RESPONDER PARTNERSHIP

In memory of a valued team member, Mario Joseph, who played a pivotal role in launching the RESPONDER project and supporting antecedent work to confront sexual exploitation and abuse by UN Peacekeepers..
 
Mario Joseph, who the New York Times called “Haiti’s most prominent human rights lawyer,” led the Bureau des Avocats Internationaux (BAI) in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, from 1996 to 2025, when he died following a tragic accident. During his more than 30 years of human rights work, Mario has spearheaded historic human rights cases, including the Raboteau Massacre trial in 2000, hailed as one of the most important human rights cases in the Western Hemisphere; Yvon Neptune v. Haiti, the first Haiti case ever decided by the Inter-American Court of Human Rights; claims against the United Nations on behalf of victims of cholera brought to Haiti by UN peacekeepers; and the pursuit of former Haitian dictator Jean-Claude “Baby Doc” Duvalier.

Mario’s greatest legacy might be the legions of people he inspired and trained to win battles for justice around the world, to confront imperialist foreign policy, and to dismantle racism. We are grateful for his dedication and vision, which have left an unforgettable impact on our team and the RESPONDER project’s success.

As we move forward, we carry his spirit with us, ensuring that his contributions and values are honored every step of the way.