Armed gangs in Haiti are using sexual violence as a weapon of war, deepening the insecurity Haitian women face. Feminist organisations are calling for justice and for women’s voices to help shape the country’s future.
In Haiti, a multidimensional crisis is unfolding. Violence against women is a core feature.
“Two years ago, I met a survivor whose story still haunts me. She lived in a neighbourhood overrun by gangs. Her husband was accused of belonging to a resistance brigade, and the attackers held him responsible for the delay in taking control of the area. They abducted the couple. The husband was tortured day after day until he died in unspeakable pain.
“Meanwhile, the woman was forced to witness this horror, while being raped in turn by a dozen men for nearly two weeks. After her husband’s death, they released her, forbidding her to ever return to the neighborhood.
“Whenever I’m asked to explain how gangs use sexual violence, this story comes back to me. It embodies the systemic cruelty and impunity that reign in these territories, and it highlights the urgent need to protect, support, and provide justice for survivors.”
This is the story Abigail Derolian, a care co-ordinator at NÈGÈS MAWON, a feminist organisation in Haiti, told us. This survivor is only one of many that they see daily.
In Haiti, women and girls are suffering. Sexual violence is being used as a weapon of war by armed gangs seeking to win and control territory. Basic services such as healthcare, education, and sanitation are missing. This puts survivors of violence against women and girls at further risk.
“A crisis within a crisis”
In Haiti, armed gangs have strengthened territorial control of around 80% of Port-au-Prince, the country’s capital. The government collapsed in 2024 when the prime minister, Ariel Henry, resigned due to the escalating violence. A transitional government has been in place since; however, little impact has been made.
A core characteristic of this crisis is violence against women and girls. Described by Pascale Solages, founding member of NÈGÈS MAWON as “a crisis within a crisis”.
She said: “There are many aspects that affect women, the economic aspect, the social aspect, the political aspect, but the biggest is not being able to feel and to stay safe.”
Women control the informal sector in Haiti. They travel around the country, selling products to have the means to take care of their families.
However, movement is highly restricted due to control of territory and roads by gangs, making these journeys too dangerous. Women can no longer trade for a living, and they are suffering as a result.
“Every aspect in their lives today is trapped by insecurity and by the crisis in the country.” Said Pascale.
Targeted attacks on hospitals and medical facilities have continued to increase in affected areas. This has forced many hospitals to close, severely limiting access to healthcare.
At the end of 2024, there were no maternity hospitals open in the Port-au-Prince area. Around 60% of births in Port-au-Prince happen without any medical care, severely increasing the risk of maternal and infant death.
“Reproductive care is practically non-existent,” said Sasha Filippova from the Institute for Justice and Democracy in Haiti. As a result, the maternal death rate is 350 in 100,000.
Sexual violence in Haiti
Armed gangs are using rape as a weapon of war. They use it to terrorise and control the population in occupied areas.
“Gang rape has become a systematic weapon of terror, used by gangs to subjugate, punish, and destroy. This extremely brutal crime is part of a strategy of territorial domination and the dehumanisation of women.” Said Abigail.
Sexual abuse has become a routine method of torture and control by armed gangs in Haiti. Rape is endemic to all aspects of life in Haiti, and a strategy to tackle this “completely nonexistent,” says Sasha.
Survivors of sexual violence travel to displacement camps for refuge. However, a lack of basic resources has meant they are not safe.
Displacement camps are at the centre of the crisis, “we have more than 1.2 million of displaced people in the country, more than half actually women and girls” said Pascale.
Displacement camps are regularly targeted by armed groups, further victimising survivors of sexual abuse. Basic hygiene facilities are missing, and support is limited.
“They are not protected enough. Women who have already been displaced and are seeking safety are exposed to armed group attacks. Women are experiencing sexual violence in the camps because the sanitation areas are so exposed.” said Sasha.
Displacement camps are plagued by insecurity. While non-profits like NÈGÈS MAWON fight to provide survivors with the resources and support they need, access and funding is limited.
Justice for Haitian Women
Although official data on sexual violence in Haiti is scarce, local organisations report seeing around 40 survivors a day. Therefore, the number of women seeking justice rises every day.
However, the Haitian justice system is plagued by corruption, made worse by the collapse of the government.
The Bureau des Avocats International (BAI), a law firm promoting human rights in Haiti, works with survivors of sexual violence, supporting them through the Haitian courts. These survivors are from impoverished areas and temporary displacement camps. Many have fled their homes under threat from armed gangs.
“Many investigating judges receive money from the families of rapists, misapplying the law in favour of the perpetrators. Some corrupt judges often issue dismissal orders in rape cases, even though Haitian law considers rape a serious crime.” Said Marie Kattia Dorestant-Lefrui a feminist lawyer and a director of BAI.
Reporting rates of sexual violence are extremely low in Haiti. Accused rapists are often members of armed gangs, making reporting them high risk. Additionally, there are no protection measures in place for surveyors against further attacks.
At present, the Haitian justice system is effectively non-functional. This means no justice is being served to survivors.
A possible solution?
Haitian women have been shut out of democratic processes in the country. Only one woman is in the transitional government, and she does not have voting power.
“Listen to Haitian women. Because we are doing advocacy. We are talking about the situation. We are giving propositions. We are giving recommendations about what we need and what we need to see as a solution to this crisis.” Said Pascale.
Pascale urges the Haitian government to involve women in rebuilding their country. Violence against women is a core feature of the Haitian crisis, not an unintentional side effect. Therefore, it is women who are needed to solve this crisis.
“Women must be fully involved at every stage of this process, from planning to implementation, because their effective participation is not only a right, but also a guarantee of effectiveness.” Said Abigail.
*Some of the quotes in this article have been translated from French to the best of our ability; however, some nuance may have been lost.
