Over 120 Organizations in Haiti and Worldwide Endorse Policy Framework That Demands Concrete Actions to Include Women in Haiti’s Transition

English version | Vèsyon kreyòl | Version française

JOIN US on Wednesday, July 24 at 2:00 p.m. Eastern on zoom for a press conference with experts:

  • Pascale Solages, general coordinator for Haitian feminist organization Nègès Mawon
  • Carine Jocelyn, founder and managing director of Haitian women’s organization Haitian Women’s Collective (HWC)
  • Sasha Filippova, senior staff attorney for human rights solidarity organization Institute for Justice & Democracy in Haiti (IJDH)

Over 120 organizations from the Caribbean, Africa, the Americas, and Europe have endorsed the Policy Framework for an Effective and Equitable Transition (KR/EN/FR). They demand immediate action to respect the rights of Haitian women and girls to full equality and participation in the central affairs of their nation. 

The Policy Framework, issued by feminist and human rights groups in Haiti to ensure the inclusion of women in Haiti’s democratic transition, lays out the well-established and legally binding principles of equality under Haitian and international law alongside best practices for successful transitions. These include the material inclusion of women in leadership and the centering of concerns specifically affecting women and girls. Among the central recommendations derived from those standards are that women must hold, at minimum, 30% of all leadership positions in the transition, and that their inclusion must reflect empowered authority and the priorities of Haiti’s women’s movement. 

These demands are especially urgent, as Haiti’s transitional government is currently forming key institutions like the Provisional Electoral Council (CEP) and the National Security Council. It has to date failed to live up to its legal obligations to Haiti’s women and girls: no women have a vote on Haiti’s Transitional Presidential Council (TPC) or were interviewed for the interim Prime Minister post. The transitional government’s most recent appointments to a Commission on criminal reform – 1 woman out of 9 seats – is a worrying sign that it will continue to fail Haiti’s women and girls without a deliberate policy shift. Such a shift is not only essential to fully respecting the rights of women and girls in Haiti, but also to maximizing the transition’s chance for success for all Haitians.

Endorsing organizations include Haiti’s Nègès Mawon, the National Human Rights Defense Network (RNDDH), the Haitian Women’s Collective (HWC), the Platform of Haitian Human Rights Organizations (POHDH), the Bureau des Avocats Internationaux (BAI), the Groupe de Travail sur la Sécurité (GTS), and the Commission Épiscopale Nationale Justice et Paix (CE-JILAP), along with groups from around the globe, including women’s rights organization such as MADRE, the Center for Gender and Refugee Studies (CGRS), Fòs Feminista, and Equality Now; human rights groups such as Amnesty International USA, Refugees International and the Institute for Justice & Democracy in Haiti (IJDH); Haitian-American organizations such as the Haitian Ladies Network, Haitian American Foundation for Democracy (HAFFD) and Family Action Network Movement (FANM); academic institutions such as Wits University in South Africa and human rights legal clinics at the New York University School of Law, CUNY School of Law, and the American University Washington College of Law (AUWCL); and philanthropic funders like the Ansara Family Foundation, the Chrysalis Foundation, and the Firedoll Foundation.

“Haitian women and girls are entitled to dignity and equality as a matter of Haitian law, which also includes international human rights protections,” said Haitian human rights attorney Rosy Auguste Ducena of the National Human Rights Defense Network (RNDDH). “When women are silenced, half the population is denied justice and this effort at transition towards democracy and human rights is undermined. Gender equity is not negotiable – it is a fundamental human right and a central pillar of an effective transition.”

“We have seen the transitional government react to our June press release calling out its outrageous failure to give women a voice by appointing some women to positions of authority, but without a corresponding centering of priorities for the women’s movement,” said Pascale Solages of Nègès Mawon. “And that is why it was so important for this Framework to set out the guiding principles and recommendations essential for the inclusion and empowerment of Haiti’s women and girls and their rights. We will not be mere tokens.”

“Haiti’s women-led organizations in our network are often the only source of support and services for their communities. They do this in spite of widespread sexual violence and other grave risks to their lives, and against a backdrop of endemic gender-based violence and gendered cycles of poverty reflecting a lack of public social protection systems in Haiti,” said Carine Jocelyn of the Haitian Women’s Collective (HWC). “Women are often the first and most effective responders to crises. And yet we are being left out even as we are one of Haiti’s best resources. This must end. Instead, this is an opportune time to make a real, well-funded commitment to reducing inequalities and creating opportunities. Not only because it is what is right and what is just, but also because this is what Haiti ultimately needs to succeed in this difficult task of rebuilding.”

