INDDESC Launches Initiative to Aid Haiti's Insecurity Victims

The National Institute for the Defense of Economic, Social, and Cultural Rights (INDDESC) has launched an initiative to document violations stemming from armed insecurity in Haiti and to support victims seeking justice and reparations. The project, named the Initiative for Memory, Justice, and Compensation for Victims of Armed Gang Insecurity in Haiti (IMJIVIAH), will operate from 2026 to 2027. Its initial phase carries a projected budget of $140,000.

INDDESC identifies a lack of a national, integrated mechanism for recognizing, documenting, and assisting those impacted by gang violence. The organization plans to gather victim testimonies through community relays, partner organizations, and various documentary sources. The project will initially focus on the West and Artibonite regions, with future expansion anticipated.

For its first twelve months, INDDESC aims to document up to 5,000 victims. To facilitate this, the organization will establish a secure digital platform for submitting testimonies and evidence, including photos, videos, and documents. Each submission will receive a unique file number. The project also includes creating a National Register of Victims to centralize information and categorize documented violations such as homicides, kidnappings, sexual violence, forced displacement, and property destruction.

In the first year, INDDESC will validate 3,000 cases, provide legal aid to 1,000 victims, and prepare 200 cases for potential legal action. Protecting participants is paramount. INDDESC will secure victim consent, allow for anonymous testimonies, and implement encryption and access controls for data. For testimonies involving active armed groups, INDDESC will conduct risk assessments for reprisals before use. High-risk cases may transfer to specialized protection mechanisms or organizations.

Longer-term, INDDESC intends to help establish a National Fund for the Compensation of Victims of Insecurity (FNIV). The project document suggests this fund could draw from assets seized and confiscated from illicit origins, a measure requiring a specific legal framework. The organization also plans an annual audit mechanism to ensure resource and compensation traceability. INDDESC will draft legislation to legally frame a future public body responsible for managing the fund. Consultations with the Ministry of Justice and Public Security (MJSP) and the Office for Citizen Protection (OPC) are scheduled for 2027.

The initiative also incorporates a memorial component. The "Red Book" will document atrocities and honor victims, while the "Green Book" will compile public policy recommendations. A third section, the "Yellow Part," will focus on transitioning to an institutionalized reparation mechanism. INDDESC also envisions creating a National Memorial for Victims of Armed Gangs.

To fund its initial phase, INDDESC will primarily seek international grants. The project also mentions public-private partnerships and diaspora contributions for the medium term. By September 2027, INDDESC hopes the system will provide victims with case documentation, legal and psychosocial support, and guidance to available justice or reparation mechanisms. The initiative's success hinges on secured funding, the security situation, cooperation from public institutions, and the implementation of the necessary legal framework.