critically needed services, including urgent medical care and trauma counseling, temporary housing, safe haven and subsistence allowances, and legal aid, asylum advice and prison monitoring to nearly 2,500 families, including over 700 direct victims of violence. With the return of President Aristide, the number of new cases dropped dramatically, and by February 1995, this portion of the Fund’s work ended.
The Fund shifted its focus to training civic education trainers and developing the "Files of Abuse and Persecution" (FAP) database.
Note: Artwork in report is by Frantz Ewald
Final Report Civic Society Component Haiti 1999
Final Report Civic Society Component Haiti 1999
ADF Haiti Citizens Networks Final Report
ADF Haiti Citizens Networks Final Report
ADF Haiti Human Rights Fund Final Report
ADF Haiti Human Rights Fund Final Report
ADF Haiti Final Report - Citizens Network Program
ADF Haiti Final Report - Citizens Network Program
Human Rights Fund Haiti Info Cover with Original Artwork by Frantz Ewald
