Call to Action: Restavèk! Child Slavery in Haiti

They come from every part of Haiti. Most of them leave rural areas in pursuit of a better life in the city. They are called many names: Restavèk, bòn (maid), domestik (domestic servant), gason lakou (janitor), but in most parts of the world, they would be considered child-slaves. Prof. Claudy Delne, Dr. Goldsmith Dorval, and Ms. Gepsie Metellus will discuss the plight of the many Haitian child-slaves living and working in substandard conditions, and the economic and societal factors that lead parents to give up the responsibility of raising their children, sending them off to a life devoid of education, marked by physical, and oftentimes, sexual exploitation and abuse. The panelists will address the following questions: What can Haitians, and non-Haitians, do to remedy the situation? Who are the individuals and the organizations actively working on site, and in the Diaspora, to foster redress? (simultaneous interpretation in English when appropriate)