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Recommendations to Reduce Sexual Violence Rates in Haitian IDP Camps

Date

2011

Authors

Bird, Olivia Marianne
Emery, Maggie
Shaw, Megan
Santosa, Lisa

Journal Title

Journal ISSN

Volume Title

Publisher

New Voices in Public Policy

Abstract

In January 2010, a magnitude 7.0 earthquake tore through the area surrounding Haiti’s capital of Port-au-Prince, destroying much of the city’s already fragile infrastructure. Over 222,570 people were killed and 300,572 injured. An additional 2.3 million—almost a quarter of the population— were displaced and now live in roughly 1,300 internally displaced person (IDP) camps.The camps are constructed mostly of tarpaulins, have limited public shower and toilet facilities, and lack adequate lighting and sanitation. These living conditions exacerbate the already high risks of sexual violence in Haiti. As sexual violence is severely underreported, no official statistics exist for the levels of rape in IDP camps in Haiti. However, there is evidence that sexual violence is rampant. In fact, a University of Michigan study estimates that 3% of the female Haitian population in IDP camps has experienced sexual violence since the earthquake. Although $5.5 billion have been pledged to rebuild Haiti in the months following the earthquake, aid absorption is low and disbursement is slow. In fact, the few Haitian groups that are working to address sexual violence have received little to no funding in the last ten months. This paper is a response to the United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti’s (MINUSTAH) decision in September 2010 to launch a campaign to eliminate sexual violence in Haitian IDP camps. In order to successfully carry out a campaign to end sexual violence, MINUSTAH must involve local Haitian women and non-government organizations (NGOs) in all phases of planning and implementation. In doing so, MINUSTAH should provide practical training programs to women and men living in the IDP camps and assist them to form autonomous security brigades in order to protect women and prevent sexual violence.

Description

Keywords

Haiti, Earthquake Response, Internally Displaced Persons (IDP)

Citation