Sunday, September 14, 2025
  • Login
Euro Times
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Finance
  • Business
  • World
  • Politics
  • Markets
  • Stock Market
  • Cryptocurrency
  • Investing
  • Health
  • Technology
  • Home
  • Finance
  • Business
  • World
  • Politics
  • Markets
  • Stock Market
  • Cryptocurrency
  • Investing
  • Health
  • Technology
Euro Times
No Result
View All Result

Healing Haiti in the face of an increase in sexual violence — Global Issues

by Global Issues
November 28, 2022
in World
Reading Time: 3 mins read
A A
0
Home World
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter


Claudine* looks across a sweeping valley high above the Haitian capital Port-au-Prince. The lushness of the tropical vegetation, the cool fresh air and the low-hanging clouds are in stark contrast to the dusty, hot and suffocating backstreets of Petionville, lower down the valley, where four years ago she was the victim of sexual abuse which changed her life.

“At the time, I was 16 years old and living with my cousin and her husband,” she said. “I looked after their children, like they were my own.” Claudine should have been at school but after her mother and grandmother died had no other option but to become a domestic worker in her cousin’s house. It was there that she was sexually assaulted by her cousin’s husband.

“I didn’t know what to do but a friend did report the incident to the police, but nothing was done to find the man.”

A refuge from abuse

A year after her daughter was born, Claudine was taken to a refuge for abused minors, many of whom like her were caring for newborns. The refuge, where she has lived now for three years, is run by Rapha House, an organization which is committed to ending the trafficking and sexual exploitation of children.

Nahomy Augustin is a project coordinator for the international NGO in Haiti. “Many of the young women here are the victims of extreme poverty and insecurity, to the extent that the lack of basic services and opportunities that they have access to means that they become vulnerable to abuse,” she said.

The refuge, which is located in an intentionally inconspicuous building, in a tranquil neighbourhood above Port-au-Prince, supports the young women in the recovery from their traumatic experiences. “We take a holistic approach,” said Nahomy Augustin, “and provide a range of services, including medical and psychological care, accommodation and legal advice as well as family mediation.”

The aim is to help each young woman to return to her family within a year as long as it is safe, but many like Claudine stay longer. The refuge can currently accommodate 24 young women as well as their babies, but a new centre is being built which can provide care to up to 80 people.

The Spotlight Initiative, in partnership with the UN Children’s Fund, UNICEF, is supporting this and other refuges for women in Haiti.

Rape as a weapon

Geraldine Alferis is a gender-based violence expert at UNICEF. “Haiti, and especially the capital Port-au-Prince, is experiencing a surge in gang violence. Thousands of girls and women are being displaced, which makes them very vulnerable to abuse,” she said.  

In July, the United Nations said that rival gangs in the Cite Soleil neighbourhood of Port-au-Prince were adopting the “systematic use of rape against women and girls as a weapon of war.”

“Gang rape is a particularly tragic occurrence and so we work to ensure that the survivors get the help they need,” said Geraldine Alferis.

The Spotlight Initiative in Haiti focuses on ending domestic violence, rape, incest, sexual harassment, physical and psychological violence, as well as other restrictions on the freedoms and rights of women and girls. It also aims to provide holistic care to women and girls who are survivors of violence.

On a visit to the refuge, the UN Resident Coordinator in Haiti, Ulrika Richardson, said “it was chilling to hear the stories of these young women and girls,” adding that “I also sensed hope and recognized the importance of the services to which they have access.”

“I am proud of the Spotlight Initiative and the much-needed assistance it is providing along with our local partners, but what I heard on this visit is a stark reminder of the urgency to tackle the root causes of sexual violence.”

At the refuge above Port-au-Prince, the survivors like Claudine are able to study, taking school classes that many missed out on when they were younger. They can also take practical classes to learn skills like sewing or soap-making, which can enable them to make a small amount of money, a first important step towards building their independence.

“Going to school is very important,” said Claudine. “If you are working for a family like I did, it is not enough just to receive food and have a bed. You must be given the opportunity to study and make a life for yourself.”  



Source link

Tags: faceGlobalHaitiHealingincreaseIssuesSexualviolence
Previous Post

Protests against COVID curbs spread to more Chinese cities

Next Post

Airbus may delay some 2023 jet deliveries -sources By Reuters

Related Posts

Russian large-scale exercises draw skepticism from analysts

Russian large-scale exercises draw skepticism from analysts

by Dylan Malyasov
September 14, 2025
0

Russian analysts and pro-military commentators are brazenly criticizing the nation’s newest Zapad 2025 army workout routines, accusing the nation’s Ministry...

