WOLA: Advocacy for Human Rights in the Americas
Event

Haiti at a Crossroads: Understanding Political Crisis and U.S. Role

Monday, 13 July 2015
Washington DC

WOLA and Oxfam America are pleased to invite you to a discussion with:

Jean-Claude Fignole
Haiti Program Director, Oxfam America

Moderated by:

Gimena Sanchez-Garzoli
Senior Associate, WOLA

Wednesday, July 13
4:00 p.m. — 5: 30 p.m.
1666 Connecticut Ave NW, Suite 400
Washington D.C.

To RSVP please click here.
For more information, please contact Sebastian Bernal at +1 (202) 797-2171
sbernal@wola.org

For press inquiries, please email press@wola.orgor call (202) 797-2171
We hope you can join us.

***

Six years after the magnitude 7.0 earthquake struck Haiti on January 12, 2010, Haiti has shifted from recovery efforts to longer term development as it seeks to improve infrastructure, strengthen institutions, and stablish political stability.

Recent political upheaval has left Haiti in disarray. Former President Michel Martelly ended his constitutional mandate on Feb. 7 without an elected successor, as the elections that were intended to choose the next executive were nullified due to violence and accusations of fraud. Lawmakers chose Senate chief Jocelerme Privert to lead a caretaker government. Privert was mainly tasked with the organization of a new provisional government, and the finalization of the presidential, parliamentarian and municipal elections. However, few of these objectives were met, and now that Privert’s 120-day mandate has expired, he has refused to vacate the office, citing his responsibility to ensure institutional stability as well as Senate and Presidential elections take place on October 9. This confusion has thrown the nation into turmoil, with many nations and international organizations voicing their concerns over the current impasse.

Please join us for a discussion on the current state of Haitian politics and the U.S.’s role in helping the state in its long-term development. The panelist will provide an on-the-ground perspective regarding the current trends in Haiti and possible scenarios as Haiti faces an ongoing socio-political crisis.

Jean Claude Fignole is Oxfam America Program Director in Haiti where he has contributed to the development of the AZUEI cultural movement which uses art to promote reconciliation, peace and a rich human experience between the peoples on both sides of the island of Hispaniola. In his 14 years of experience in Haiti he has worked with la Fondation Sauvons un Pays on revenue generating projects in the rural southeast as well as youth empowerment projects. He helped found GRADIH (Research and Action Group for the Sustainable Development of Haiti) a youth solidarity network and though this group was dissolved, many young movements emerged stronger out the initiative such as KPGA (Konbit Peyizan Grande Anse), OFTAG (Grande-Anse Women Together) and JUPED (Youth for Development Movement of Petit Place Cazeau). At ActionAid, Jean Claude became the organization’s youngest ever Haiti Country Director in 2008. Jean Claude has a BA Honors Degree in Politics from Queen Mary University in London, UK.

Gimena Sanchez-Garzoli, WOLA Senior Associate, has worked on the promotion of Human Rights at various levels for over 20 years. Before joining WOLA, Ms. Sanchez worked at the Brookings Institution-Johns Hopkins/SAIS Project on Internal Displacement, supporting the work of the Representative of the U.N. Secretary General on Internally Displaced Persons, Francis M. Deng. Ms. Sanchez has also worked at Peace Brigades International (PBI), and the U.S. Committee for Refugees. Along with WOLA’s work on Colombia, Ms. Sanchez has led previous WOLA initiatives on Haiti.