Haiti

A useful workshop aimed at generating an understanding in the media of Haiti’s women’s quota was held on 13 June in Port au Prince.

The workshop was arranged jointly by International IDEA and the Haitian committee charged with the implementation of the 30% quota for women that was incorporated into the Amended 1987 Constitution (Article 17.1).

Thriving and revitalized, the city of Port-au-Prince hosted its first ever BRIDGE courses for members of the Haitian electoral management body.52 participants experienced BRIDGE for the first time during the two 5-day trainings, held back-to-back from April 15 – 26, 2013. The participants were drawn primarily from different departments of the CTCEP (Transient College of Permanent Electoral Council).

During the First Ordinary Session of the Council of the Inter-American Commission of Women (CIM), which was held March 1, at the headquarters of the Organization of American States (OAS) in Washington, DC, around the theme "Women's rights: From Law to Practice" ; Marie Yanick Mézile, Haiti's Minister for the Status of Women and Women's Rights, in her capacity of Vice-President, presented the government's policy on gender issues in Haiti.

Early this year, the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) completed a three-month survey of Haitians made homeless by the earthquake of January 2010. The IOM’s assessment concluded over 800,000 were still living in temporary campsites or shelters across the country. Most of the campsites have few lights at night and with tents providing little security, there has been a worrying rise in sexual violence.