Fanm Deside

Solidarite Fanm Ayisyn SOFA

Asosyasyon Fanm Soly Dayiti AFASDA
Conseil Hatien des Acteurs Non Etatiques CONHANE
Rseau National de Dfense des Droits Humains RNDDH
Commission Episcopale Nationale Justice et Paix CE-JILAP
Centre dAnalyses et de Recherches en Droits de lHomme CARDH
Plateforme des Organisations Hatiennes des Droits Humains POHDH
Mouvement des Femmes Hatiennes pour lEducation et le Dveloppement - MOUFHED

Operation to awaken the population in order to protect the Haitian youth:

Fanm Deside, SOFA, AFASDA, CONHANE, RNDDH, CE-JILAP, CARDH, POHDH and
MOUFHED demand that the Haitian authorities curb youth debauchery and devaluation of
carnival and Haitian culture.

Haitian carnival, since time immemorial, has always been the most anticipated cultural event of the
year.

In its debut, the musical groups and the foot bands took from real stories, epics to sing and depict the
Haitian social reality. For their part, dance and theater groups used their creativity to represent
everyday scenes of life and to create awareness and education community members.

For several years, this form of expression was appreciated by society, but has disappeared to give way
to raw texts, without respect for Haitian culture and ancestral habits and especially for the bodies of
women and young girls. Today, incentives for violence and debauchery are numerous. Slightly veiled
insults against women and girls are the inspiration for songwriters for the majority of carnival songs.

This reality reached worrying proportions at national carnival of 2017 where during the three days of
celebration, the former President Michel Joseph MARTELLY, attacked the moral and psychical
integrity of two (2) personalities well known in the country, specifically, Jean Monard METELLUS
and Marie Liliane PIERRE-PAUL.

In general, the youth are carried swayed by rhythm, music and festivities and alcohol, and chanting,
with Michel Joseph MARTELLYs insulting remarks, in total disrespect of the principles and values of
human rights . Many media outlets broadcast these performances live, thus offering other young
people who were not present the opportunity to follow in real time this obsequious spectacle.

The Haitian judiciary has not assumed its responsibilities. Former President Joseph Martelly, during
the last carnival festivities, violated not only the basic rules of morality, but also the provisions of
Articles 281 and 283 of the Penal Code annotated by Master Patrick PIERRE-LOUIS, relating to
morals and to modesty.

In addition, many Disc Jockeys have become accustomed to broadcasting offensive music, attacking
the dignity of women and girls.

Nearly naked women and girls are paid to dance lewdly, which changes the choreography on videos to
be similar to rated x scenes.

Fanm Deside, SOFA, AFASDA, CONHANE, RNDDH, CE-JILAP, CARDH, POHDH and MOUFHED demand that the Haitian
authorities curb youth debauchery and devaluation of carnival and Haitian culture.

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It is therefore clear that Haitian society is far from the time when the Haitian carnival was vibrant. It
is now an example of the perversion of the Haitian youth and the devaluation of carnival and Haitian
culture.

The little to no legal oversight over the actions of minors does not help the situation, minors and young
adults are coerced to act contrary to the values and principles of human rights. Their speech is colored
with the sexual and attacks the dignity of others.

This is why the following organizations, Fanm Deside, SOFA, AFASDA, CONHANE, RNDDH, CE-
JILAP, CARDH, POHDH and MOUFHED invite all Haitian fathers and mothers, members of civil
society organizations, politicians, members of grassroot organizations, members of youth organizations
who are outraged by the direction of the Haitian youth led by many Haitian musicians and Disk-
Jockeys and wish to awaken the population by signing the petition to present to the Haitian
Parliament with the aim of reducing youth debauchery and the devaluation of carnival and Haitian
culture. This petition insists:

That Haitian Parliament legislate on risky or negligent behavior of minors in Haiti, the
devaluation of carnival and Haitian culture and impose severe penalties on music groups, Disc
Jockey and any person who incites youth to engage in risky or negligent behavior;

That government body focused on audiovisual communication be established as soon as

possible, with the obligation of monitoring and ensuring the conformity of lyrics with the
general principles of good morals in Haitian culture;

That musical lyrics must be monitored for discriminatory, xenophobic, abusive, derogatory, or
anything contrary to the protection of minors, inciting to debauchery and the disrespect of
Haitian culture, human rights, womens rights; and these lyrics should be banned from being
broadcast;

That nocturnal activities be prohibited to minors and that club officials prohibit entry to minors

That minors be clearly prohibited from smoking and drinking alcohol;

That activities targeting youth, mostly recreation days or after school are rigorously controlled;

That all national and official debauchery programs, such as Ti Sourit, be banned across the
country and replaced by community forums; that these forums be held at the end of the week
and in the afternoon.

This petition is open for signature and is also available at the offices of the aforementioned
organizations as well as in their departmental network offices.

A society is built on respect. Let us teach our young people self-respect and to respect others.
Let us wake up and protect our Haitian youth!

Port-au-Prince, March 8, 2017

Fanm Deside, SOFA, AFASDA, CONHANE, RNDDH, CE-JILAP, CARDH, POHDH and MOUFHED demand that the Haitian
authorities curb youth debauchery and devaluation of carnival and Haitian culture.