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Haiti has a long history of patriarchy, discrimination against women and gender-based violence in the home, at work, in political life and in the courts.  Gender discrimination pervades Haiti systematically. This denies women and girls the power to prevent and address injustices against them.   HAWG’s Gender & Human Rights Subgroup envisages, advocates for and supports Haitian colleagues’ struggle for a Haiti where human rights, freedoms, gender equity and justice prevail in all areas of life.  To contribute to achieving these goals, the Subgroup holds the Haitian government, and bilateral and multilateral aid agencies accountable for harmful investment impacts on women, men, boys and girls.

HAWG’s gender subgroup addresses a range of issues that include the following non-prioritized list:

  • Women’s and men’s equal rights
  • Gender-based violence
  • Restaveks
  • Trafficking
  • Gender impacts of climate change
  • Gender impacts of aid investments across sectors including agriculture; industry especially industrial park management and employment; and mining
  • Gender imbalance in government and elected positions
  • CEDAW and Haiti

Recent News:

gender-human-rights
Aid Accountability and Transparency, Gender & Human Rights, Good Governance, Security

U.S. FOREIGN POLICY ON HAITI: THE WAY FORWARD

A joint statement by HAWG members AJWS and UUSC:

U.S. FOREIGN POLICY ON HAITI: THE WAY FORWARD

As the United States and international community continue to discuss ways to support the Haitian people, American Jewish World Service and the Unitarian Universalist Service Committee have issued the following joint statement and recommendations: 

Over the past decade, the regime governing Haiti has stolen billions of dollars in public funds, dismantled democratic institutions, and funded and armed gangs. Read More

Aid Accountability and Transparency, Cholera Epidemic, Gender & Human Rights, Health

ICYMI: Report “Broken UN Promises Lead to Haiti Cholera Resurgence”

HAWG members IJDH and BAI recently released a press release stating that Broken UN Promises Lead to Haiti Cholera. In this piece, the two organizations call out the UN for their failure to keep their promise of investing $400 million to cover the cholera epidemic.

Read the report!

Since its outbreak in 2010, the UN-imported cholera has killed over 10,000 people and infected nearly 1 million between 2010 and 2019Read More

Elections and Democracy, Gender & Human Rights, Good Governance

One Year Later: Call on U.S. to Let a Haitian Solution Emerge

Tomorrow, July 7th, marks the one year anniversary of the assassination of Haiti’s President Jovenel Moïse. His murder came only days after the killings of activist Netty Duclaire, journalist Diego Charles, and nineteen others in Delmas 32. No one has been held to account.

As long as the US allows Henry to veto negotiations, a Haitian solution cannot emerge.

Read More
Aid Accountability and Transparency, Elections and Democracy, Gender & Human Rights

With New Global Fragility Act, US Must Avoid Past Mistakes and Let Haitians Control Their Own Democracy

HAWG members have been organizing and participating in consultations with the U.S. government surrounding the implementation process for the Global Fragility Act, a framework now called “Strategy to Prevent Conflict and Promote Stability” (SPCPS). This hopefully fruitful work will continue in coming months.

HAWG member IJDH staffer Sasha Filippova just published this op-ed on the hopes and cautions of this work. Read More

Climate Change, Gender & Human Rights

Violence Against Women and the Climate Crisis: Submissions to the UN Special Rapporteur

Various HAWG members have provided input to the United Nations (UN) Special Rapporteur on violence against women, its causes and consequences.

First, the Institute for Justice and Democracy in Haiti (IJDH), Nègès Mawon, and the Global Justice Clinic (GJC) at the New York University School of Law responded to the call for inputs on violence against women and girls in the context of the climate crisis. Read More

Gender & Human Rights

EVENT: Advancing Women’s Rights in Haiti: The Fight for Political Participation, Social Equality, and an End to Gender-Based Violence

HAWG member Institute for Justice & Democracy in Haiti is pleased to invite you to attend our webinar in honor of International Women’s Day,

Advancing Women’s Rights in Haiti: 

The Fight for Political Participation, Social Equality, and an End to Gender-Based Violence

March 8, 2022 2 – 3:30 p.m. EST

Haiti’s Constitution explicitly guarantees Haitian women equality and representation with respect to political power and decision-making. Read More

Gender & Human Rights

Virtual Panel – Haiti and the Biden/Harris Administration, What’s Next?

In honor of International Women’s Day, HAWG member Haitian Women’s Collective hosted a policy panel discussion with distinguished women speakers to discuss what’s next for Haiti in relation to the current Biden/Harris Administration.

Mon, March 8, 2021 6:00 PM – 7:00 PM EST

The esteemed guest speakers include…

Congresswoman Yvette Clarke
Franciscka Lucien, Executive Director of The Institute for Justice and Democracy
Gabrielle Apollon, Haiti Project Deputy Director & Supervising Attorney at NYU’s Global Justice Clinic

The recording is available here

Read More

Aid Accountability and Transparency, Food Crisis, Food Sovereignty, Gender & Human Rights

Can Haiti’s Peanut Value Chain Survive US Generosity?

Research by PAPDA (the Haitian Advocacy Platform for Alternative Development) and Oxfam found that peanut value chain actors in Haiti face a number of serious constraints, including nonexistence of state support; weak organization; use of traditional production methods; and lack of access to irrigation and inputs, including herbicides to control aflatoxin, all in a context of poverty and vulnerable livelihoods. Read More

Elections and Democracy, Gender & Human Rights, Media

House Members send letter to Sec. Pompeo on Haiti

Press release from Rep. Levin’s office:

Reps. Levin and Lee Send Letter to Sec. Pompeo Expressing Concerns over Violence Against Civil Protesters in Haiti

March 27, 2019
Press Release
Representatives Levin and Lee led a letter with 104 total bipartisan House members asking Secretary Pompeo to investigate corruption and human right violations by the Haitian government.
Read More