ABOUT US >> SECRETARY GENERAL

Claudette Antoine Werleigh (Haïti)

Claudette Werleigh can boast of extensive international experience in the fields of peace, justice and reconciliation using non-violent means. She was Vice President and a Member of the Executive Committee of Pax Christi International from 1992 to 2001. She has been the head of Pax Christi International delegations attending the United Nations World Conference on Human Rights in Vienna (1993) and visiting Brazil (1994) and Central America (1997) on Pax Christi fact-finding missions.

Claudette has a university degree in Law and Economics, as well as a Post Graduate Specialisation in Adult Non-Formal Education. She has previously held a number of different governmental and non-governmental positions. From 1976 till 1989, as Secretary General of Caritas Haiti, Caribbean Regional Coordinator with Caritas and Member of the Executive Committee of Caritas Internationalis, she has gained extensive experience working within the Catholic Church.

From August 1990 onwards Claudette became active in public administration and politics in Haiti, as a Minister for Social Affairs and Foreign Affairs (1990 to 1995). Notably, she also served as Prime Minister of the Republic of Haiti in 1995 and 1996.

Since 1999, Claudette has been the Conflict Transformation Programmers Director of the Life and Peace Institute in Uppsala, Sweden.[1] As such, she led field activities aimed at facilitating and strengthening local peace building initiatives in war-torn societies such as in the Horn of Africa, Democratic Republic of Congo and Congo Brazzaville. Claudette’s work has taken her all over Latin America, to several countries in Asia and Africa, and to most countries in Western Europe, especially the conflict areas.

Years of teaching and lobbying experience have made her a confident and effective public speaker, building on excellent communication skills. She is bilingual in French and Haitian Creole, fluent in English and Spanish, and has a good understanding of Portuguese.

Claudette Werleigh is widely recognised for being a dedicated person. She is inspired by Christian values and spirituality, and has experience in cooperating with people of other faiths. She is also accustomed to working with an international staff with diverse backgrounds, facilitating collaborative action in order to reach common goals.