6 Feb 2012

HAITI / MICHEL FORST WRAP

UN Independent Expert on the human rights situation in Haiti Michel Forst is on an eight-day visit to the country to evaluate the human rights situation since his mission last September and to follow up on recommendations made to the Human Rights Council. MINUSTAH

Posted at: February 6, 2012 6:07 pm

Duration: 02:20

Available in: SD

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Full script

STORY: HAITI / MICHEL FORST WRAP 
TRT: 2.20
SOURCE: MINUSTAH
RESTRICTIONS: NONE
LANGUAGE: FRENCH / CREOLE / NATS

DATELINE: 05 February 2012, PORT AU PRINCE, HAITI

SHOTLIST:

1. Med shot and pan left, UN Independent Expert on the human rights situation in Haiti Michel Forst in IDP Camp Corail
2. Wide shot, delegation in the IDP camp Corail
3. Close shot, children in the camp
4. Wide shot, Forst discussing with the OIM camp manager
5. Close shot, young girl in the camp
6. Med shot, Forst discussing with an IDP
7. Wide shot, IDP in front of her house
8. Soundbite (French) Michel Forst, UN Independent Expert on the human rights situation in Haiti:
"I heard with great pleasure the announcement done by the government and particularly the nomination of the President of the Cassation Court. The fact that the justice system is gaining more and more independence with the establishment of the Superior Council of the judicial power. I saw with great pleasure that the Parliament has signed the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights. All together, these are positive elements and at the same time mitigate by the long fight against impunity."
9. Various shots, Forst talking with the IDP camp committee
10. Soundbite (French) Michel Forst, UN Independent Expert on the human rights situation in Haiti:
"The housing question is an essential element. I am coming to see the evolution of the IDP Camps, to see how the camp committees work with the international communities in order to progressively establish a system that will permit each one to find a place where to live."
11. Various shots, children playing in the IDP camp
12. Various shots, children bringing water
13. Various shots, woman washing clothes
14. Soundbite (French) Michel Forst, UN Independent Expert on the human rights situation in Haiti: 
"The main problem in the camps is of course the questions about the access to basic services, such as access to water, food, and health care. The fact that many camps are far away from the working places and there is no transportation, all these are obstacles and difficulties that are expected to be considered as human rights. These are not violations of human rights under the responsibility of the government but the human right is handicapped by the weaknesses of the infrastructure and the conditions of life". 
15. Wide shot, children playing behind a shelter
16. Med. Shot, Forst and delegation walking in the IDP camp

STORYLINE:

On Sunday 5 February, he visited Camp Corail, a planned community north of the capital in Port-au-Prince where tens of thousands of Haitians were moved after the island nation was struck by a devastating 7.0 magnitude earthquake two years ago.

Summing up the most recent developments in Haiti's justice system, he said the "justice system is gaining more and more independence with the establishment of the Superior Council of the judicial power."

Also notable, he said, was the Haitian Parliament's ratification last week of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, which commits the government to ensuring equal access to education, health and a decent standard of living, including access to water, food and adequate housing that contribute to poverty reduction.

He also met with members of the camp's committee to discuss how housing needs are being met.

Soundbite (French) Michel Forst, UN Independent Expert on the human rights situation in Haiti:
"The housing question is an essential element. I am coming to see the evolution of the IDP Camps, to see how the camp committees work with the international communities in order to progressively establish a system that will permit each one to find a place where to live."

Forst suggested that because the camps provided limited access to water, food and health care, and were often isolated, they created problems in protecting and guaranteeing the human rights of their residents.

Soundbite (French) Michel Forst, UN Independent Expert on the human rights situation in Haiti: 
"The main problem in the camps is, of course, the questions about the access to basic services, such as access to water, food, and health care. The fact that many camps are far away from the working places and there is no transportation, all these are obstacles and difficulties that are expected to be considered as human rights. These are not violations of human rights under the responsibility of the government but the human right is handicapped by the weaknesses of the infrastructure and the conditions of life".