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OAS Assistant Secretary General Reiterates the Need to Continue Strengthening a Comprehensive Civil Registry in Haiti

The Assistant Secretary General of the Organization of American States (OAS), Albert R. Ramdin, today called attention to the need to continue strengthening and building a comprehensive civil registry in Haiti that also includes minors and children. He emphasized the fact that the most basic elements of social and economic planning and development require a clear accounting of the population and their location.

Ambassador Ramdin delivered his remarks during a meeting convened by the Congressional Coalition on Adoption Institute (CCAI). Entitled “Building a Strong Foundation for Children and Families of Haiti,” the meeting brought together United States Senator Mary Landrieu, Democrat of Louisiana; Haitian Minister of Social Affairs and Labour, Yves Cristallin; the OAS Secretary for External Relations, Adam Blackwell; representatives of civil society organizations and others.

Ambassador Ramdin highlighted the importance of focusing on the welfare of children in Haiti not only out of moral duty but as a way of promoting long-term stability and prosperity. “Most of the population in Haiti is young, and if we don’t take care of them today we will have a problem in the future in terms of security, the social environment and our economies. Beyond our moral responsibility to take care of children, we have a responsibility as a society to think about our children’s future.”

The Assistant Secretary General said the Organization began support for the registration of Haitians more than five years ago and that more than 4 million adults had been registered when the earthquake hit the Caribbean nation on January 12. The OAS had started to support the planning process of children registration campaigns prior to the earthquake, but those efforts were halted by the tragedy. Efforts renewed weeks ago and the information of more than 1,500 children and their parents or guardians has been collected so far.

Ambassador Ramdin also said he was “appalled” by the system of restaveks or children employed as domestic servants who often undergo abuse. Jean-Robert Cadet, a former restavek, shared his story with those present. U.S. Senator Mary Landrieu, Democrat of Louisiana, said the OAS-supported civil registry programs were of great value.

The day-long event took place at the Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center in Washington, DC. The CCAI is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization dedicated to raising awareness about the millions of children around the world in need of permanent, safe, and loving homes and to eliminating the barriers that hinder these children from realizing their basic right to a family.

A photo gallery of the event will soon be available here.

For more information, please visit the OAS Website at www.oas.org

Reference: E-196/10