International Civilian Mission in Haiti, OAS/UN (MICIVIH)
Records in S-1878 document the work of the MICIVIH Medical Unit, which was established in June 1993 to complement the work of Observers, who conducted investigations of human rights violations throughout Haiti. The Medical Unit operated under the authority of MICIVIH’s Director of Human Rights. The Unit treated victims of human rights violations and provided medical documentation of abuses for use in criminal trials. The Unit also documented the health and hygienic conditions in Haitian prisons, and the health of prison inmates in the context of human rights observation. Additionally, the Unit made recommendations for the rehabilitation of the Haitian medical infrastructure.
The files contain a variety of reports prepared by the Medical Unit. One dating from 1995 offers recommendations to the National Truth and Justice Commission (CNVJ) about victims of human rights abuses. The monthly reports describe: activities of the Medical Unit in specific departments; the Unit’s work with the French non-governmental organization Médecins du Monde (MDM); and updates about victims interviewed or treated by Unit personnel.
Reports on medical examinations of victims of human rights violations include information about the incident; the category of violation; clinical observations of the victim; medical treatment history; and the victim’s long-term medical ailments.
The reports prepared by the Medical Unit also describe visits to prisons. These reports note: the hygienic and sanitary conditions in prison cells, showers, latrines, and kitchens; the health status of prisoners with acute conditions; disease outbreak; the supply of medicines and medical equipment; and interviews with prison authorities about medical treatment practices.
Other records include: the terms of reference for the Medical Unit; summaries of meetings of the Medical Unit; discussion papers about human rights, medical ethics, and mental health; and lists of victims and case descriptions. Statistics on the work of the Medical Unit note the ages and gender of victims treated, and the category of human rights violations. Violations include: illegal arrest and detention; forced disappearance; cruel, inhumane and degrading treatment; torture; death threats and attempted murder; intimidation; rape; and violation of the right to free movement.
There are also photocopies of the emergency room and morgue registries dating from 1992-1994 from the Hôpital d l'Universite d'Etat d'Haiti (HUEH) located in Port-au-Prince. These list the names and ages of individuals admitted, date of admittance, and injuries.