Has Israel gone rogue? | Israel-Palestine conflict

Has Israel gone rogue? | Israel-Palestine conflict

by Euro Times
September 14, 2025
0

Marc Lamont Hill discusses Israel’s strike on Doha and what it means for Gaza ceasefire negotiations.This week, Israel launched an...

Gaza Famine Death Toll Rises to 420, Including 145 Children

Gaza Famine Death Toll Rises to 420, Including 145 Children

by Author
September 13, 2025
0

https://sputnikglobe.com/20250913/gaza-famine-death-toll-rises-to-420-including-145-children-health-ministry-1122779535.htmlGaza Famine Demise Toll Rises to 420, Together with 145 Youngsters - Well being MinistryGaza Famine Demise Toll Rises to...

Nato F-16 jets scrambled after Russian drones enter Romanian airspace

Nato F-16 jets scrambled after Russian drones enter Romanian airspace

by Georgie English
September 14, 2025
0

NATO has been pressured to scramble its F-16 fighter jets after a Russian assault breached Romanian airspace.The nation's defence ministry...

Let people decide whether they want to be ruled by ‘disciples of Bandera’ – Roger Waters — RT World News

Let people decide whether they want to be ruled by ‘disciples of Bandera’ – Roger Waters — RT World News

by RT
September 13, 2025
0

Referendums needs to be held in Ukraine and the brand new Russian areas to settle all territorial disputes, the legendary...

Second pool hall shooting in less than a month kills 7 people Ecuador

Second pool hall shooting in less than a month kills 7 people Ecuador

by ABC News
September 14, 2025
0

QUITO, Ecuador -- A capturing by a legal gang at a pool corridor in northern Ecuador killed at the least...

Next Post
Airbus may delay some 2023 jet deliveries -sources By Reuters

Airbus may delay some 2023 jet deliveries -sources By Reuters

New kids on the block: Meet the best-performing tech startups of 2022 | by Terence Daniels | The Capital | Nov, 2022

New kids on the block: Meet the best-performing tech startups of 2022 | by Terence Daniels | The Capital | Nov, 2022

Vibe coding has turned senior devs into ‘AI babysitters,’ but they say it’s worth it

Vibe coding has turned senior devs into ‘AI babysitters,’ but they say it’s worth it

September 14, 2025
BSE seeks further tightening in SME IPO rules

BSE seeks further tightening in SME IPO rules

September 14, 2025
Businesses Are Putting 22% Of Their Profit In Bitcoin, Report Says

Businesses Are Putting 22% Of Their Profit In Bitcoin, Report Says

September 14, 2025
Fox News host apologizes for proposing lethal injections for mentally ill homeless people

Fox News host apologizes for proposing lethal injections for mentally ill homeless people

September 14, 2025
Russian large-scale exercises draw skepticism from analysts

Russian large-scale exercises draw skepticism from analysts

September 14, 2025
VYMI Vs. VYM: International High Yield Stocks Offer Better Value But Larger Risk (VYMI)

VYMI Vs. VYM: International High Yield Stocks Offer Better Value But Larger Risk (VYMI)

September 14, 2025
Euro Times

Get the latest news and follow the coverage of Business & Financial News, Stock Market Updates, Analysis, and more from the trusted sources.

CATEGORIES

  • Business
  • Cryptocurrency
  • Finance
  • Health
  • Investing
  • Markets
  • Politics
  • Stock Market
  • Technology
  • Uncategorized
  • World

LATEST UPDATES

Vibe coding has turned senior devs into ‘AI babysitters,’ but they say it’s worth it

BSE seeks further tightening in SME IPO rules

  • Disclaimer
  • Privacy Policy
  • DMCA
  • Cookie Privacy Policy
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Contact us

Copyright © 2022 - Euro Times.
Euro Times is not responsible for the content of external sites.

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Finance
  • Business
  • World
  • Politics
  • Markets
  • Stock Market
  • Cryptocurrency
  • Investing
  • Health
  • Technology

Copyright © 2022 - Euro Times.
Euro Times is not responsible for the content of external sites.

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password?

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In