“Inclusive governance isn’t just good for women,” said Diana Duarte of MADRE, “it is the key to good governance and lasting safety for all.  Around the world, from Sudan to Afghanistan to Haiti, we’ve seen the international community repeatedly treat inclusion and gender equity as separate from and subordinate to concerns like security. The end result is weak, compromised governance that actually costs lives. The international community must follow the leadership of Haitian women human rights defenders to center gender equity in Haiti’s transitional government.”

“There is a truly remarkable showing of support for this Framework among groups in Haiti, including those working at the grassroots. And an equally strong endorsement from global solidarity partners in the Americas, Africa, and Europe,” said Sasha Filippova of the Institute for Justice & Democracy in Haiti (IJDH). “It reflects a global recognition that Haiti’s transition can only succeed if women are at its center and should be an urgent wake-up call to international actors involved in supporting Haiti that they must structure all of their programming and policies accordingly.”

Media Contacts:

Pascale Solages, Nègès Mawon | +1 321 347 1179 | solanges.pascale@negesmawon.org | (KR|FR|EN)

Rosy Auguste Ducena, RNDDH | +509 37 82 2897 | rkauguste@rnddh.org | (KR|FR)

Sasha Filippova, IJDH | +1 925 997 0171 | sasha@ijdh.org | (EN|FR)

Cait Collucino Vogel, MADRE | +1 212 627 0444 | cmackaman@madre.org | (EN)

Endorsing Haitian organizations:

  1. 1804 Institute
  2. Advens Optical, Inc.
  3. Alternative Chance / Chans Altenativ
  4. Asosyasyon Sosyal Fanm se Wozo (ASFAWO)
  5. Association des Femmes de Borgne
  6. Association des Femmes Rénovés de Léogâne (AFREL)
  7. Association des Femmes Universitaires du Cap-Haitien Nord
  8. Association des Femmes Vaillantes D’Haïti (AFVH)
  9. Bra Fanm
  10. Bureau des Avocats Internationaux (BAI)
  11. Clinique de Recherche, d’Analyse, et d’Assistance Légale de L’École Supérieure Catholique de Droit de Jérémie (CRAALE)
  12. Commission Épiscopale Nationale Justice et Paix (CE-JILAP)
  13. Consortium des Organisations du Secteur Privé de l’Éducation (COSPE) / FCH-Espwa (Fondation Communautaire Haïtienne-ESPWA [hope])
  14. Courage To Believe International
  15. enpaK
  16. Faith in Action International – Haiti
  17. Fanm Deside
  18. Fanm Viktim Leve Kanpe – ‘Femmes Victimes, Debout’ (FAVILEK)
  19. Fédération des Associations Régionales Haïtiennes de la Diaspora (FAREHD)
  20. Femme Idéal pour le Développement Économique et Social (FEMIDES)
  21. Femmes Combattantes Avisées pour le Développement d’Haïti (FEMCADH)
  22. Femmes en action contre la stigmatisation et la discrimination sexuelle (FACSDIS)
  23. Fondation TOYA
  24. Gran Jipon
  25. Groupe d’Appui au Développement et à la Démocratie (GRADE)
  26. Groupe de Réflexion sur Haïti (GREFH)
  27. Groupe de Travail sur la Sécurité (GTS)
  28. Groupement des Femmes Étoiles Brillantes (GFEB)
  29. Haiti Adolescent Girls Network (HAGN)
  30. Haitian Women’s Collective (HWC)
  31. ITIAHaiti 
  32. INITIATIVE DE LA SOCIETE CIVILIERO
  33. Komisyon Fanm Viktim pou Viktim (KOFAVIV)
  34. Konbit Peyizan Grandans (KPGA)
  35. Kouraj
  36. Koze Jèn Yo
  37. Marijàn
  38. Nègès Mawon
  39. Nou Pap Dòmi
  40. Òganizasyon Fanm Leyogàn nan Bagadè k ap lite (OFLBK)
  41. Òganizasyon Fanm Vanyan Lakolin Deland (OFVLD)
  42. Òganizasyon Feminis Dantò / Dantò Òganizasyon Feminis
  43. Organisation Arc-en-ciel D’Haïti (ORAH)
  44. Organisation des femmes engagées pour le changement de Saint du Sud (OFECaS)
  45. Organisation des Femmes Modernes pour le Développement Communautaire (OFMODEC)
  46. Organisation des Femmes Vaillantes de Léogâne (OFVAL)
  47. Organisation FIEF
  48. Organisation pour l’Émancipation des Femmes à travers l’Éducation (OEFE)
  49. Organisation Progressiste pour le Développement de la Commune de Gressier (OPDCG)
  50. Organisation Trans d’Haïti (OTRAH)
  51. Partners in Health
  52. Plateforme des Organisations de Femmes Haïtiennes pour le Développement (POFHAD)
  53. Platform of Haitian Human Rights Organizations (POHDH)
  54. PROFAMIL
  55. Regroupement des Femmes Actives d’Haïti (RFAH)
  56. Regroupement des Femmes Vaillantes de Léogâne (ReFeVaL)
  57. Regroupement des Organisations de Femmes de Gressier et de Léogâne (ROFGL)
  58. Regwoupman Fanm Aktif (RFA)
  59. Réseau National de Défense des Droits Humains (RNDDH)
  60. Rêve Bleu d’Azur
  61. Rezo Fanm Kapab DAyiti (REFKAD)
  62. Rezo Fanm Radyo Kominotè Ayisyen (REFRAKA)
  63. SAN POU SAN FANM (100% FANM)
  64. Union des Femmes à Mobilité Réduite d’Haïti (UFMORH)
  65. Union des Femmes pour le Développement de Gressier (UFEDEG)
  66. Vizyon Fanm Dyanm pou Devlopman Léyogàn (VFDDL)
  67. WE ARE WOMEN ORG
  68. Zantray Fanm Kreyòl

