Haiti Update: Chilean President Michelle Bachelet calls for attention to women’s needs in Haiti
UNIFEM seeks to rebuild women’s shelters and expand the provision of emergency services for women. (Photo: UN/Sophia Paris)
19 February 2010
The Chilean President, Michelle Bachelet traveled to Haiti on 20 February to meet with Haitian authorities and women’s organizations and express her solidarity with the nation. The devastating January earthquake has left more than 200,000 people dead and about one million homeless in Haiti.
In keeping with her commitment to women’s rights, the Chilean President had announced earlier this month that she will work closely with the United Nations Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM) in advocating for the needs of Haitian women in the coming months.
During her visit, the outgoing President drew attention to the needs of the women devastated by the earthquake and advocated for women’s equal participation in discussions on Haiti’s future. UNIFEM’s work on the ground reflects that too often, natural disasters result in greater household and institutional instability and increase women’s vulnerability to violence, abuse and sexual exploitation.
To get an accurate picture of women’s realities in the country, Bachelet met with Marjorie Michel, Minister of Women’s Affairs, and representatives of Haitian women’s organizations in Haiti. The discussions focused on immediate priorities: urgent humanitarian and early recovery effort; support to the Ministry and women’s organizations; prevention of gender-based violence; and boosting economic security for women and their families in the post-disaster context.
At the UNIFEM facilitated meeting, women’s organizations made strong recommendations on the central role of women in post-disaster reconstruction and relief efforts, including recognizing the differential needs of women and girls which must be taken into consideration for humanitarian response and early recovery. They also stressed that it is essential for women’s voices and perspectives to be present in decision making processes and in defining future priorities.
Building on the foundation of UNIFEM programming in Haiti around gender-responsive governance, economic security and advancing women’s rights, the UNIFEM team in Haiti is working alongside the Ministry of Women and 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 time to help is now. Click here to donate and help build shelters and services for women in Haiti.
