ARTICLE - CAPACITY BUILDING - JUSTICE

CAPACITY BUILDING OF COURTS AND CIVIL-STATE OFFICES
(Haiti Libre) -

The Regional Office of the Justice Section of the UN Mission for Stabilization in Haiti (Minustah) has launched since the beginning of the month the active phase of the project "Strengthening of the operational capabilities of the rule of law institutions in the South department" in partnership with the Court of First Instance of the Les Cayes and the NGO CARITAS. This project aims to provide public institutions the necessary materials and equipment for the proper functioning of their services.

"This is to build the capacity of the courts and Civil-State offices of the South Department and to improve the conditions of detention in the civil prison in Les Cayes. We initiated this Quick Impact Project (QIP) with our partners" explained Mr. Jean-Louis Marcello, of the Regional Office of the Justice Section of Minustah in Les Cayes; who stated that the dean of the Court of First Instance of Les Cayes, Mr. Pierre E. Vaval, helped to identify the needs; while CARITAS is responsible for managing the funds provided by Minustah, which amounts to 2,462,000 gourds (± U.S. $ 61,000).

The Prison Civil of Les Cayes was selected to receive the first batch of materials; 200 mattresses and 400 plates put at the disposition of the inmates; as well as office equipment for the Registry, which had been burned during the escape attempt in January 2010.

The remainder of the material, is primarily intended for the Civil-State offices and to some courts all considered to be a priority. "It is composed of metal filing cabinets for storage, desks and office chairs for the authorities, chairs for visitors, benches for the courtrooms and registers of Civil status" added Mr. Marcello.

Each of the 15 courts concerned by the project: The Court of Appeals of Les Cayes, the Court of First Instance of Les Cayes, the prosecution of Les Cayes, the Court of First Instance of Coteaux and the Peace courts of: Camp-Perrin, Maniche, Coteaux, Tiburon, Damassin, Port-à-Piment, Rendel, Chardonnières, la Cahouane, Ile à Vache and Chantal will receive kits containing two metal filing cabinets, desk and desk chair, 10 chairs for visitors and benches.

The 10 selected Civil-State of: Les Cayes, Camp-Perrin, Torbeck, Coteaux, Aquin, Cavaillon, Tiburon, Rendel, Port-à-Piment, Chardonnières will each receive kits containing two metal filing cabinets, desks, and office chair, chairs for 10 guests, and 48 registers of Civil status.

The Bar of the Order of Lawyers of the Coteaux also received a desk, chairs and metal filing cabinets.

To date, over 50% of the material was delivered and this will continue until October 2011.