Literature

Vancouver, British Columbia Canada
July 26, 2012

Mr. Michel Joseph Martelly, President of the Republic
Excellence,
My name is Ruth Auguste, I am a Haitian born who’s currently residing in Vancouver British Columbia Canada. I am the author of The Children of Injustice, singer songwriter and the founder of World Gifters Society.

Mr. President, I want to bring to your attention one of the most visible problems, and one of cancerous issue that is ravaging our society.

I hope it is not new to you that every day women and young girls are being raped, or are being exploited by others for financial gain. Hopefully I am not the first one to inform you that daily crimes are being committed against children on the street and at home. It would have break my heart if I am the first one to let you know that children are living on the streets, and left alone to survive at the mercy of good Samaritans.

In the social contrast Haiti is after the Earthquake, it is extremely important that your government takes drastic measures to facilitate a transition for a better life for those being victimized under prior and on your governance. I would like to reiterate your promises made to our nation on May 14th 2011 to end violence against women and to remove our children from the streets during your inaugural ceremony.

As a daughter of a battered woman whom died before seeing justice, as a witness of the daily physical abuse of my mother, and as a victim of sexual violence in Haiti from as young as six years old. I am reminding you that making due of your promises is not only a matter of accountability of a president but a father’s responsibility to protect and making sure that no intruder gain access to his children.

Just like many other Haitian presidents who used their influence while in power to gain popularity, fame, and money; your presidency will not be exempt of the historical judgment if you also fail to draw a line to stop this venin from infecting our society. I invite you to take the following steps as soon as possible to let those who are raping our daughters and sisters to know that stiff punishments will be their sentence.

- A creation of a victim services unit from within the Haitian Police National to better assist the reported assaults.
- A minimum of 32 years sentence for sexual crime committed against minor and minimum 25 years for sexual crime committed against adult women. - I ask that you denounce children from living on the streets
- A minimum of 15 years sentence for adults causing children to be at risk.
- A minimum of six months sentence for domestic assault offenders and a minimum of 18 months for repeated domestic assault offenders.

Mr. President I understand it will be the responsibility of many including our prosecuting judges to make sure that no one is exempt, and no ransoms replace to jail time of criminals. As our country is been rebuild let's also rebuild the justice system.

Because my mother married someone whom was in uniform, she never had access to a fair trial, and because my abuser was a government protégé I was never been able to tell my painful moments. I was silenced by a justice system that was weakening by political fear, rotten by greed of money. In 2012 the justice system is still reflecting the same ills that deprived me and my mother from getting justice.

I encourage you to read my memoir ‘The Children of Injustice”. For many years, I was hopeless and voiceless too ashamed to tell my story, but now I have finally found the inner strengths that I needed to share my mother and I difficult life not only with you, but the whole world.

In this difficult time of our country Haiti needs responsible men and women to take responsible steps to stop the abuse in any shape of form. I am certain, together we can conquer our Goliath and restore, enhance the way children are living in Haiti. I urge you to take quick action in this matter to prevent other children from having to tell the same stories like mine. When there are no action taking towards helping Sexual abuse victims, it seems as if though they have been buried alive.

The above request is a key to a new betterment of Haitian women and the key to the heart of us all.

Women are a one of kind masterpiece to any country in the whole wide world.

Best Regards,
Ruth Auguste, Author
The Children of Injustice