UN Hails 'Landmark' Probe Into Haitian Dictator's Alleged Abuses
UN Hails 'Landmark' Probe Into Haitian Dictator's Alleged Abuses
GENEVA, Feb 24 (BERNAMA-NNN-CARIBBEANNEWS) -- The United Nations human rights office hailed the decision by a Haitian court to open new investigations into former President Jean-Claude Duvalier for crimes against humanity, saying that the move will help ensure accountability for past abuses.
Serious human rights violations, including torture, rape, and extrajudicial killings have been extensively documented by Haitian and international human rights groups to have occurred while Duvalier - known as "Baby Doc" - was in power from 1971 to 1986.
On Feb 20, the court of appeals in the capital, Port-au-Prince, reversed a January 2012 decision that stated that the former leader could not be charged with crimes against humanity during his reign because the time for the prosecution of those offences had elapsed.
"The decision by the Court of Appeals in Haiti on Feb 20 in favour of opening new investigations into former President Jean-Claude Duvalier for crimes against humanity is a landmark step for Haitian justice in combating impunity," said Ravina Shamdasani, spokesperson for the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR).
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