JUSTICE FOR HAITIAN RAPE VICTIMS: DWA FANM STANDS IN SOLIDARITY WITH HAITIAN AND INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S RIGHTS GROUPS TO DEMAND JUSTICE FOR RAPE VICTIMS IN HAITI’S PENITENTIARIES.

Brooklyn, NY and Port-au-Prince, Haiti, February 28, 2003 – Two women’s advocacy organizations, Dwa Fanm based in Brooklyn, New York, and ENFOFANM, located in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, demand justice for Natacha Jean-Jacques and countless of other women who are victimized daily by the Haitian penal system.

Natacha Jean-Jacques, an 18 year-old girl and still a minor under Haitian law, was raped in February 2002 by a health care practitioner at Fort National in Port-au-Prince, where Natacha was wrongfully imprisoned for almost 3 years. Natacha became pregnant as a result of the rape, and she gave birth in prison to a baby boy who is now three months old.

Natacha’s nightmare began when she was 15 years old. On March 6, 2000, a notorious gang of young men in Natacha’s neighborhood of Ti Bwa (Martissant) broke into her home, battered Natacha and her mother Yolaine, and tried to rape Natacha. To defend herself, Natacha took control of a knife belonging to one of her rapists and stabbed him in the head. Despite her mother’s pleas, previous complaints to the police, and the boys’ history of sexual assault, harassment and abuse of women and girls in the community, Natacha was immediately arrested and incarcerated, violating her rights to due process.

Natacha was never brought before a judge to be charged, nor were the men who attacked her ever prosecuted. She languished in a juvenile prison, Fort National, while her attackers roamed free. In February 2002, Natacha was again raped. This time her violator was a health practitioner at the prison. When prison officials learned that Natacha was pregnant, no formal complaint was filed against the rapist for crimes against Natacha, or the many other young girls within the prison system who had also been violated. Instead, he was strategically moved to other prisons throughout the island, along with all those who could bear witness to the rape.

In addition to being denied the right to demand prosecution of the perpetrator, Natacha was ordered to keep silent about the incident. Aided by a fellow inmate, she gave birth to her child without pre- or post-natal medical care. Natacha has still not been arraigned for the case of self-defense against her rapists, nor has she received formal documents ordering her lawful release from Fort National Prison. Natacha’s child now runs the risk of being placed in an orphanage against her will, thus violating her child’s right to protection.

Natacha’s mother, Mrs. Yolaine Benjamin, demands justice for her daughter and retribution for those who raped Natacha and violated her human rights while in the penal system. This mother’s cry is one of many all over Haiti for justice for women and girls who are surviving rape. Although through their activism, Enfofanm and Kay Fanm secured the release of Natacha from prison this past February 14, 2003, Natacha’s mother demands formal release documents for her daughter for fear that her daughter will be considered a fugitive and re-arrested. Since her release Natacha has been living in Ofatma Hospital, and last week she found shelter in the home of a member of the Women’s Ministry in Haiti.

As Haitians the world over prepare to celebrate the 200th anniversary of Haiti’s independence and freedom from slavery, Haitian women and girls still struggle to have their most basic human rights recognized and respected. Equality and justice are still not a reality for Haitian women.

However, Natacha’s neighborhood of Ti Bwa is not the only place where women are gang raped and targeted by men. A persistent culture of rape and violence against women pervades all of our neighborhoods. In the U.S. alone a woman is raped every two minutes.

As we prepare to commemorate Women’s History Month, Dwa Fanm, and two partner organizations in Haiti, Enfofanm and Kay Fanm, urge members of the Haitian community to act now! It is time for the Haitian community to acknowledge the importance of women’s issues and make them a priority. These violations affect all of us and poison our families. Support our efforts in demanding that the Haitian authorities responsible for violence against Natacha and countless of other women be brought to justice.

Join the struggle to change the living conditions of women in Haiti, the United States and elsewhere. Call Dwa Fanm at 718-230-4027 for more detailed information on Natacha’s case and the steps that have been taken to rectify and address violence against women and girls. Contact Calixte Delatour at The Ministry of Justice and Public Security (MJSP) by telephone: 509-235-1646, fax: 509-245-0474, or write to him at 19, Avenue Charles Summer, Port-au-Prince, Haiti. Contact Ginette Riviere Lubin at the Women’s Ministry (MCFDF) Tel: 509-249-7106, Fax: 509-249-5912 or write to her at 1 Rue Biassou, Demas 31, Port-au-Prince, Haiti. Fax the Administration of the National Penitentiary System (APENA), Neckel Dessables at 509- 222-4163 and write to him at Delmas 33 (entrée Haitian Tractor), Rue Feleming, Citté Militaire, Port-au-Prince, Haiti.

Start your own petition in your own neighborhood, school or family. To obtain a form letter in English or French concerning Natacha’s case, go to one of the links below or call Dwa Fanm at 718-230-4027 and it will be faxed to you immediately.

The story of Natacha Jean-Jacques - French
Letter Writing Campaign - English
Letter Writing Campaign - French
Letter to specific Haitian Authorities - French
Case Notes: Rape victims in Haiti Prisons - French Version