The Departmental Forum of Northeast on public policy, was held in Fort-Liberté. At that time, the priorities of the population of this department have been submitted to the highest Haitian authorities, in the form of specifications, with the hope to see them integrated into the sectoral public policies and the budget of the Republic.

The "Departmental Specifications using an approach based on Human Rights (AFDH)" (Cahier des charges départemental selon une Approche Fondée sur les Droits de l’Homme) is a first of its kind in Haiti because this document reflects the economic, social and cultural rights of Haitian citizens.

All these needs have been identified by civil society organizations whose the Departmental coordination of the Initiative committees of the northeast (CODCINE), the Rally of Farmer of Mont-Organisé (RPM) and the Sant pou la Kilti ak Devlopman Karis (SKDK), following an inventory conducted by them and by other actors in the region. This was made possible with the support of the Departmental Directorate of the Ministry of Planning and External Cooperation (MPCE) of the Northeast, the Fund of Economic and Social Assistance (FAES), the Human Rights Section of the Minustah/Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights and the municipalities of Northeast.

Francique Pierre coordinator of CODCINE considers that the Specification has been compiled following a "democratic and participatory approach in the interest of ensuring the expression of the demands of the people." The complaints registered in this document include, inter alia, the insufficient number of schools, deficiencies in sanitation and health personnel, lack of irrigation in agricultural areas, deforestation increased, the lack of centers of leisure and the insufficient number of police officers. This is to address them that the focus is put on priority on the actions to engage in the rights to education, health, food, a healthy environment, to a decent standard of living, justice and security.

In the short term, it is recommended among other to the authorities, to promote a quality education linked to the accessibility to education or even improving the benefits of teachers. In the medium term, the Specifications focuses on justice and security and recommends the establishment of a border police force. The priorities of the long-term, include, for example, the relaxation of the conditions of agricultural marketing of border municipalities.

"This initiative is part of the vision of President Martelly, particularly through his project of free education for all children of Haiti," declared the representative of the Head of State of Haiti in this Forum, Benoit Lesly.

For Rodolphe Joazile, President of the Senate "through this pilot initiative, the Northeast shows that in the dialogue and the respect for others, we can find solutions to the problems that we have [...] Our Constitution recognizes all of these rights. This departmental Specification is a road map for each Senator, each elected, for each Minister."

HL/ HaitiLibre