Organizations from around the world in solidarity with demands by Haitian civil society:

  1. African Initiative of Women Human Rights Defenders (WHRD Initiative) (South Africa)
  2. American Jewish World Service (AJWS) (USA)
  3. Amnesty International USA (USA)
  4. Anana Consultants (USA)
  5. Ansara Family Fund (USA)
  6. Association for Emancipation, Solidarity, and Equality of Women (ESE) (Macedonia)
  7. Black Feminist Future (BFF) (USA)
  8. CAISO: Sex and Gender Justice (Trinidad and Tobago)
  9. Center for Economic Policy Research (CEPR) (USA)
  10. Center for Gender and Refugee Studies (CGRS) (USA)
  11. Center for Human Rights & Humanitarian Law at the American University Washington College of Law (AUWCL) (USA)
  12. Chrysalis Fund (USA)
  13. Coletivo Feminista de Autocuidado e Cuidado entre Defensoras de Direitos Humanos (Brazil)
  14. Empire Women Development Initiative (Nigeria)
  15. Equality Now (global)
  16. Faith in Florida (USA)
  17. Family Action Network Movement (FANM) (USA)
  18. Forum Tunisien pour les Droits Économiques et Sociaux (FTDES) (Tunisia)
  19. Fòs Feminista (USA)
  20. Friends of Matènwa (FoM) (USA)
  21. Give To Haiti, Inc. (USA)
  22. Global Justice Clinic at the New York University School of Law (USA)
  23. Haitian American Foundation for Democracy (HAFFD) (USA)
  24. Haitian Bridge Alliance (USA)
  25. Haitian Ladies Network (USA)
  26. Haiti School Project (USA)
  27. Haiti Solidarity Network of the Northeast (HSNNE) (USA)
  28. Human Rights and Gender Justice Clinic at the City University of New York (CUNY) School of Law
  29. Institute for Justice and Democracy in Haiti (IJDH) (USA)
  30. International Civil Society Working Group for the Permanent Forum on People of African Descent (PFPAD) (global)
  31. Jamii Linguists (USA; Colombia)
  32. MADRE (USA)
  33. Manifest Haiti (USA)
  34. Midnight Books (USA)
  35. New England Human Rights Organization (NEHRO) (USA)
  36. Okra Collective (Senegal)
  37. Presbyterian Church, Office of Public Witness (USA)
  38. Quixote Center (USA)
  39. Refugees International (USA)
  40. Réseau des Jeunes Féministes d’Afrique de l’Ouest (RJFAO) (Africa)
  41. Respire Haiti (USA)
  42. Revive Your Soul Ministries, Inc. (USA)
  43. Roots of Development (USA)
  44. Sant La Haitian Neighborhood Center (USA)
  45. Sawtche Collectif afroféministe (France)
  46. Stop au Chat Noir (Africa)
  47. The 360 Evolution Academy, Inc. (USA)
  48. The Firedoll Foundation (USA)
  49. The Human Rights Brief at the American University Washington College of Law (AUWCL) (USA)
  50. They Will Need Foundation (USA)
  51. True Alliance Center (USA)
  52. Unitarian Universalist Service Committee (UUSC) (USA)
  53. Wa Mbedmi (Senegal)
  54. Wits University (South Africa)

Endorsements remain open, with updates to the list of supporters shared here

Zoom Details for Press Conference on July 24, 2:00 p.m. Eastern

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89481052044

Meeting ID: 894 8105 2044

Find your local number: https://us02web.zoom.us/u/kcbyrY8Kg3

—

One tap mobile

+16694449171,,89481052044# US

+16699006833,,89481052044# US (San Jose)