Overview:
Haiti’s Anti-Corruption Unit (ULCC) celebrated its twenty first anniversary with a youth-focused honest that includes debates, arts, native delicacies and cultural reveals. Held in Pétion-Ville on Friday, Sept. 5, in anticipation of the company’s founding date on Sept. 8, beneath the theme “I Denounce,” the occasion aimed to encourage youth to be a driving power for change.
PORT-AU-PRINCE — Haiti’s Anti-Corruption Unit (ULCC) marked its twenty first anniversary with a cultural and academic honest on Friday, Sept. 5, rallying younger individuals beneath the theme “Je Dénonce,” French for I denounce. The occasion, held at Pétion-Ville’s Karibe Lodge, sought to focus on the youth’s position in exposing corruption and reshaping Haiti’s future.
The honest, which coincided with the company’s founding date of Sept. 8, featured panels on youth management in governance, bribery in public companies and the position of artwork in selling ethics. Performances included conventional dance and music, comedy and exhibitions of Haitian books and handicrafts.
“Younger individuals are essentially the most affected by corruption’s penalties, they usually should even be the driving power for change,” mentioned Hans Ludwig Joseph, the ULCC’s director normal.
“Denouncing corruption means making certain a good life, free from the hardships of poverty and insecurity, for all those that will come after us.”
Distributors additionally showcased iron sculptures, leather-based sandals, crochet clothes, work and pictures, highlighting ladies’s rights, the setting and provincial life. Attendees additionally sampled native delicacies specialties, together with akasan, cassava, cremas and fruit-based drinks.
The ULCC, supported by the United Nations Workplace on Medication and Crime (UNODC) and the Canadian Embassy, mentioned the initiative goals to dismantle what officers name Haiti’s “distorted morality” — a tradition that always excuses misappropriation of state funds. Joseph urged Haitians who witness or undergo corruption to return ahead.
“[I envision] a nation with trustworthy and virtuous public officers who will stand as boundaries in opposition to unlawful practices and can battle in opposition to impunity,” Joseph mentioned.
The company additionally used the honest to showcase educational and cultural works. Amongst them have been the books “Corruption, occidentalisation et éthique en Haïti: trajectoire d’une” by Oriol Charles and “Une entente nationale pour la justice sociale en Haïti” by Emmanuel Louis Jeunes, whereas Comic Kervin “Cantave Okay” Cantave injected darkish humor into the programming schedule, highlighting the absurdities of on a regular basis corruption.
Created in 2004 to fight corruption in public administration, the ULCC has investigated dozens of instances, submitting 87 to the judiciary between its founding and 2024. But convictions stay uncommon. Solely two instances have led to responsible verdicts: that of Edric Léandre, former head of the Workplace of Car Third-Celebration Insurance coverage (OAVCT), in 2015, and former tax inspector Roudel Ducherne in 2024. 4 instances have been dismissed and plenty of others are nonetheless pending with investigating judges.
“For a Haiti free from corruption, we should contain all social teams,” Joseph mentioned.
He known as the anniversary honest “an XXL occasion that efficiently introduced collectively lots of of younger individuals with artisans, artists and authors in assist of the anti-corruption trigger.”
“Younger individuals are essentially the most affected by corruption’s penalties, they usually should even be the driving power for change. Denouncing corruption means making certain a good life, free from the hardships of poverty and insecurity, for all those that will come after us.”
Hans Ludwig Joseph, Director Basic of ULCC
In Could, the ULCC launched an “Integrity Golf equipment” program focusing on schoolchildren nationwide amid ongoing corruption and declining public belief in Haitian establishments.
The brand new initiative launched in Fort-Liberté, the capital metropolis of Haiti’s northeast, provides a uncommon spark of hope. It united over 2,000 college students from 16 faculties. Throughout the occasion, officers issued a transparent name to motion to educators and civil society leaders throughout Fort-Liberté and Ouanaminthe, aiming to instill anti-corruption values in youth in grades 1 to 4.
Beneath are some extra photos capturing the ambiance of the Anti-Corruption honest, themed “I Denounce.”
