<p>Two Delaware Law School professors recently hosted a six-person delegation from the American College of Environmental Lawyers (ACOEL) on a visit to Haiti. Participants shared ideas about ways to advance environmental law and justice with leading members of the bar, academia, civil society, and the business community.<br /><br />The meeting took place at the invitation of the host institution, the Universite de la Fondation Aristide, or <a href="http://unifa-edu.info/contenu/">UNIFA</a>. The delegation visited from May 30 to June 2.<br /><br />Delaware Law Professor <a href="ipl://20//WyIyOSJd">Erin Daly</a>, who is currently on sabbatical until the upcoming fall semester, is serving as UNIFA&rsquo;s vice president for institutional development. She was the local Haiti liaison to the delegation. Delaware Law Distinguished Professor <a href="ipl://20//WyIxMjIiXQ==">James R. May</a>, a fellow of the ACOEL, coordinated the visit for that organization. It was believed to be the first delegation of environmental lawyers from the U.S. to visit Haiti. <br /><br />&ldquo;This is a transformative time politically and ecologically in Haiti,&rdquo; said May, who also serves as the chief sustainability officer for Widener University. &ldquo;I feel so fortunate to have been a part of this special delegation to discuss ways in which the rule of law can be used to advance sustainability in Haiti, here, and elsewhere.&rdquo;<br /><br />The visit took place at a critical time for the environment in Haiti. Deforestation there hovers around 95 percent as&nbsp;people are forced to burn charcoal for fuel or income. Haitian rivers and streams are choked by trash and runoff, motor vehicles are largely unregulated,&nbsp;and&nbsp;the&nbsp;public health system is overwhelmed. Haiti also still suffers from the introduction of cholera in October 2010, which has resulted in more than 9,000 deaths.<br /><br />The delegation met with many of Haiti&rsquo;s leading policymakers, thinkers and advocates, including:</p>
<ul>
<li>Former President Jean Bertrand Aristide and his wife Mildred Aristide.</li>
<li>Fabrice Fievre, co-dean of UNIFA Law School.</li>
<li>Mario Joseph, director of the nation&rsquo;s leading human rights law firm, <a href="http://www.ijdh.org/">Bureau des Avocats Internationaux</a>.</li>
<li>Jean Andre Victor, director of Haiti&rsquo;s leading environmental rights firm, <a href="http://www.ahden.org/">L'Association Ha&iuml;tienne de Droit de l'Environnement</a><u>.</u></li>
<li>Stanley Gaston, president of the Port-au-Prince Bar Association.</li>
<li>Leslie Voltaire, Haitian architect and urban planner.</li>
<li>Cedric Chauvet, a leading business person.</li>
</ul>
<p>&nbsp;The delegation also enjoyed various cultural opportunities, including in Port Au Prince, Petionville, and Cite Soleil. Members visited <a href="http://www.sakala-haiti.org/">SAKALA</a>, a leading community center serving some of Haiti&rsquo;s poorest children, and the <a href="http://www.uncommoncaribbean.com/2015/03/10/visiting-the-uncommon-artists-enclave-of-noailles-haiti/">'uncommon' artists&rsquo; community of Noailles</a>, Haiti.&nbsp;<br /><br />UNIFA is a leading private university in Haiti, and focuses on promoting dignity and social justice, including by advancing environmental sustainability. Earlier this year, it hosted <a href="http://unifa-edu.info/contenu/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/programmation-semaine-scientifique-2016.pdf">conferences dedicated to environmental human rights issues and their relationship to health, engineering, and law in Haiti </a>, as well as to the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/Aristide-Foundation-for-Democracy-306681307454/?fref=nf">environmental and social consequences of mining in Haiti</a>.&nbsp;<br /><br />Widener University is a metropolitan university that connects curricula to social issues through civic engagement. Dynamic teaching, active scholarship, personal attention, applied leadership, and experiential learning are key components of the Widener experience.&nbsp; Its Delaware Law School is the First State&rsquo;s only law school, providing juris doctor, legal graduate and paralegal degree programs with an emphasis on developing legal professionals who reflect the Delaware Way and its traditions of civility, integrity and mutual respect. The school offers signature programs in corporate and business law, environmental law, family health law and policy, and trial advocacy. Widener University is proud to be tobacco free. Visit <a href="{staticroot}">delawarelaw.widener.edu</a> for more information.</p>
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