Haiti: Displaced women face ‘unprecedented’ levels of insecurity and sexual violence
A new report by United Nations Women Revealing the dire living conditions and lack of security faced by some 300,000 women and girls amid ongoing political unrest, escalating gang violence and the threat of the current hurricane season.
In constant danger
Women and girls make up more than half of the 580,000 displaced people in Haiti, and UN Women Rapid Gender Assessment highlights how makeshift refugee camps, lacking basic needs, are putting them at risk of sexual and gender-based violence.
The survey was conducted in April in six of the most densely populated and diverse displacement sites in the capital Port-au-Prince.
The study found that most camps lacked lights or locks in key areas such as bedrooms and toilets, while residents faced daily threats from gangs. The constant danger of stray bullets and other security risks further underscored the urgent need to improve security at these sites.
Aggression against women and girls, especially rape, is also being used in most camps as a deliberate tactic to control their access to humanitarian aidThis agency noted.
Call for New Government
“Our report tells us that The level of insecurity and brutality, including sexual violence, that women face at the hands of gangs in Haiti is unprecedented.. It has to stop now,” speak UN Women Executive Director Sima Bahous.
“We call on the newly appointed Government take measures to prevent and respond to violence Women and girls must be subject to management and increased participation of women in camp management so that their security concerns are heard and addressed.”
“Humanitarian aid must be distributed safely according to the different needs of women and girls,” she added.
resort to sex work
The report also revealed that nearly 90 percent of the women interviewed had no source of income in the camp.
More than 10 percent said they had used or considered prostitution to meet their needs at least once, and 20 percent knew at least one person who had done so.
Other findings included that about 16 percent of respondents felt threatened, harassed or traumatized by armed gangs and nearly 70 percent said they were mentally affected by the increase in violenceOnly 10 percent reported having access to health services in refugee camps.
Support women’s organizations and entrepreneurship
In response to the crisis in Haiti, UN Women is supporting women’s organizations to reach displaced people in communities and refugee camps, including through projects supported by United Nations Women’s Peace and Humanitarian Fundthe United Nations Peacebuilding Fundand the German Government.
The agency has also trained police to improve prevention of sexual and gender-based violence and provide services to survivors. In addition, the agency continues to support female entrepreneurs affected by traffic congestion and ongoing violence through a Norway-funded project.
International security mission
Last October, the United Nations Security Council authorized the deployment of a Multinational Security Assistance Mission (MSS) to assist the Haitian National Police in combating gangs.
UN Women calls on all stakeholders to participate in the non-UN mission ensure immediate protection for women and girlsand give Haitian women’s organizations a leadership role in managing displacement camps.
The agency said only two percent of women surveyed reported having a leadership role in camp management, stressing the urgency of ensuring they are actively involved in decision-making and implementing immediate protection measures.
