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Presentation
The Platform for Haitian
Organizations for the
Defense of Human Rights
(POHDH) is an association
of eight (8) non-profit,
non-governmental Haitian
rights institutions
grouped around shared
principles and common
practices. It is
independent and does not
act on behalf of any
other group or political
party. POHDH is
acknowledged to be a
public service
organization by
presidential order as of,
January 23rd, 1996,
published in the Monitor,
January 31, 1996 (151th
#9).
I-Philosophy
The member institutions
of POHDH are bound by a
certain number of shared
beliefs which constitute
the philosophy of the
organization:
1.1 Human rights surpass
solely civil and
political rights.
They concern all aspects
of human life,
particularly social,
economic and cultural
aspects.
1.2 Human rights are not
only individual, but also
collective rights.
1.3 The struggle for
human rights is situated
within the framework of a
permanent fight for a
democratic society.
It does not only
constitute concern
regarding crisis
situations.
1.4 One of the tasks of
human rights defense
organizations must
consist of aiding the
population in becoming
active participants in
the struggle for the
defense of their rights
and in the construction
of a new justice system.
II-History
POHDH was created
after the coup d'état of
1991. The systematic
suppression of the
military against the
democratic and popular
movement, which followed
this event, and the mass
amount of human rights
violations in general,
was the motivation for
social and community
development organizations
to regroup with the
purpose of initiating
actions specifically in
the field of human
rights.
In view of the context of
its origins, Platform was
predominantly interested
in civil and political
rights. However, since
the general meeting of
1992, economic, social
and cultural rights, with
a particular accent on
the women’s rights,
have been inscribed as a
priority in POHDH’s
annual programs.
Nevertheless, civil and
political rights are not
overlooked. In this
context of political
crisis, Haiti will again
experience an upsurge of
violations of civil
liberties.
III-Objectives
POHDH has the following
objectives:
3.1 To actively engage
with the population in
the struggle for the
promotion and defense of
human rights,
3.2 To allow its member
organizations to exchange
their experiences, to
share their human and
material resources and to
consult together
regarding human rights
problems in Haiti,
3.3 To promote actions
responding to the need
for training in the field
of human rights and the
legal assistance problem
in Haiti,
3.4 To assure permanent
monitoring of the human
rights situation in the
country (the collection,
verification and
distribution of
information).
Finally, Platform must
become a credible
reference in regards to
the monitoring of the
human rights situation in
Haiti, both on national
and international level.
The organization aspirers
to promote concrete
actions in response to
the problem of legal
assistance in
Haiti.
IV-The Operation
Structure of POHDH
The three (3) principle
organs of the Platform
are: the General
Assembly, the
Coordination Committee
and the Executive
Secretariat.
4.1. The General
Assembly
The General Assembly, the
highest level of
leadership within POHDH,
is formed by
representatives of the
eight (8) member
institutions and its
principal tasks are as
follows:
- To analyze
and ratify the
Platform’s general
policy, prepared by the
Coordination Committee,
- To analyze
and ratify the annual
programs prepared by the
Secretariat,
- To sanction
or approve the annual
activity reports of
POHDH,
- To elect the
Committee Coordination
responsible to ensure the
implementation of its
decisions.
4.2. The Coordination
Committee
This committee is
composed of a General
Coordinator, a General
Secretary and a
Treasurer, each elected
for a two (2) year,
renewable term. The tasks
of the committee are:
- To prepare
POHDH’s general
policy, in consultation with
the member institutions,
- To implement
a quarterly follow-up
procedure for this
policy,
- To evaluate
the movement of Human
Rights in relation to
POHDH’s vision,
- To be the
public spokesperson for
the organization.
4.3. The Executive
Secretariat
The authority to
implement the activities
of POHDH, the
Secretariat, is composed
of the Executive
Secretary, the
Administrator, permanent
employees of the
commissions, the
Secretary and
support personnel.
Its principal tasks are:
- To carry out
the action plan developed
by the Coordination
Committee, through the
commissions,
- To produce
the Member
Institutions’
liaison report ,
- To ensure
POHDH’s
administration and
financial management,
- To occupy
the role of the public
spokesperson for the
organization in
conjunction with the
General Secretary.
4.3.1. The Commissions
The four (4) Commissions:
a) the Education in
the Culture of Human
Rights Commission
(CECDH), b) the Human
Rights Observation
Commission (CODH), c) the
Judicial Intervention
Commission (CIJ),
and the d)
Research, Analysis and
Reflection Commission
(CRAR).
Composed of delegates
from the institutions
members, the commissions
are the internal working
structures of the policy
defined by POHDH’s
Coordination
Committee. In this
sense, they manage the
various programs of the
institution.
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