The position of committed women, women’s associations and feminist organizations on the occasion of the National Day of the Haitian Women’s Movement, April 3, 2023.
The country is dying. Leaders of the State, either take responsibility or leave.
We the undersigned women, women’s organizations and feminists want to draw the attention of the State, all actors, especially those who have decision-making power, to what has been going on for the past three years, as the country sinks ever deeper into the abyss. This note points to the many faces of the crisis, especially in gender, economic and security matters. We believe it is never too late to stop this hemorrhage that is destroying the dignity of an entire people, but especially women and girls in the population.
Several reports on human rights clearly show that young men are the leaders of the gangs! The victims, for their part, are gender-neutral. Both men and women are victims of theft, rape, kidnapping, murder, etc. In addition to these, there are some acts of violence, such as sexual violence for example, which affect women in particular.
In neighborhoods controlled by gangs, women and girls are not allowed to refuse the sexual advances of gang leaders, or they risk losing their lives. Women’s bodies become a tool for criminal thugs to establish their power of domination over an entire population and control people’s resistance against how the situation is degenerating.
Clashes in the suburbs, attacks on people’s houses in all corners of Port-au-Prince and provincial cities drive people from their homes, women are the first victims because they are the ones running with their children to sleep on the streets.
Women selling in the market, “Madan Sara” bringing food to the city despite the fact that the gangs have closed most of the national roads, are victims of rape every day, and the theft of everything they own, which leaves them in complete poverty.
Other violence women are subjected to is in the issue of passports, where racketeers, in collusion with some agents in the same State, not only increase the price of passports by several multiples, but force some women to sleep with them to get the document.
Above all else, violence against women and girls is discrimination. It is a great shame for the Haitian government that takes the tax the population pays and does nothing to alleviate its suffering. In a context where there are neither services nor answers to guarantee women’s sexual rights and reproductive health, women and girls who are victims of this violence are exposed to great risks such as: pregnancy, connected llnesses , loss of self-esteem, suicide, to cite only these. In these conditions, the most frequent victims are pregnant women, breastfeeding women, disabled women, elderly women, women with children, single women with children, women in the informal sector, especially “Madan Sara” and children without family protection.
One of the consequences of this type of violence is to remove the dignity of the victims and terrorize the rest of the population. Other consequences of this situation are the increase and banalization of prostitution, pedophilia, sexual exploitation and abuse, etc. Another aspect of the situation is the impact on education where girls, like boys, cannot go to school to receive instruction. Many schools are forced to close their doors due to the threat of bandits and kidnappings of teachers, parents and students, while education is the greatest hope of a society.
We remind you that Haiti has ratified most of the conventions on human rights, among them the International Convention to eliminate all types of discrimination against women and girls and the Convention to combat all types of violence against women and girls. These acts of violence are clearly a violation of all these conventions!
What we are living through today is not an accident, it is the result of bad governance at the top of the State and a wide range of social inequalities and injustices that have existed for a long time and that affect especially the categories of people in the most vulnerable situations.
Despite these calamities, despite the passage in the desert, it is not too late! We can correct the situation and change our future if we join hands and stick together. But we must raise our feet because it could be sadder.
Therefore, we, the women’s and feminist organizations that sign here, raise our voices loudly to demand from the State:
1) Urgently lead a national investigation on all violations of human rights, in particular the rights of women in the country, which includes all that is done with complicity with the State, especially in the matter of passports;
2) Restore public security in the country to allow the displaced population to return to their homes;
3) Unblock all roads in the country and set up security to facilitate the normal flow of people, in all freedom;
4) Give the entire population, particularly women victims, access to the services they need (health, psychological support, education, economic means, justice, etc.);
5) Make an opening to find an agreement with other organized groups in politics, civil society, the business sector to allow us to get out of the governance crisis;
6) Set up a commission of inquiry to understand the level of implications of the Haitians who are on the list of sanctions taken by some foreign countries because they may be involved in conspiracies and gangs to destroy the country, and take the necessary measures according to the results of this investigation.
The state, if the state leaders continue on this irresponsible course, they do not belong in power, are incapable, or are accomplices. In this case, they should have the patriotism to give way to those who have the will and ability to lead the country.
In the spirit of April 3, 1986, we encourage all women’s and feminist organizations to unite and sit together to write a clear proposal that reflects the demands of everyone to help get the country out of this dire situation. Today, more than at any other time, the country needs women to help build another form of society based on respect for the rights of women and men, which offers the same opportunities to all citizens regardless of their social class, economic means, area where they live, their level of education, their physical condition, their age, etc.
