Haiti – insecurity : Sexual violence against women is a «weapon» for gangs in Haiti
25/11/2024 09:35:08
In Haiti, 94% of women are at risk of gender-based violence and their bodies have become “weapons of terror” for armed gangs.
“94% of women in Haiti are exposed to some form of gender-based violence, and of all the reports received, nearly 80% concern sexual violence,” said Susana Sottoli, Director of the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) for Latin America and the Caribbean.
Haiti is going through a serious political and social situation due to gangs, which control more than 80% of the capital Port-au-Prince. “Currently, there is no free and safe place in Haiti for women and especially for adolescent girls,” added Sottoli, emphasizing, “For women, any activity has become an adventure with a very high risk that their lives, and especially their bodies, will go wrong…”
This “war” is taking place on “a battlefield that is women’s bodies,” gender violence, and especially sexual violence, is currently the weapon most used by these armed gangs. Gangs use women as “negotiating chips” and rape becomes a method of extortion to control territories or obtain funds, according to UNFPA.
Between January and March 2024, cases of sexual violence increased fivefold. Currently, about 1,500 cases are reported each month, but this figure could be much higher, most raped women suffer their trauma in silence and do not report it. Some even commit suicide, according to the UN.
To address the situation, UNFPA has requested $28 million in international aid, but has only received 19% of this amount…
HL/ HaitiLibre
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Publish date : 2024-11-25 01:38:00
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