In the aftermath of the devastating earthquake in Haiti, UNIFEM is working to raise 7 million USD to provide urgently needed services for the protection of women and their families. In particular, UNIFEM seeks to rebuild women’s shelters and expand the provision of emergency services for women.  We are counting on each and every one of you to help us prevent violence against women and girls in disaster-stricken Haiti. Won’t you help?

Why raise money for women, you may ask. After all, the catastrophe has left an entire population devastated. Every man, woman, boy and girl in Haiti needs help and services. Thanks to the efforts of individuals, organizations and governments, the UN is  working to get help, resources and services to everyone.  But we know that humanitarian disasters are likely to impact girls, boys, women and men in different ways.  Too often they result in greater household and institutional instability and increase women’s vulnerability to violence, abuse and sexual exploitation.  We are working with organizations and the UN system in Haiti to address these differential impacts and to ensure the personal security of women and girls.

Where does the money go? The UNIFEM team in Haiti will work alongside NGO partners to strengthen services to victims of gender-based violence and their families in women’s centres and temporary shelters in Port au Prince and Jacmel. The money raised will go towards a range of efforts from emergency community-based violence prevention programmes to rebuilding women’s centres and providing emergency supplies, staff and counseling services in communities most affected.  UNIFEM will also focus on coordination efforts to ensure that emergency and early recovery assistance incorporate a gender-perspective to adequately address the differentiated needs of women, men and children.

Haiti's women and children deserve a safe recovery. They need us to respond to their unique needs and strengthen their capacity to heal. Say NO – take action to prevent violence and protect the women and children of Haiti. Every dollar you give counts as an action. Donate here and let us count you in.