Years of prison, but no justice for Haiti’s women inmates FEATURE 07/06/2010

Years of prison, but no justice for Haiti’s women inmates FEATURE 07/06/2010 PORT-AU-PRINCE — The inmates at Haiti’s only women’s prison cry out in desperation as warden Marie-Yolaine Mathieu makes her rounds, hoping that she will hear their case and perhaps, help secure their release. “Director, director, I need to speak to you,” calls out one woman with matted hair and a blemished face, whose days of incarceration without a conviction turned first into weeks and now months. Like so many others, the woman makes a futile plea for Mathieu’s intervention. “I’ve been in this prison for six months. I have a 10-year-old child who has not been cared for since my mother died during the earthquake,” she cried. “I can’t take it any more,” she screams, beside herself with despair.   This impoverished Caribbean country’s broken judicial system has failed its citizens at every turn. But it has been especially delinquent in prosecuting those who face criminal charges but have never been convicted of crimes. Haiti’s main in prison in Port-au-Prince was virtually destroyed by the 7.0-magnitude quake on Jan. 12, and almost all of its estimated 4,000 male prisoners escaped. But the women’s institution — condemned years ago by UN officials as “cruel and inhumane” — still holds its unhappy occupants. This was built for around 30 inmates houses 300. The prison director said however said she feels for the women, but that she is powerless to improve their plight. “They keep arresting the women and sending them to us,” Mathieu said, “and the criminal justice system does not free them. What is one to do?”.... MORE Source:  The Daily Tribune URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20100706com3.html

COMMENTARY EDITORIAL Pledge made, pledge broken FRONTLINE Ain’t over till it’s over FEATURE Years of prison, but no justice for Haiti’s women inmates MR. EXPOSE Gambling center of Asia NO HOLDS BARRED Help AN OUTSIDERS VIEW A ghetto for parties with programs? focus Job discrimination riles China’s Uighurs