PORT-AU-PRINCE, HAITI (February 3, 2010) – CARE is working to prevent sexual and gender-based violence in the aftermath of Haiti’s devastating earthquake.
It is well documented that the risk of sexual violence and exploitation rises in crisis situations – like the one happening in Haiti now – when people are displaced from their homes and communities. And women and girls are the most vulnerable in these settings. In fact, a 2008 report by the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs found that after multiple tropical storms in Haiti, there were reports of “sexual violence in shelters, ‘sex for food’ and other forms of exploitation.”
“CARE is working to protect women, girls and other vulnerable populations in order to prevent sexual violence and to ensure that survivors of gender based violence get the help they need to recover from the trauma,” said Janet Meyers, CARE’s Senior Advisor for Sexual and Reproductive Health in Emergencies, who is on the ground in Haiti.
Darkened streets due to lack of electricity, crowded makeshift camps with no walls of any sort, and unprotected bathing and toilet areas leave women and girls particularly vulnerable to harassment and sexual violence.
“Women and girls are very much at risk of violence and of being forced into prostitution in exchange for money, food or shelter,” said Sophie Perez, CARE’s Country Director in Haiti. “CARE’s activities work to keep that from happening. In the long term, it is important to help women become economically independent because this puts them in a stronger position in the community and makes it less likely that they will be taken advantage of.”
CARE is consulting with both men and women about the location of gender-specific latrines and showers so they are placed in safe, well-lit areas close to where displaced persons are clustered, but are clearly segregated.
The damage to police and city services as a result of the earthquake means reporting lines have been destroyed, and some traditional community support systems have been disrupted, making it all the more important to set up a system to ensure protection and support for women and girls. “It is critical to ensure that confidential, quality services, including clinical management of rape, emergency contraception and psychosocial support, are available to treat survivors of rape and sexual violence,” said Meyers.
Women who suffer sexual abuse or ongoing psychological and physical violence also have more unplanned and/or unwanted pregnancies than other women, more sexually transmitted infections, and higher rates of HIV. CARE is taking this into account and is providing condoms to men and women as part of its emergency response.
“More broadly speaking, we can also prevent gender-based violence, including sexual violence, by implementing the minimum initial service package for reproductive health. This set of emergency response activities includes providing pregnant women with clean delivery kits and establishing referral systems to functioning emergency obstetric care services to treat complications,” said Meyers.
There are an estimated 37,000 pregnant women in Port-au-Prince, including approximately 10,000 who are due to give birth in the next month. CARE is helping to address their needs by distributing clean delivery and newborn kits. The delivery kits include a towel, soap, a sterile razor and thread to cut and tie off the umbilical cord. The newborn kits come with a blanket, a layette gown, a hat and booties to keep the baby warm, plus diapers. Many health centers and hospitals were destroyed by the quake, making it critical to set up referral systems for women to access emergency obstetric care if they experience any complications
“CARE also plans to provide displaced communities with a tent for women to give birth in privacy,” said Meyers.
For more information or to arrange interviews with staff in Haiti:
Rick Perera (in Port-au-Prince, Haiti): [email protected], +1 404-457-4649 (SMS)
About CARE: Founded in 1945, CARE is one of the world’s largest humanitarian aid agencies. In nearly 70 countries, CARE works with the poorest communities to improve basic health and education, enhance rural livelihoods and food security, increase access to clean water and sanitation, expand economic opportunity, and provide lifesaving assistance after disasters. CARE has been working in Haiti since 1954, providing projects in HIV/AIDS, reproductive health, maternal and child health, education, food security, and water and sanitation.