At a congressional reception, U.S. Representative John Conyers, Jr. (Michigan) speaks to fellow lawmakers, members of U.S. advocacy groups, activists from Haitian civil society organizations and Haitian Disaspora groups, on the first day of Haiti Advocacy Week in Washington (January 23 – 25, 2012) Photo: Barbara Fallon/Public Relations
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Church World Service and other members of the Haiti Advocacy Working Group (HAWG), a coalition of major U.S. non-profits committed to Haiti, aren’t stopping their efforts because the second anniversary of Haiti’s shattering earthquake has passed: The coalition has scheduled a battery of events in Washington this week (January 23 – January 25) to press for a more just reconstruction and faster development to meet the severe needs of Haiti’s vulnerable populations.
HAWG will host a series of briefings and a reception, featuring five members of Congress, Haitian and Haitian Diaspora partners in the U.S., the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) and the U.S. Department of State.
Two years after the earthquake, progress is slow and there have been a growing number of grassroots movements in Haiti – the poorest country in the western hemisphere. Over a half million Haitians remain in squalid camps and, in the midst of drastic need, $500 million of U.S. funds remain unspent. Priority issues include land and housing rights, gender-based violence, camp conditions, health and cholera and the need for stronger aid accountability and transparency.
WHAT:
Haiti Advocacy Week
WHEN:
Monday, Jan. 23 – Wednesday, Jan. 25, 2012
Key briefings:
Monday, January 23:
4:00-6:00 p.m.
Gender-based Violence Briefing
B-369 Rayburn House Office Building
Sponsored by U.S. Representatives Barbara Lee (Calif.) and Fredericka Wilson (Fla.).
6:00-8:00 p.m.
Reception in Capitol Building
(HVC215)
With Members of Congress in honor of Haitian guests
Tuesday, January 24:
9:00 -10:30 a.m.
Cholera Briefing
Rayburn Gold Room
Sponsored by Reps. Lee, Yvette Clarke (N.Y.) and Donald Payne (N.J.)
12 noon-2:00 p.m.
TransAfrica Forum and Center for Economic Policy Research-sponsored documentary, “Where Has All the Money Gone?”
and
Aid Accountability Briefing
Rayburn 2103
Sponsored by Rep. Clarke
2:00-4:00 p.m.
Land and Housing Briefing
2103 Rayburn
Sponsored by Reps. Lee, Wilson, Clarke and Payne
Wednesday, January 25:
9:0010:30 a.m.
Media Room for interviews with Members of Congress, HAWG members and Haiti experts
Rayburn 2103
Sponsored by Rep. Maxine Waters (Calif.)
10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
Democracy and Governance Briefing
Rayburn 2456
Sponsored by Rep. Waters
WHO:
Among Haitian Grassroots and Haitian Diaspora participants:
Antonal Mortime, director of the Haitian Human Rights Platform, a coalition of nine Haitian human rights organizations advocating for victims in many of Port-au-Prince’s 1,300+ refugee camps
Marie Ange Noel, coordinator of Women Decide, a Haitian-based NGO with more than 20 years experience in women’s health and human rights
Rene Magloire, previous Haitian Minister of Justice
Five Members of Congress:
Rep. Yvette Clarke (N.Y.)
Rep. Barbara Lee (Calif.)
Rep. Donald Payne (N.J.)
Rep. Maxine Waters (Calif.)
Rep. Frederica Wilson (Fla.)
The Haiti Action Working Group includes:
ActionAid USA, Alternative Change/Chans Altenativ, American Jewish World Service, Center for Economic and Policy Research, Center for Gender and Refugee Studies-University of California Hasting College of Law, Church World Service, Environmental Justice Initiative for Haiti, Fonkoze USA, Gender Action, Grassroots International, Institute for Justice and Democracy in Haiti, International Rescue Committee, Jesuit Refugee Service/USA, Latin America Working Group, Li, Li, Li, Read, MADRE, Mennonite Central Committee U.S.-Washington Office, National Lawyers Guild-Environmental Justice Center, Oxfam America, Partners in Health, The Andora Project, The Haiti Fund at the Boston Foundation, TransAfrica Forum, United Methodist Church, General Board of Church and Society, Unitarian Universalist Service Committee, University of Miami School of Law-Human Rights Clinic