Crisis in Haiti, GBV Sub-Cluster Situation Brief – Women & Girls 16 Days of Activism campaign 2023 – Haiti

#NoExcuse for gender-based violence:”All spaces should be free from gender-based violence. This International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, let us recommit to concrete actions that will protect women and girls in all their diversity. Let us recommit to building a world that is more just, inclusive and equitable, and where women and girls can live in peace”(UNFPA Statement)

What We Know

Crisis Context: Over the past year, gang violence dramatically increased and armed gangs’ violence has expanded. There is an increase in reports of elders, women and girls being brutally raped, tortured and kidnapped by gangs. The GBV sub-cluster estimates that 1,171,183 people will need assistance in 2024, 97% of them are girls and women, 51% in the west and 23% in Artibonite. The main risk factors for GBV are the incursion of armed gangs in communities, forced population displacement and food insecurity.

Escalation of Rape Cases: The humanitarian situation in Haiti continues to deteriorate. Gang violence in the capital Port-au-Prince and the department of Artibonite, continues to escalate with much of the violence targeting women and girls.: Sexual violence against women and girls is used as a weapon of war, intimidation, territorial control and domination, women in gang-controlled areas belong to the gangs. Poverty and unemployment mean that women and girls are encouraged by their own families or friends to form “relationships” with armed elements in order to support themselves. A total of 3056 cases of rape were reported between January and August 2023, an increase of 49% compared to 2022.
According to the SISNU, 861 cases of sexual violence and 3,447 cases of physical assault against women were reported between January and August 2023.

Disrupted access to GBV services and referral pathways: despite efforts to strengthen the access to medical services, there are severe shortages of supplies and medications, including clinical management of rape (CMR) kits, dignity kits, female hygiene supplies and other life-affirming and life-saving care.

There is a lack of services mappings and referral pathways in some subnational humanitarian hubs such as Artibonite. Rule of law institutions are under-staffed and mostly non-operational. Mental health services, psychosocial care and support for victims of sexual violence is needed as survivors suffer high level of psychological trauma, periodic flashbacks, acute anxiety, depression, suicidal thoughts and other mental health problems after being abused.

Need to scale-up sub-national GBV Coordination: The GBV Working Group is operational in the West Department, have updated referral pathways and assessed the current limitations and barriers in GBV services, including clinical management of rape CMR. The GBV Working Group in Artibonite was established in October during the scale-up project period but the referral pathway is not operational.
Working groups from South, Nippes and Gand ‘Anse need to be revitalized and strengthened. There are ongoing efforts in terms of fundraising