If Haiti’s rebel forces carry out their promised attack on the capital Port-au-Prince, the civilian population must be spared, Human Rights Watch said in a briefing paper released today.

The U.S. Coast Guard should not turn back all Haitians who flee the growing violence in Haiti and attempt to reach the United States, Human Rights Watch said today. The United States is obligated by the 1951 Refugee Convention and related international laws not to return refugees to a place where their lives or freedom are threatened.

The armed rebels who have taken over Cap-Haïtien and other Haitian towns must not attack civilians, including government loyalists, Human Rights Watch said today. Human Rights Watch also condemned attacks by pro-government gangs during demonstrations staged by the political opposition in Port-au-Prince.

In responding to Haiti’s worsening violence, President Jean-Bertrand Aristide should ensure that the country’s security forces respect international human rights standards on the use of lethal force, Human Rights Watch said today.

The failure of the Haitian police to curb widespread political violence in the wake of yesterday's attack on the presidential palace raises serious concerns, Human Rights Watch said today.

The Community of Democracies should be a caucus of nations committed to the universally recognized human rights without which democracy cannot thrive. It should allow democratic nations to share experiences, to coordinate policies and to reach out to non-governmental actors with similar goals.

Six international human rights organizations called upon incoming Haitian President Jean-Bertrand Aristide to adopt a series of important reforms, outlined in a joint statement.