This Friday 25th November marks the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women and the launch of the 16 Days of activism against Gender-Based Violence.
In 2016, women are still subject to violence, and gender equality remains unattained in many places. In Haiti, one out of four women faces some form of violence during her life. Forty per cent of the households that bore the brunt of Hurricane Matthew in the southern region are led by women. Women continue to be underrepresented in the country’s political life, with Haiti being sadly one of the 5 countries that today has no women representatives in Parliament.
In his message for the occasion, UN Secretary-general Ban-ki Moon says that “violence against women and girls imposes large-scale costs on families, communities and economies. (…) The net result is enormous suffering as well as the exclusion of women from playing their full and rightful roles in society”.
Whether we are men or women, we all have a role to play in promoting gender equity in order to support Haiti in its efforts to eradicate gender-based violence, improve women’s access to education, health services and employment, and to strengthen women’s participation in the political, institutional and economic life of the country. Our campaign slogan is: Women’s’ participation makes Haiti strong: (Patisipasyon fanm = Ayiti djanm)
Therefore, from 25th November to 10th December, the United Nations and partners in Haiti will host a series of initiatives in support of the global goal for gender equity. Beginning early on Friday morning, MINUSTAH colleagues will hand out orange ribbons to staff entering Logbase and Delta Camp. Orange is the colour of these 16 days of activism, manifested through the UN Secretary-General’s system-wide UNiTE to End Violence against Women campaign.
