Brian Concannon

Brian Concannon
Born Brian Concannon Jr.
November 18, 1963
Alma mater Middlebury College
Georgetown University Law Center
Occupation Human Rights Lawyer and Activist
Years active 1995–present
Website
http://ijdh.org/

Brian Concannon, Jr. (born November 18, 1963) is a human rights lawyer who directs the Institute for Justice & Democracy in Haiti (IJDH). Brian also serves as a member of the Editorial Board of Health and Human Rights: An International Journal at the Harvard School of Public Health. He is an alumnus of Boston College High School'81, as well as an Ignatius Award[1] winner. He is the recipient of the Wasserstein Public Interest Fellowship[2] from Harvard Law School the Brandeis International Fellowship in Human Rights, Intervention, and International Law[3] and an Honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters from Canisius College.

Bureau des Avocats Internationaux

From 1996-2004 Concannon co-managed the Bureau des Avocats Internationaux (BAI), Haiti's only public interest law office with Mario Joseph. During his time at the BAI, Concannon played an essential role in preparing the prosecution of the landmark Raboteau Massacre trial in 2000. As many as 50 people were killed in the Raboteau in 1994.[4] Six years later, Concannon and the BAI were able to convict 16 defendants guilty for their role in the massacre. The Court also issued a civil damages judgment against the defendants for 1 billion gourdes (roughly $43 million).[5] A video was made about the trial which features extensive interviews with Concannon.[6] The BAI was tasked with various other cases during this time period, geared primarily toward seeking justice for the victims of ex-military and paramilitary violence in Haiti (which has been documented in depth),[7] and the BAI was also involved in the investigation into the murder of famed Haitian radio journalist Jean Dominique.[8]

Brian Concannon speaks to Matt Damon, Paul Farmer, and Linda Dorcena Forry on a panel moderated by Amy Goodman.

Institute for Justice & Democracy in Haiti

In 2004, Concannon left the BAI to found the Institute for Justice & Democracy in Haiti (IJDH) after the February 2004 coup d’etat that overthrew Haiti’s president Jean-Bertrand Aristide. IJDH was founded specifically as the sister group of the Bureau des Avocats Internationaux (BAI). IJDH and the BAI work collaboratively on all their projects. IJDH is based in Boston, Massachusetts.

Concannon successfully represented former Prime Minister and political prisoner Yvon Neptune in the first Haiti case ever decided by the Inter-American Court of Human Rights.

References

  1. ↑ "BC High St. Ignatius Award Recipients". Boston College High School. Retrieved 2 July 2013.
  2. ↑ "Past Wasserstain Fellows". Harvard Law School. Retrieved 2 July 2013.
  3. ↑ "Brandeis International Fellowships in Human Rights, Intervention, and International Law". Brandeis University. Retrieved 2 July 2013.
  4. ↑ http://www.ncbuy.com/reference/country/humanrights.html?code=ha&sec=1
  5. ↑ http://ijdh.org/articles/article_raboteau-2.php
  6. ↑ http://www.raboteau-trial.info/backgroundupdate.html
  7. ↑ http://monthlyreview.org/press/books/pb3003/
  8. ↑ https://sites.google.com/site/jebsprague/Sprague_2007_JOHS_Dominique_Investigation_Joseph_Concannon.pdf