To mark International Women’s Day, HRRW is highlighting recent
research concerning issues relating to women’s rights in Haiti.
Recent research from the Center for Human Rights and Global
Justice sheds light on factors contributing to an increase in
sexual violence since the earthquake over two-years ago. The
report, “Yon Je Louvri: Reducing Vulnerability to Sexual
Violence in Haiti’s IDP Camps,” is based on surveys conducted in
four IDP camps in January 2011 and additional follow up research
throughout 2011. While the small sample size and logistical
constraints prevent the research from being representative of
the IDP population at large, it nonetheless provides an
important analysis of the factors contributing to gender-based
violence (GBV) and steps that can be taken to remedy the
situation using a human rights based approach. The report found
that in the four camps visited, 14 percent of surveyed
households reported that at least one member of the household
had been a victim of sexual violence since the e