Chilean President Michelle Bachelet to Call for Attention to Women’s Needs in Haiti

The devastating January earthquake has left more than 200,000 people dead and about one million homeless in Haiti. In keeping with her commitment to women’s rights, the Chilean President announced earlier this month that she will work closely with the United Nations Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM) in advocating for the needs of Haitian women in the coming months.

During her visit, the outgoing President will draw attention to the needs of the women devastated by the earthquake and advocate for women’s equal participation in discussions on Haiti’s future. UNIFEM’s work on the ground reflects that too often, natural disasters result in greater household and institutional instability, and increase women’s vulnerability to violence, abuse and sexual exploitation.

To get an accurate picture of women’s realities in the country, Bachelet's schedule in Haiti includes meeting with Marjorie Michel, Minister of Women’s Affairs, and representatives of Haitian women’s organizations. The discussions will focus on immediate priorities: urgent humanitarian and early recovery effort; support to the Ministry and women’s organizations; prevention of gender-based violence; and boosting economic security for women and their families in the post-disaster context.

At the UNIFEM-facilitated meeting on Saturday, women’s organizations are expected to make strong recommendations on the central role of women in post-disaster reconstruction and relief efforts, including recognizing the differential needs of women and girls that must be taken into consideration for humanitarian response and early recovery. They will also stress that it is essential for women's voices and perspectives to be present in decision-making processes and in defining future priorities.

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Source:UNIFEM