Justice For All: Reducing Preventive Detention in Haiti

All Haitians are equal before the law. So says the Haitian Constitution. But in reality, access to justice can happen at different speeds for different people.

A Menu of Options to Improve Public Services in Haiti

Many proposals have been made in the past ten years to make Haiti’s public sector more effective. In spite of these efforts, public services remain in a critical state.

Legal Institutions

Focusing on improving legal institutions could lead to improved outcomes for the most disadvantaged, as well as greater efficiencies and even benefits to Haiti’s economy.

There are several different possible investments. One is to focus on digitizing land records. Land ownership questions – such as multiple people laying claim to ownership, or the absence of an identifiable owner – can be complex. Uncertainties over ownership can make it difficult for buyers and sellers of property, as well as the government. These problems are very complex, but one place to start could be digitizing the land record system – saving time as well as money.

Another approach could be creating a national legal aid system. Expanding on the UN-created Bureau for Legal Assistance could reduce the use of prolonged periods of preventive detention for the incarcerated.

Strengthening the Justice System: Establishing a National Legal Aid System

Providing legal aid would speed up access to justice. This would be fair, and it would save the government money. Research written by Dr. Jimmy Verne of the Ministry of Planning and External Cooperation, analyzes this situation and proposes extending the coverage of the legal aid service, so it is available nationwide.

Digitization of land registers in Haiti

Economist-Planner Dr. Bertrand Joseph from Ministry of Planning and External Cooperation studies what could be achieved through digitization of land registration.