A grouping of civil society organizations: Fanm Deside, SOFA, AFASDA, CONHANE, RNDDH, CE-JILAP, CARDH, POHDH and MOUFHED demand that the Haitian authorities curb the juvenile debauchery and devaluation of carnival and Haitian culture.

This gathering reminds that the Haitian carnival has always been considered as the most anticipated cultural event of the year. Emphasizing that at the beginning, the musical groups and the walking bands took from live stories, epics to sing and depict the Haitian social reality. For their part, dance and theater groups used their creativity to represent everyday life scenes and to convey awareness and training messages to community members.

The group deplored the fact that "for several years now this form of communication, appreciated by society, has disappeared to leave room for raw texts, without inspiration, without respect for Haitian culture and ancestral habits and especially for the bodies of women and girls. Today, incentives for violence and debauchery are numerous. Slightly veiled insults against women and girls are the only inspiration of the authors of the majority of carnival texts. In addition, many Disc Jockeys have become accustomed to broadcasting offensive music, attacking women and girls in their dignity. Women and girls naked or almost naked, are paid to dance lasciviously [...]

It is therefore clear that Haitian society is witnessing of the depravity of Haitian youth and the devaluation of carnival and Haitian culture."

The group points out that the rare provisions of the law on the debauchery of youth do not repress these situations. Therefore, the grouping requires :

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• « That the Haitian Parliament legislate on the risks of debauchery of Haitian youth, the devaluation of carnival and Haitian culture and impose severe penalties on music groups, Disc Jockey and anyone who incites young people to debauch ;

• That an audiovisual communication protection body should be set up as soon as possible, with the obligation to verify the conformity of the texts with the Haitian culture in general and the principle of good morals in particular ;

• That a control of musical texts be carried out and that texts discriminatory, xenophobic, abusive, of denigrating nature, contrary to the protection of minors, inciting to debauchery and disrespectful of Haitian culture, human rights, of women, as well as texts, should be banned of broadcasting ;

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

• That minors be clearly forbidden to smoke and consume alcohol ;

• That activities aimed at the youth, namely, recreational, after-school days, are rigorously controlled ;

• That all national and official debauchery programs, such as Ti Sourit, be banned on national territory and replaced by community forums on weekends and afternoons.

As part of the Operation "awakening of the population" , a petition is open for signature and is available to the population at the premises of the organizations of the regroupment as well as in their departmental structures "A society is built on respect. Let us teach our young people to respect and respect others. Let us wake up and preserve the Haitian youth !"

HL/ S/ HaitiLibre