Sign the Haitian Women’s Petition for the return of Jean-Bertrand Aristide and his family

Support Haitian women's demand

“We, the women of Haiti, believe that in the wake of the void left by the earthquake of January 12, which devastated the Haitian capital of Port-au-Prince and much of the southwest, Jean-Bertrand Aristide has tremendous contributions to offer towards the rebuilding of the country…[We] ask President Obama to return President Aristide and his family, without conditions, as required by Article 41 of the Haitian Constitution.” (For full text see here)

The women of Haiti have gathered over 20,000 signatures, and have invited people internationally to add their names.

They know what’s best for them and their families, and for the reconstruction of their communities and their country. We urge you to meet their demand so that President Aristide and his family can finally return home.

Sincerely,

Sign online - click here

Background

Jean-Bertrand Aristide, a former liberation theology priest, was elected by the people of Haiti as their president in 1990 and again in 2000 (by 60% and 92% of the vote respectively). Both times he was overthrown by military coups – in 2004 directly by the US with backing from France and Canada. UN troops have occupied Haiti ever since, and thousands of people have been persecuted and even killed for demanding his return.

After the earthquake, President Aristide told the media, from his forced exile in South Africa, that he wanted to come back immediately to be with his people. So far he has not been allowed home despite the growing call for his return.

On 8 March, International Women’s Day, 3,000 women at Camp Mesiane, Vilaj Solidarite, Champs de Mars, Place Boyer, Bonne Fille, Mais Gate, Site Soley and others issued a statement calling for the return of Jean-Bertrand and Mildred Aristide, and for women’s demands to be central in the reconstruction of Haiti. Soon the petition below was circulating.

In June the Global Women's Strike worked with others to ensure a powerful grassroots Haitian presence at the US Social Forum (Detroit). The women brought the petition and the over 20,000 signatures they had gathered. The Haitian speaker at the plenary asked everyone to rally our networks internationally in support of this demand.
 

Open Petition from Women of Haiti to President Barack Obama
For the Return of former President Jean-Bertrand Aristide to Haiti

We, the women of Haiti, represent more that 52% of the Haitian population. For the past two centuries we have waged a long struggle to be able to exercise our political rights against tremendous opposition.

Thanks to President Aristide in 1991, the exercise of women’s political rights began to be a reality. Jean-Bertrand Aristide is the only president of Haiti who worked to officially open up space for all Haitian women to participate in the political life of the country at every level. To advocate and educate for the respect of women’s rights, and to ensure that women’s voices were represented at every level of government, President Aristide created a Ministry of Women’s Affairs.

At the same time beginning in 2001, President Aristide’s administration initiated social programs that benefitted women and children, such as a national school lunch program, a national literacy program, the construction of hundreds of new public high schools and primary schools, and a public health program with health clinics in every communal section of the country.

We, the women of Haiti, believe that in the wake of the void left by the earthquake of January 12, which devastated the Haitian capital of Port-au-Prince and much of the southwest, Jean-Bertrand Aristide has tremendous contributions to offer towards the rebuilding of the country.

Women who have been participating in the democratic debates at the auditorium of the Aristide Foundation for Democracy each Saturday since the earthquake launch this petition and undertake to gather signatures of women throughout the country, from every department of Haiti to ask President Barack Obama to return President Aristide and his family, without conditions, as required by Article 41 of the Haitian Constitution.

We ask women around the world who support the popular movement of Haiti to take up this petition, add their names, and send it to President Obama and his wife Michele Obama.

This petition was launched by women meeting at the Democratic Debate at the Aristide Foundation for Democracy on May 22, 2010.

Endorsement call issued by: Global Women Strike (GWS) and Women of Colour in the GWS
www.globalwomenstrike.net
Email: la@crossroadswomen.net Tel: 323-276-9833
Information: www.Haitisolidarity.net Email: info@haitiAction.org www.Aristidefoundation.net