Conference Celebrates 10th Anniversary of Haitian Constitution

May 7, 1997 -- On April 28-29, the University of Quisqueya hosted a conference on the 1987 Constitution of Haiti and human rights. The vote for the Constitution was held on March 29, 1987, but April 28 actually marked the 10th anniversary of the day the Constitution entered into force when it was published in the official government gazette, Le Moniteur.

This conference, under the patronage of the President of Haiti and organized by the UN/OAS International Civilian Mission in Haiti (MICIVIH) and the UN Development Program (UNDP) took several months to plan. About 150 people attended the conference each day. Dr. Louis Roy, often called the "father" of the 1987 Constitution and currently the Director of the Office of the Citizens' Protector, was Honorary President and Judge Marie-Jose Crespin, a member of the Constitutional Council of Senegal, was the guest of honor.

Speakers addressed various themes such as the constitution's treatment of women's rights, decentralization and the territorial collectives, human rights protection in the constitution, the effect of international human rights treaties in Haitian domestic law, the constitution and the transition to democracy, the right to vote and the constitution, freedom of expression under the 1987 Constitution and criminal code reform and the judicial system. Speakers represented a wide range of legal and political views. Among them were journalist Jean-Dominique, professor Mirlande Manigat, former Culture Minister Jean-Claude Bajeux, Dean of the Judge's Academy Robert Augustin, Professor Remy Mathieu of the Institut Superieur des Cadres Politiques et Administratifs , Professors Jean-Claude William and Michel-Louis Martin of the University of the Antilles and Guyana, Constitutional historian Claude Moise and Professors Leon St. Louis and Dorval Monferrier of the University of Quisqueya Law Faculty.

In attendance were parliamentarians, members of the executive branch, judges and prosecutors, law professors, journalists, human rights advocates and representatives from the international community in Haiti.

Perhaps the most exciting aspect of the conference was the presence and active participation of numerous law students from around the country. Listening to such a high level of debate on weighty constitutional matters and having the chance to enter into the debate could provide a seminal experience in these young jurists' careers. Students from law faculties in Jeremie, Les Cayes, Jacmel, Gonaives, Hinche, St. Marc, Ft. Liberte, Cap Haitien and Port-au-Prince also had the opportunity to get to know each other over the course of the conference. These future leaders in the legal world brought great enthusiasm and optimism to the conference.

The papers delivered at the conference will be collected, edited and published. It is hoped that Haitian law faculties, bar associations and the Ministry of Justice will take up the baton and organize future such conferences on the constitution and other legal matters.