‘I have never had the opportunity to vote’: How one Haitian doctor’s initiative is getting people involved in civic life

July 14, 2026

Dr. Lucna Henrisme, a 30-year-old Haitian physician and democracy advocate, has established Mouvman SÈVI to address the widespread political disengagement among Haiti's youth and women through civic education and leadership training. The organization responds to a troubling reality where young Haitians have never experienced functioning democracy, with no general elections since 2016 and parliament inactive since 2020. Haiti remains trapped in ongoing political transitions following President Moïse's 2021 assassination, while gang violence controls major regions and has displaced over 1.

Who is affected

Young people in Haiti (particularly those who have never been able to vote)
Women across Haiti
Dr. Lucna Henrisme and members of Mouvman SÈVI
Over 1.5 million internally displaced Haitians living in makeshift camps
Citizens in the West Department (including Port-au-Prince), Artibonite, and Centre Departments where gangs control territory
The general Haitian population experiencing lack of democratic participation
Political parties that signed the National Pact for Stability and the Organization of Elections

What action is being taken

Dr. Henrisme is organizing awareness activities, workshops, public meetings, and discussion sessions across Haiti through Mouvman SÈVI
Mouvman SÈVI is providing civic education to teach people about their rights and duties
Dr. Henrisme is urging the transitional government to deliver fair elections and honor the governance pact
The country is being governed under the current Prime Minister Alix Didier Fils-Aimé's transitional administration
Armed gangs continue to impose rule across several regions

Why it matters

Haiti's prolonged absence of elections (none since 2016) and non-functioning parliament (since January 2020) means an entire generation has been denied fundamental democratic rights and civic participation. The situation perpetuates a cycle where young people remain disengaged due to corruption, broken promises, and lack of civic education, preventing fresh voices and perspectives from entering the political system. Restoring trust between citizens and the state through civic education and eventual fair elections is essential for Haiti to escape its current crisis of gang violence, political instability, and humanitarian emergency. Without youth and women's participation in political solutions, the country risks remaining trapped in cycles of transitional governments that fail to address security or democratic legitimacy.

What's next

The article mentions that elections are hoped for in 2026, though their likelihood remains unclear due to ongoing security problems. Dr. Henrisme calls for the government to implement the governance pact it signed with political parties to organize credible and transparent elections that would restore democratic legitimacy. However, the article notes that growing disagreements between the government and political parties regarding the electoral process threaten to prolong political uncertainty.

Read full article from source: Global Voices