10/4/2016

The former first lady of Haiti visited with students in a human rights practicum this fall, where she spent more than an hour speaking about the law, the role of lawyers, and answered student questions about work they are doing to help Haitian victims of the cholera epidemic.

Mildred Trouillot Aristide, who married Haitian former President Jean-Bertrand Aristide in 1996, appeared in the classroom via Skype. Her talk was designed to help students better understand the impact of their school work on the people of Haiti, said Professor Erin Daly, who co-teaches the practicum with Distinguished Professor Jim May.

“Madame Aristide is particularly well situated to understand the social, legal and political landscape in Haiti,” said Daly, who spent the 2015-16 academic year on sabbatical serving as vice president for institutional development at the Universitée de la Fondation Aristide in Haiti. “She was very gracious to share her time with our law students.”

Students in the practicum are working with lawyers in Boston and Haiti who are representing victims of cholera in trying to hold the United Nations accountable for its responsibility in introducing cholera in Haiti after the 2010 earthquake. U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon recently acknowledged that the peacekeeping organization played a role in introducing cholera to Haiti and said it needs to respond to the crisis. Students are providing research on remedies that would be appropriate under the circumstances.

“Madame Aristide was incredibly articulate and knowledgeable, and she spoke with great passion for the country of Haiti and its people. It was truly inspiring,” student Carli McClaflin said. “The conversation also reinforced the importance of our work in the class and placed significant emphasis on helping the people, reminding me why I joined the class and, in a sense, revitalizing my passion for the cause. “ 

Aristide’s conversation with the students ranged from the moral obligations of lawyers to the role of the United Nations peacekeepers in Haiti and their legal obligations. She also discussed the upcoming elections in Haiti and how the outcome could impact Haitians’ access to water. She took questions from students and discussed her own personal experiences. Aristide has a law degree from the University of Pennsylvania Law School.