Port-au-Prince, 8 March 2026 – On the occasion of International Women’s Day 2026, all entities of the United Nations System in Haiti call for concrete actions to fully ensure the political, economic and social rights of women, in line with this year’s theme: Rights. Justice. Action.
This theme resonates particularly strongly in Haiti, where women and girls remain the primary victims of violence, whether sexual, physical or psychological.
The latest United Nations report on the human rights situation in Haiti indicates that more than 8,000 incidents of gender-based violence were recorded in 2025, more than half of which involved sexual violence, and nearly two thirds were gang rapes.
Children are not spared. 566 cases of sexual violence against minors were documented, including 160 cases of gang rape.
Women and children are also among the groups most vulnerable to food insecurity, which affects nearly 5.7 million people in Haiti, representing more than half of the population. Food insecurity among women is further exacerbated by limited access to livelihoods and income-generating activities.
At the same time, the internal displacement crisis continues to increase the risks faced by these populations. Among the more than 1.4 million displaced persons, 54 percent are women. Women and children remain disproportionately affected, representing more than half of the displaced population, which raises serious concerns regarding the protection of their rights.
Beyond the statistics, these are lives shattered. Women, mothers, daughters, young women, professionals, traders, and women and girls living with disabilities—all confronted with systemic violence. This violence calls for responses rooted in the rule of law, as well as strong collective actions aimed at delivering justice, repairing the harm caused, and restoring hope, dignity and confidence among women and girls who seek only one thing: to live in safety and to fully exercise their rights.
While welcoming progress made in women’s participation and recognizing their role and engagement in development spheres, the United Nations System reaffirms that this year’s theme—Rights. Justice. Action—must continue to resonate in Haiti and be accompanied by strong and concrete measures.
Women play a key role in the economic dynamics of communities in Haiti. In this regard, actions must be carried out with women and in line with the priorities they themselves have identified.
At a time when security and the organization of free and inclusive elections have become major national priorities, women must play a central role in building a safer, fairer and more democratic society, ensuring their full participation at all levels of the decision-making process.
In a country where women continue to be underrepresented in public and decision-making spheres, it is more necessary than ever to pacify the political space, make it fair and accessible, and adopt inclusive policies and legal frameworks.
Only under these conditions can full, effective and active participation of women be guaranteed, not only in political life but also across all decision-making arenas.
In the words of the United Nations Secretary-General, we must address discriminatory laws and practices to ensure that all women enjoy the dignity and freedom they deserve and are given the opportunities to which they are entitled.
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