This Friday, Sophia Martelly, the First Lady of the Republic of Haiti, accompanied by Yanick Mézil, Minister for the Status of Women visited the Civil Prison of Petion-Ville, in order to investigate the situation of women prisoners and bring them comfort.

Ms. Martelly, at the same time, offered health kits as gifts to 250 inmates, always in the spirit of solidarity of the Christmas and holiday season.

The First Lady of the Republic admits to being very moved by the difficult conditions, even unbearable in which these women operate. She regrets that these inmates can not see their children and other family members. She is also concerned about the prolonged pretrial detention that prevents these women to see their natural judge within the legal deadline.

These women, mostly traders, schoolgirls and mothers did not hide their joy of receiving, for the first time, the visit of a First Lady of the Republic.

They took the opportunity to draw the attention of Ms. Martelly on the slowness of justice to follow up on their files and express their concerns regarding the living conditions in this prison. They also posed the problem of prolonged pretrial detention.

The visit of Ms. Martelly to the prison of Petion-Ville allowed her to make a statement of the place. The situation, according to the First Lady, is a concern in this place of detention. Also she promises to meet the relevant authorities to ask them to consider their fate according to the wish of the law.

S/ HaitiLibre