Let’s join together and work to build a better, fairer, more egalitarian society that can build a better future for all citizens! To authenticate the note
CUREF (University Collective for the Research and Emancipation of Women):
_________ _____ ________
Coordinator, Kenise Phanord Secretary General, Ketleine Charles
Women organization signatories:
Association des Femmes de Gros Morne (AFAGM), Nalda Odeus
Asosyasyon fanm Karenaj (AFAK), Marie Moneus
Asosyon fanm pou devlopman Ansavo Nip (AFADAN), Lisette Jn Pierre
Association des Femmes pour l’Avancement et le Progrès de Bois Neuf (AFAPROB), Maridieu Innocent
Asosyasyon fanm solèy Dayiti (AFASDA), Elvire Eugene
Association des femmes actifs de Trou du Nord (AFAT), Gladise Firmin
Asosyasyon fanm Devue Zetwa (AFDEZ), Mirlande Delisna
Asosyasyon fanm Fondelyann (AFF), Elise Laurore
Asosyasyon fanm vanyan 4e seksyon Miragwan (OFV4M)
Asosaysyon fanm komesan medizan (AFKM), Yvronise Bazille
Asosyasyon fanm Plezans (AFP), Verlande Fabien
Association des femmes actifs Monbin Crochu (AFAMC), Silvanie Bureau
Association des femmes de Ouanaminthe (AFO), Nerline Monpremier
Asosyasyon fanm vanyan Flip (AFVF), Midelaine Saintilma
Asosyasyon fanm Vanyan Peleren (AFVP), Jasmin Delaie
Association des jeunes entrepreneures de Ti Charite, Pierre Angeline
Asosyasyon fanm Kapotiy (AFK), Madou Adrien
Asosyasyon fanm vanyan pou chanjman de Bwa Marmelade (AFVPDM), Nergelie Marcien
Association des jeunes actifs pour le développement de Baja (AJADB), Thesuma Androit
Asosyasyon fanm aktiv Nip (AFKNIP), Mirlande Cenat
Action volontaire nouvelle identité de la femme (AVNIF), Guirlene Ocvil
Centre d’encadrement des filles adolescentes (CEFA), Maritane Noel
Coordination de groupement des femmes pour le développement de Grande Savanne (CFGRADS), Premilia Meraüs
Coordination des femmes pour l’épanouissement de Petit Trou de Nippes (COEFEPTN), Cherline Veuillard
Coordination de groupement des femmes pour le développement d’Aranud (CFGRADA), Elourdes Syphraus
Coordination des Femmes organisées commune Aquin (COFOCA)
Coordination pour le développement et l’intégration des femmes (CODIF), Nadie Jean Aubord
Collectif des femmes de l’Artibonite (COFA), Patricia Cassamajor
Collectif des femmes avisées d’Haïti pour le développement des initiatives économiques (COFAHDIE), Juliette Mondestin
Engagement des femmes et des filles pour l’environnement et le développement (EFED), Marie Sheyla Durandisse
Entr’elles, Stecie Guerrier
Èspwa Nòdès (ENE), Enice Monpremier
Organisation des femmes pour le développement de la commune des Verettes (FADECOV), Anette Genat
Fanm vanyan Lepal (FAVAL), Madeleine Figaro
Fanm Lyankou an Blók (FLAB), Renette Mésidort
Collectif féminin haïtien pour la participation politique des femmes, Fanm yo la, Lisa François
Òganizasyon fanm Peyan Dufou (FDP), Tamitha Bruneau
Femmes en action pour le développement du Centre (FADAC), Nadège Macena
Fanm an aksyon Gotye (FAG), Solange Altirin
Fédération des Femmes du Bas Artibonite (FEFBA), Gerda Bien Aimé
Fédération des femmes organisées du Nord (FEFONORD), Anise Thémène
Femmes en évolution (FEV), Jessy Kénol Saint Marc
Fanm tèt kole (FTK), Marie-Rose Jean
Fanm lidè Debaryè Lagon (FLDL), Marjorie Charles
Gwoup fanm kap travay pou avansman Vido (GFKTAV), Premise Timeau
Inisyativ fanm lakay (INIFAL), Marilyn Christine Fenelon
Ligue haitienne d’actions sociales (LHAS), Zola Lamothe
Kòdinasyon fanm pou devlopman Limonad, KOFADE, Estrella Pierre
Marie Isnise Romelus, Miliant feminis
Martine Irgie Dorcellus, militant feminis
Media Elle, Dieula Jean Louis
Mouvement des Femmes de Terre Sonné (MFTS), Louisina Valérie
Mouvman fanm Brinèt (MFB), Jean Ketie
Mouvman fanm byenfè Pèch (MFBP), Émilia Bélizaire
Mouvman Fanm Jasma Potno (MFJASMAP), Dutreuil Ismonise
Mouvman Fanm Progresis Dolan (MFPD), Venise Michel
Mouvman fanm Nip Baradè (MFNB), Mimose Delsy
Mouvman fanm vanyan Lamin (MFVL), Natacha Sainbert
