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By Pascal Soarakis and Sasha Filippova *
Submitted to AlterPresse
Feminist leaders and human rights groups in Haiti have criticized the transitional government for excluding women and their priorities, even as it claims to be restoring rights-based democratic government. The nine-member Presidential Transition Council (CPT) includes only one woman with observer status. No voting rights. No women Interviewed for the post of caretaker prime minister.
The exclusion of women from Haiti’s political decision-making is a common practice. This situation not only violates the constitutional requirement for gender equality in the country’s public affairs, but also threatens the effectiveness of Haiti’s entire transition. Haiti’s international partners remain Silent.
Haiti’s defenders responded by Policy framework for an effective and just transition Got recognized More than 135 organizations from around the world. The Framework defines the binding laws and best practices needed to include women in Haiti’s transformation, emphasizing that inclusion must be strong, resourced, and reflect the priorities of the Haitian women’s movement to be meaningful. The recommendations it sets out will serve as a foundation for advancing the rights of Haitian women and safeguarding Haiti’s transition. It must be adopted urgently if Haiti is to successfully emerge from the crisis.
AlthoughimperfectThe transitional government of Haiti has an opportunity to rebuild the social contract and establish democratic governance based on human rights by breaking with the harmful practices of the past and using the social unrest brought about by the crisis to make changes that favor greater collective structural transformation, dignity and greater equity. However, as reflected in cadrewhich cannot be done if women are excluded.
Transitional Ministerial Appointment – condemn Feminist and human rights groups identify with this model as including women, but women are largely disconnected from the Haitian women’s movement and its priorities. propose The decision will, at best, weaken the Ministry’s efforts to support the specific needs of women and girls. A context of profound gender inequality and discriminationAt worst, it’s a regressive view of women’s role in society, one that’s solely about the family.
Criminal Law Reform Commission Recently appointedThe nine-member panel also fits this harmful pattern. There is only one woman in the country, and no one on the list is known to have been involved in the long-running fight to modernize Haitian law to take into account the needs of women and girls. This means the committee could miss opportunities to improve the criminal justice system. Outdated Reforms to prevent sexual violence, harassment and discrimination, and to decriminalize the fundamental right to abortion are absolutely necessary to protect the rights and dignity of women.
This sexist exclusion and failure to focus on the priorities of the women’s movement and issues that specifically affect them violates the Constitution’s explicit requirement for gender equality. In this context, they violate the fundamental principles guiding the transition and constitute a harm to Haitian women and girls under national and international law.
As such, they threaten the success of Haiti’s transition to democracy and the rule of law. This conclusion is also supported by long-standing global principles such as the UN Women’s Peace and Security Agenda, which recognizes the inclusion and consideration of women as best practice in transitions in conflict-affected countries. Higher levels of gender equality are strongly associated with: A higher level of democracysocial stability and Stronger economic development For all individuals.
If the transitional government and its international partners persist on this path, they will further squander opportunities to address the historical inequalities and discrimination that have marginalized Haitian women in public, economic, and private life and subjected them to frequent gender-based violence by denying them any recourse.
Corrective measures are urgently needed. The Transitional Government is in the process of establishing the institutions that will shape Haiti’s future, including the Provisional Electoral Council and the National Security Council.
If the Transitional Government does not reverse course and systematically include women and their concerns in the transition from now on, their history of exclusion will continue to repeat itself, to the detriment of Haiti’s democratic and economic future.
* Pascale Solages: Co-founder and General Coordinator of NÈGÈS MAWON
Sasha Filippova: Senior Attorney, Institute for Justice and Democracy in Haiti/IJDH
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