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Women’s Commission Deplores Continued Interception and Return of Haitian Refugees

New York, NY

The Women’s Commission for Refugee Women and Children deplores the recent U.S. Coast Guard’s interception at sea of 686 Haitians with little if any review of their asylum claims. Political violence, lawlessness and human rights abuses still abound in Haiti; victims have little protection or recourse.

“Many communities outside Port-au-Prince do not have legitimate local governments and are controlled by armed groups, of which there are still many in Haiti,” says Wendy Young, director of external relations. “This lawlessness has led to an increase in human rights abuses and other acts of violence throughout the country. Meanwhile, the United States is summarily turning Haitian refugees back without giving them a chance to voice credible fear of return. This is callous and a violation of international law.”

The U.S. Coast Guard has returned 1,591 Haitians since Feb. 21. In the most recent interception, the refugees were packed “shoulder-to-shoulder” in three rickety sailboats. The United States also continues to deport Haitian refugees living in this country. Last month, it deported several Haitian women – one was five months pregnant; the father lives in New Jersey.

A recent United Nations report found that the absence of the rule of law has reinforced a climate of impunity that has led to an increase in extrajudicial killings, arbitrary arrests, wrongful detentions, abductions, attacks against journalists, human trafficking, sexual violence against women and girls and the use of child soldiers by various parties.

Haiti’s Office of the Protection of Citizens has been unable to act upon violations committed against human rights activists, political opponents and journalists.

“Clearly, the situation in Haiti is still dangerous and unstable,” Young says. “We cannot return Haitian refugees to a situation where their lives, in many cases, are in danger. This discriminatory treatment of Haitian refugees must come to an end.”