Mouvement des femmes pour le développement de la Grand-Anse (MOFEDGA), Rose-Laure Aubord
Mouvman fanm volontè ak aksyon (MOFVA), Lucette Colin Casimir
Mouvman fanm peyizan Mengo (MPFM), Marie-Lourdes Charles
Milor Dexai, pwofesè nan fakilte Etnoloji
Organisation des Femmes Actives pour le Développement de St Marc (OFACDES), Fédna Laurent
Organisation des femmes pour l’Avancement de Dessalines (OFAD), Anilus Cleriméne Casseus
Organisation des Femmes Actives des Gonaïves (OFAG) Guerline Innocent
Òganizasyon fanm Kalvè Senterez, OFAKS, André Sildane,
Òganizasyon fanm Lakay (OFALAK), Florcie Monéro
Oganizasyon Fanm Peyizan Gwo Mòn (OFAPGM), André Edeline Anicile
Òganizasyon fanm pou lavni Ayiti (OFANLA), Kerlyne Blanc
Òganizasyon fanm Peyan Lazil(OFAPA), Marnoline Dessources
Òganizasyon fanm Bas du Fort/ Miragwan (OFASBAF), Orline Leger
Òganizasyon fanm Bwapou (OFB), Anikita Jean
Òganizasyon Fanm Charrette (OFC), Charline Norelus
Organisation des Fermmes pour le Development de l’Artibonite du Bedou (OFDAD), Roseline Limage
Organisation des femmes Decidee Raymond Petit Trou de Nippes (OFEDERPTIN), Dupont Joseph
Organisation des Femmes de la 4ème Section de Dessalines (OFD4SD), Evena Corisma
Organisation des femmes pour le développement social de Fort-Liberté (OFFDES), Adeline Menelus
Òganizasyon Fanm Kopere Verèt (OFHKOV), Juanita Exantus
Organisation des Femmes Intégrées pour le Progrès de Dessalines (OFID), Elmitha Cadet
Òganizasyon Fanm Koud Marmelade (OFKM), Marie Betie Deschamps
Organisation des Femmes pour l’Avancement de la Commune de Dessalines (OFLCD), Dasima Eliamene
Oganizasyon Fanm Platon (OFP), Jean Maitre Myrtha
Organisation de femmes de Petite Rivière de Quetant (OFPQ), Marie Yolaine Accolonne
Organisation des femmes pour le développement de la commune d’Arnaud Nippes (OFEDCANIPPES), Beatrice Jn Louis
Organisation des femmes Solidaires de l’Artibonite (OFSA)
Organisation des femmes Solidaires de Trou Sable (OFST)
Òganizasyon fanm vanyan pou devlopman Kafou Lendi (OFVDKL), Marie Marthe Plessimond
Òganizasyon fanm Vanyan de Tè Nèv (OFVTN), Wilméne Jean Jacques
Òganizasyon fanm Ri Mas (OFVR), Guerline Thomas
Organisation pour le Renforcement des Femmes Baissé-levées Verrettes (OREFEBV), Lucienne Cyrius Lessage
Organisation Sociale pour Sauver l’Artibonite (OSSA)
Òganizasyon tèt ansanm pou devlopman Plezans Nip (OTDPN), Maleine Alcima
Platfòm fanm solèy klere (PLAFASOK), Wilnie Saintil
Plateforme des Organisations de Femmes pour le Developpement de l’Artibonite (PLAFODA), Louisette Vertilus
Plateforme des organisations de femmes pour l’avancement du Centre (POFAC), Marseille Lundad
Plateforme des Organisations des Femmes de Gros Morne (POFCGM), Saintanise Jean
Plateforme des organisations de femmes haïtiennes pour le développement (POFHAD), Eunide Innocent
Plateforme des Organisations de Femmes pour l’Avancement de la Commune de Marmelade (PROFACOM), Helene Saint-Jules
Rasableman Fanm Lenbe (RAFAL), Adeline Charlot
Rassemblement des Femmes pour le Développement de Terre Neuve (RAFEDET), Marie Noel
Regroupement des femmes actives pour le développement de Trou du Nord (REFADET), Magalie Geffrad
Rezo fanm aktif Kapotiy (REFAK), Wideline Caméus
Rezo fanm Nip (REFANIP), Lila Zephirin
Regroupement national des femmes candidates (RENAFECA), Wislaine Dorcelus
Rassemblement des filles d’Anacaona, Lovelie Pierre
Rassemblement femmes engagées Ouanaminthe (RFEO), Roselene Pierre
Rasanbleman fanm Vosye (RFV), Guerline Pierre
Rasanbleman fanm vanyan Basfò (RFVB), Bensie Marseille
Réseaux des organisations de femmes de Petit-Goave (RESOFPEG), Myriam Jean
Regroupement des jeunes pour le développement de Madeline, Pierre Darline
Solidarité fanm Kapotiy (SFK), Nicole Pierre
Union pour le développement et le respect des femmes haïtiennes (UDREF), Nancy Dessejour Policier
Union des femmes Nippes (UFENI), Sofia Lumène
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