Thursday, April 12, 2012, the Haitian Senate had unanimously voted the Responsible Fatherhood Act and the parentage of children. The bill, presented by the deceased deputy Gérandale Thélusma in 2010, and initiated at the time, by Marie Jocelyn Lassègue, then Minister for Women had been previously ratified by the Lower House, May 10, 2010... 7 months later, because unpublished, this important law is not applicable...

This law aims to empower fathers offenders and put an end to the unfortunate situation of single parent families [47% in Haiti] headed by women, who have on average six children, most often of two or three different fathers who abandon them for not having to assume [or that are no longer able to assume] the economic needs of the family...

Several organizations promoting women's rights among others : "Fanm deside Jakmèl", "Solidarite Fanm Ayisyèn" (Sofa), "Fanm yo la", deplore, what seemsnot to be a priority for the Government Martelly-Lamothe and advocate for the enactment of this law in the Official Journal "Le Moniteur" in the shortest possible time in order to allow finally its application.

"It is a feeling of frustration, that runs through us, seeing that after 7 months, this law has not yet be enacted," declared Marie Frantz Joachim, leader of SOFA, describing it as demagogic the statements of Government, which puts forward the importance of women (40%) in the Government and does nothing to enact this law...

Lisa François of "Fanm yo la" appeal to the sense of responsibility of Yanick Mézil, Minister for the Status of Women and Women's Rights, which should make of this law her priority.

The organization "Fanm Deside Jakmèl" also regrets this absence of publication and emphasizes on the necessity to take into account also, access to DNA testing to establish paternity.

See also :

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-6008-haiti-social-dna-test-and-responsible-fatherhood.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-5952-haiti-news-some-news-here-and-there.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-5399-haiti-social-the-responsible-fatherhood-act-finally-voted.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/article-533-haiti-social-loi-sur-la-paternite-louable-mais-inapplicable.html (in french)

HL/ HaitiLibre