Posts Tagged ‘Bureau des Avocats Internationaux (BAI)’

MEA Laureate Mario Joseph dies in accident in Haiti

April 7, 2025

On 4 April, 2025 the Miami Herald reported that Haiti-based human rights lawyer Mario Josep died in a car accident.

In a country where justice is often elusive, Mario Joseph was a fearless crusader who didn’t care whether his opponent was the Haitian government or the international community as he defended political prisoners and poor victims of human rights abuses in his Caribbean homeland. Joseph died Monday night from injuries sustained in a car accident last week as he pulled into his house. His death was confirmed by his longtime friend Brian Concannon and the Boston-based nonprofit Institute for Justice & Democracy in Haiti. He was 62. Concannon said in a statement. “The global human rights movement has lost an inspirational leader when the notion of human rights itself is under broad attack.” 

Since 1996 Joseph had served as the attorney for the Bureau des Avocats Internationaux, or Bureau of International Lawyers, in Port-au-Prince. The organization represented victims of human rights violations, trained Haitian law students and worked with U.S. law schools clinics, while also closely collaborating with the Institute for Justice & Democracy in Haiti. His high-profile cases included championing the rights of 5,000 victims of waterborne-cholera who blamed the United Nations for its introduction into Haiti after the 2010 earthquake.

Among Jospeh’s many accolades over the years was the Judith Lee Stronach Human Rights Award from the Center for Justice & Accountability in San Francisco, the Alexander Human Rights Award from Santa Clara University, and honorary doctorates from the University of San Francisco and Indiana University School of Law. He was also a finalist for the 2013 Martin Ennals Human Rights Defenders Award.
[see: https://humanrightsdefenders.blog/2013/04/24/breaking-news-final-nominees-martin-ennals-award-2013-made-public/]

https://www.trueheroesfilms.org/thedigest/laureates/3bb30bee-dd32-4668-9079-89dd464e5eff

https://www.miamiherald.com/news/nation-world/world/americas/haiti/article303281216.html

https://www.blackagendareport.com/remembering-mario-joseph-bai-managing-attorney

Posted in awards, human rights, Human Rights Defenders | Leave a Comment »
Tags: , , , , , , , , ,

Institute for Justice & Democracy in Haiti looks for Executive Director

February 19, 2019


The Institute for Justice & Democracy in Haiti (IJDH) advances the Haitian people’s struggle for justice and democracy on the international stage. In partnership with our Haitian sister-organization, Bureau des Avocats Internationaux (BAI), IJDH advocates, litigates, builds constituencies and nurtures networks to create systemic pathways to justice for marginalized Haitians and to hold international human rights violators accountable. IJDH amplifies Haitian voices in places outside Haiti where decisions about their rights are made and helps to build an accurate, rights-based narrative of Haiti internationally.

IJDH fights for justice with high-quality legal and advocacy strategies, creativity, humility, inspiration, humor, and a compassionate, inclusive and supportive work culture. We are a small but mighty, ambitious and principled organization with a track record of securing unlikely wins for justice for marginalized communities and influencing global public discourse about human rights and justice in Haiti. [see also: https://humanrightsdefenders.blog/2013/10/14/haiti-hrd-mario-joseph-uses-his-appearance-in-the-mea-ceremony-well/]

Position Description:

Reporting to the Board of Directors, the Executive Director has overall strategic and operational responsibility for IJDH’s staff, programs, and execution of its mission. As the public face of the organization and leader of IJDH’s dynamic 6-person team, the Executive Director will prioritize:

• Providing vision and strategic direction for IJDH’s innovative advocacy portfolio in accordance with the organization’s mission;

• Raising funds to meet and grow IJDH and BAI’s combined budget of $1.4 million, including through cultivating and maintaining relationships with donors and foundations and providing financial management oversight;

• Maintaining and building a strong partnership with the BAI and other allies and collaborators, including NGOs, diaspora groups and the media to strengthen IJDH’s impact and achieve organizational goals.

Qualifications include: Substantial knowledge of Haiti; Significant social justice or human rights experience; Ability to speak and write English, and to communicate effectively in Haitian Kreyol and/or French with a commitment to learn Kreyol;

This is a full-time salaried position with health care benefits, four weeks annual paid vacation and paid sick days. The Executive Director will ideally be based in Boston or New York.

How to Apply: Please submit a resume, cover letter and three references to hiring@ijdh.org by March 1, 2019. Please include ‘Executive Director’ in the subject line. References will only be contacted for short-listed candidates.

Posted in human rights | Leave a Comment »
Tags: , , , , , , ,