PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti (CMC) — Displaced women and girls in Haiti are experiencing unprecedented levels of insecurity and sexual violence as armed groups continue to attack civilians, exacerbating the country’s instability, according to a recent report by UN Women, the United Nations’ gender equality agency.
The report, released on Wednesday, details the perilous living conditions faced by approximately 300,000 displaced women and girls amid ongoing political turmoil, escalating gang violence, and the looming threat of the hurricane season. Women and girls constitute more than half of Haiti’s 580,000 displaced population.
UN Women’s rapid gender assessment, conducted in April in six of the most populous and diverse shelters in Port-au-Prince, highlights the acute risks of sexual and gender-based violence in makeshift camps lacking essential amenities. The study reveals that many camps lack basic security measures such as lighting and locks in key areas like sleeping quarters and toilets, leaving residents vulnerable to gang threats.
“The constant presence of stray bullets and other security risks further underscores the urgent need to improve protection in these centres,” the report states. “Violence against women and girls, particularly rape, is used as a deliberate tactic to limit access to humanitarian assistance.”
Sima Bahous, executive director of UN Women, stressed the critical situation: “The report speaks to the unprecedented levels of insecurity and brutality, including sexual violence, that Haitian women face at the hands of gangs. It must stop now.” She called on the new administration to take measures to prevent and address violence against women and girls, enhance women’s participation in camp management, and address their safety concerns.
The assessment found that around 90% of the women interviewed had no source of income within the camps. More than 10% reported having turned to sex work or prostitution at least once to meet their needs, or had considered the possibility, while 20% knew someone who had done so. Additionally, about 16% of respondents felt threatened, harassed, or traumatized by armed groups, and around 70% reported being mentally affected by the increasing violence. Only 10% had access to health services in the camps.
In response to the crisis, UN Women is supporting women’s organizations to engage with host communities and displaced individuals in camps through various projects funded by the UN Women Peace and Humanitarian Fund, the UN Peacebuilding Fund, and the German government. The agency has also trained police officers to enhance the prevention of sexual and gender-based violence and provide services to victims. Furthermore, it continues to support women entrepreneurs affected by road blockades and violence through a Norwegian-funded project.
Last October, the UN Security Council authorized the deployment of a Multinational Security Assistance (MSS) mission to assist the Haitian National Police in combating gangs. UN Women has urged all actors in non-UN missions to ensure the immediate protection of women and girls and to grant Haitian women’s organizations a leading role in managing displacement camps.
The report underscores the urgency of increasing women’s active participation in decision-making and implementing immediate protection measures, noting that only 2% of women surveyed held leadership roles in camp management.
