The International Development Law Organization (IDLO) is calling on international donors to develop and fund an integrated, holistic program of rule of law reform that fully reflects 20 years of lessons learned. IDLO is joining the Haitian government and its people in providing a roadmap for rehabilitating the country after the recent earthquake.

Following an inception mission from 5 - 21 of February to assess Haiti's legal needs, IDLO has developed a program of short- and long-term recommendations to create a more effective system of justice in Haiti.

"Previous efforts on rule of law reform have cost a great deal and not produced the desired effects," said William Loris, Director General of IDLO. "With the commitment of the Haitian government, its citizens and the international donor community, the time is right to pursue a new, more integrated approach that produces sustainable reform."

In addition to myriad safety and security problems within the displaced persons camps, people are facing legal issues relating to loss of documentation, food security and production, inheritance, land tenure and re-establishing businesses and economic livelihoods. Compounding the situation are structural problems that have dogged the justice system for years, including judicial independence, obsolete codes and laws, inaccessibility and a lack of resources.

To address these problems, IDLO recommends an integrated program that tackles institutional development, economic growth and trade and social development, with a strong commitment to gender and human rights protections. The program's success depends on three critical components:

• involvement of local stakeholders in all aspects of the program;
• governmental transparency and the political will to make the necessary changes; and
• coordination and commitment of donors and all parts of the justice and security sector to pursue realistic improvements.

"There is an urgent need to protect the vulnerable and help people get back on their feet," said Loris. "At the same time, all of the interested parties must work together to fashion a comprehensive program of reform that builds a justice system that functions fairly and efficiently and has the respect of all of the people of Haiti."

Coverage on National Public Radio : IDLO Talks to NPR on Legal Funding for Haiti - 31/03/2010

See the article on 'IDLO Completes Successful Inception Mission in Haiti' - 26/02/2010