Front Line Defenders Statement on the Death of LGBTI+ Rights Defender Charlot Jeudy

Charlot Jeudy, one of Haiti’s most prominent LGBTI+ activists, was found dead at his home in Pétion-Ville outside of the capital of Port-au-Prince on the morning of Monday, 25 November 2019.The circumstances of his death remain unclear.

Jeudy 34, is recognised in Haiti for his commitment to promoting and defending the rights of the LGBTI+ community through the Kouraj organisation. Founded in December 2011, the organisation’s mission is to “raise awareness regarding homophobia and transphobia. Between 2016 and 2019 Kouraj reported 21 cases of violence against LGBTI+ individuals including a murder. Three people reported receiving death threats while others reported that their families had threatened to burn them alive.

According to Jeudy, “We wish to propose an alternative discourse on homosexuality in Haiti because for too long only homophobes discuss our reality and propose their own interpretation”.  Speaking at the 2018 launch of the “Community Intervention Oriented to LGBTI Persons” project, supported by the United Nations Mission for Justice Support in Haiti, Jeudy stated “The country faces a social, political and economic crisis. But, through MINUJUSTH, we understand the international community’s commitment and support. It’s a way to show that they are on the side of justice, to promote principles and values like non-discrimination, equality, human dignity and universal rights.”

Speaking in Dublin, Andrew Anderson Executive Director of Front Line Defenders said “Front Line Defenders is deeply saddened by the death of Charlot Jeudy. Charlot attended the 2017 Dublin Platform during which he spoke passionately about the need to defend the rights of the LGBTI+community in Haiti. We deplore the untimely death of this courageous human rights defender and we call for an immediate and exhaustive investigation into the circumstances of his death”.