Tag: brian concannon

Brian Concannon talks about social justice work

I just discovered this video of the IJDH’s Brian Concannon talking about refining his social justice work and the work he does in Haiti. It’s a pretty interesting talk.

I particularly like his “four take-aways” for working in social justice/human rights work:

  1. Plan and prepare your career path, but be prepared to take advantage of unexpected opportunities
  2. It is possible to have a fulfilling and rewarding career, but be flexible about what that means
  3. Be confident in your role, but never be certain that what you’re doing is the right thing to do
  4. Fill your toolbox. Develop a variety of skills that could include fundraising, networking, etc.

Press Release: Human Rights Groups Applaud U.S. Call for UN Accountability for Haiti Cholera

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: March 5, 2012

Contact:
Brian Concannon, Jr., Esq., Institute for Justice & Democracy in Haiti, brian@ijdh.org, +1-541-263 0029 (English, French, Creole)
Mario Joseph, Av., Bureau des Avocats Internationaux, (in Haiti), mario@ijdh.org, +509 3701-9878 (French, Creole, English)

Monday, March 5, 2012

Boston, Port-au-Prince — In a statement to the United Nations (UN) Security Council last week, U.S. Permanent Representative Susan Rice stressed the importance of UN accountability for its role in bringing cholera to Haiti, calling on the UN to “redouble its efforts to prevent any further incidents of this kind and to ensure that those responsible are held accountable.”

The UN has not accepted responsibility for the outbreak despite extensive evidence, including by the UN’s own panel of experts, that cholera was brought to Haiti by troops from the UN peace-keeping mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH), and introduced into Haiti’s largest river system through negligent waste disposal practices. The epidemic has killed over 7,000 Haitians and sickened over 500,000 since October 2010. It is expected to worsen as the rainy season begins.
Continue reading Press Release: Human Rights Groups Applaud U.S. Call for UN Accountability for Haiti Cholera

In the News: What’s driving ‘Baby Doc’ Duvalier’s return from exile?

by Sonia Verma
Globe and Mail, Tuesday, Jan. 18, 2011

Jean-Claude Duvalier spent his first full day in his homeland holed up in the Karibe, a luxury hotel with a swim-up bar, day spa and room service. He met with supporters before cancelling a news conference, leaving long-time Haiti observers absolutely bewildered as to the motives behind the deposed despot’s return after nearly 25 years spent in exile.

Speculation over 59-year-old “Baby Doc’s” return ran the gamut from a secret plot by Haitian President René Préval to divert attention away from a fraud-filled election to an international conspiracy to destabilize Mr. Préval himself. Virtually the only thing analysts seem to agree on is that Mr. Duvalier’s apparent reasons for returning are false: “I’m not here for politics,” he told Radio Caraibes. “I’m here for the reconstruction of Haiti.”

Continue reading In the News: What’s driving ‘Baby Doc’ Duvalier’s return from exile?

Inter-American Court Finds Haiti Is Violating Human Rights of Former PM Yvon Neptune

The Inter-American Court of Human Rights (IACHR) sharply criticized Haiti’s current and former governments for their treatment of former Prime Minister Yvon Neptune in its first-ever case involving Haiti. It found Haiti responsible for violating 11 different provisions of the American Convention on Human Rights and ordered the government to pay Mr. Neptune $95,000 in damages and costs.

PRESS RELEASE

For Immediate Release
Contact outside Haiti: Brian Concannon, Esq., Institute for Justice & Democracy in Haiti 541-432-0597, 541-263-0029 (U.S.), brian [at] ijdh.org
Contact in Haiti: Mario Joseph, Esq., Bureau des Avocats Internationaux, + 509 3701-9879, mariohaiti [at] aol.com

Inter-American Court of Human Rights Declares Haiti is Violating Former Prime Minister Yvon Neptune’s Human RIghts; Orders $95,000 in Damages and Costs

Port-au-Prince, Haiti, July 10, 2008—The Inter-American Court of Human Rights (IACHR) sharply criticized Haiti’s current and former governments for their treatment of former Prime Minister Yvon Neptune in its first-ever case involving Haiti. It found Haiti responsible for violating 11 different provisions of the American Convention on Human Rights and ordered the government to pay Mr. Neptune $95,000 in damages and costs.

Continue reading Inter-American Court Finds Haiti Is Violating Human Rights of Former PM Yvon Neptune