The human rights organization RNDDH has reported that detainees in Haitian police stations are living in inhumane and degrading conditions due to overcrowding and the use of makeshift prisons. The country’s weakened judicial system and insecurity have led to the use of police stations as detention centers, which are not equipped or designed for this purpose. RNDDH inspected six police stations in Haiti’s Ouest Department and found very alarming conditions. The organization has urged the judicial system to take immediate action. Many detainees are being held in filthy, cramped, and nauseating detention centers, and some have not received visits from family members, limiting their access to food and water. Overcrowding and gang attacks have delayed the transfer of detainees to other prisons. The situation has led to a humanitarian crisis, with tens of thousands of Haitians forced to flee their homes due to increased violence by armed gangs.
A Haitian rights group recently denounced the “inhumane” police jails in the country. The group, Human Rights Experts, called for a change in the police station’s conditions and requested the immediate reparations for victims of police brutality.
The report from the group found that many installations did not meet official standards as defined by the Haitian Government and the UN. It detailed grim commotion of overcrowded rooms, expired food, and insufficient medical treatments. It also highlighted an alarming correlation between the amount of people detained and the amount of time they had to wait before seeing a court.
The study was based on interviews with victims and witnesses, as well as investigative visits to the jails. The group believes the inhumane conditions of police jails is a direct result of the lack of oversight by government authorities.
As a response, the Human Rights Experts are calling for the immediate reparation of victims of police brutality by providing financial compensation for victims, and the setting of minimum standards for police facilities and procedures. They are also calling on the Haitian government to uphold the rights and protections of the Haitian people and to hold government officers responsible for violations of these rights.
The group claims that the situation in the country is a violation of the Haitian Constitution and international law. They are hopeful that this case will bring about change in the police establishments in Haiti.
