Haiti: Nègès Mawon and the Mcfdf demand justice and reparation for Stephy Graph Cadichon raped at Las Americas International Airport
The Ministry for Women’s Affairs and Women’s Rights (Mcfdf) demands justice and reparation for the Haitian woman Stephy Graph Cadichon , who was raped in the presence of her four-year-old son on Friday, September 22, 2023, by a Dominican immigration officer at Las Americas International Airport (Aila).
«The survivor’s identity has not been protected, which could cause her and her family, as well as her minor son, significant harm, especially as they are concerned for their safety» expressed Nègès Mawon in a statement reported by the online agency AlterPresse.
The feminist organization Nègès Mawon criticizes the assistance provided by Dominican authorities to the survivor, which they consider a form of detention rather than a willingness to help uncover the truth.
On Monday, September 25, 2023, a scheduled hearing before Dominican judicial authorities could not take place due to a lack of translation, which Nègès Mawon deplores, denouncing it as a serious violation of the survivor’s legal rights.
François Jean-Claude and Gilberto Perez Bal, who were present at the court for the victim’s hearing, introduced themselves to Stephy Graph Cadichon’s family as diplomatic representatives working for the Haitian government. They stated that they were accountable only to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and had no information to share with the family.
Nègès Mawon criticizes Haitian diplomacy in the Dominican Republic, which, instead of supporting the survivor, chose to intimidate the family and attempted to prevent the case from becoming public.
«On Tuesday, September 26, 2023, NÈGÈS MAWON, in partnership with a Human Rights organization based in the Dominican Republic, provided a lawyer for the family and hopes that the case will proceed in accordance with the survivor’s legal rights»
While Dominican authorities have claimed to be taking care of the survivor and her minor son, «Stephy Graph (Cadichon) believes that she is being held captive by Dominican authorities. She does not feel safe and is begging her mother to help secure her release» as reported.
«NÈGÈS MAWON continues to monitor Stephy Graph’s case, demanding that she and her son receive justice, reparation, and protection from the Dominican authorities and insisting that the perpetrator be tried and punished in accordance with the law»
For its part, Mcfdf vehemently condemns the heinous rape committed by a Dominican police officer against a Haitian compatriot, Stephy Graph Cadichon, in front of her four-year-old son at Las Americas International Airport, following her illegal detention, in a statement.
«It is unacceptable that our sisters and brothers continue to be beaten, raped, hunted, and killed like wild animals in a neighboring land, just because they are Haitians» it declares.
Mcdf calls on Dominican authorities to uphold the rights of our compatriots in the neighboring land, especially women and young girls.
It commends the «unwavering support» of the Ministry of Women in the Dominican Republic for the assistance provided to Stephy Graph Cadichon while urging Dominican authorities to take significant measures to ensure such incidents never happen to any other woman again.
The Haitian Ministry for Women’s Affairs and Women’s Rights also invites Dominican authorities to review the international conventions, agreements, and treaties to which their country has subscribed concerning women’s rights, particularly the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Violence Against Women and Girls.
The Mcfdf calls for the enforcement of the law against all perpetrators, regardless of their nationality, in accordance with the international instruments ratified by states.
Juste AKO.
