Letter to Haitian President Michel Martelly

Open Letter
Light of Life Foundation
Child Protection Program
Campaign to Eliminate Restavek System

Subject: Presidential Priorities: Situation of children in Restavek

Excellence of Michel Joseph MARTELLY, President of the Republic
Prime Mnister, M. Gary CONILLE, member of Government
President of the House, Mr. Sorel JACINTHE
President of the Senate, M. Jean Rodolphe JOAZILE
Men and Women of the Parliament

August 12, 2011
Men and Women of Parliament, and those responsible for the government in Haiti,

As organizations working to ensure the rights of all children are respected, we have noted the priority of President Martelly and his government to provide quality education to all children in the country, and we want to bring your attention to one of the largest Haitian social ills, which is the Restavek practice.

A restavek is a child living in poor conditions in the home of others. Their family has given them to another family member or a stranger who should take care of them, watch over them, send them to school ... but in fact what parents and children were expecting to get most often is not found. Children in restavek undergo various types of domestic abuse, various forms of exploitation and humiliation. They pass their childhood and do not have contact with their parents, do not recieve affection and demonstrations of love, live with the absence of brothers and sisters, and often they do not attend school. Girls especially are used as sexual objects by young men and adults inside the home where they live. The Restavek practice is a form of modern slavery that we as Haitians should be ashamed of, we who are the first black people on earth who fought to end slavery. Unfortunately, we find that Haitian people are so familiar with this situation, they think it is normal. No, it is not normal after the war our ancestors fought to free the country from slavery to continue treating our children as slaves. Instead, we must take effective measures to curb this immediately.

We present to you, President Martelly, and the team that will accompany you to the Government, the list of suggestions:

  • We ask that the President make a public statement denouncing the restavek practice as a form of modern slavery, and the President tip the scales so that the Restavek practice ends in our society completely,
  • That the Prime Minister and the President demonstrate, through their domestic policies this is a priority,
  • That Parliament create a law that prohibits restavek practices in the country,
  • Improve and strengthen state social services that prioritize children without a mother and father, children separated from their families, abandoned children and children in restavek,
  • Appoint to key posts such as the Ministry of Social Affairs and Labor, the Ministry of Education and Professional Development, the Ministry of Justice, Ministry of Women, the Ministry of Youth and the Institute of Social Welfare and Research ... ... people who are competent, and know the situation of the children and that can work to eliminate the atrocious practice that we call restavek,
  • Bring special attention to children in the restavek situation, and design and implement government projects to enable all children the opportunity to attend school, meanwhile ensuring that the restavek system is abolished in the country,
  • Support the creation of work for the most vulnerable families so they may live in dignity and take care of their children, without being required to send children into restavek,
  • Create more schools in the countryside so parents can stop sending children to the city, and improve the conditions of the countryside as a whole.
Excellence, the Light of Life Foundation and other organizations are very aware of the burden that your government faces, especially when we consider the country is sick as a whole, and all kinds of interventions are a priority. However, we believe there is no greater priority than our children, especially those who are weaker and are subjected to all kinds of abuse and humiliation.  We also will continue to help by using our work to bring about an elimination of the restavek system in Haiti.

Sincerely, The Light of Life Foundation, and other organizations that have asked you to receive a patriotic salute from them.

Light of Life Foundation

Organizations that support this message

1 - Beyond Borders

2 - ASR

3 - REDDE

4 - Pax Christi Haiti

5 - Other Worlds

6 - GRAHDEL

7 - Restavek Freedom

8 - Heartland Alliance


Click here for the full Creole version.