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PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti, Apr 01 2016 – Several human rights organisations and groups representing disabled people have condemned the murder of three disabled women earlier this week.
The groups, including the Haitian Society for Aid to the Blind (SHAA), the National Associative Network for the Integration of Persons with Disabilities (RANIPH), the National Federation of the Deaf of Haiti (FNSH) and the Association of deaf of évèque, Haiti (ASLH) said that the three women, who were deaf and dumb, had been lynched after being taken for “witches”.
They said the women were only seeking a place to sleep in the zone of Haut Damier, area near Cabaret and have since launched an appeal to the authorities to ensure respect for the rights of disabled people in the country.
They have also called for justice and compensation for the families of three women, whose names they gave as Jésula Germain, Vanessa Prévil and Monique Vincent.
Secretary of State for the Integration of Persons with Disabilities, Gérald Oriol Jr has condemned the murders.
“This is unthinkable in our society that such crimes be committed” he said, noting that one of the women was three months pregnant.
