This assessment examines the increase in violence that women in Haiti experience during times of elections and political unrest and how this increase in violence creates a threatening and repressive environment for women’s public participation in politics. It demonstrates a commitment to combat violence against women in politics. It identifies the many forms of violence against women in Haiti and understands how this violence – be it physical or psychological – contributes to the lack of representation of Haitian women in politics.

This study discusses the choices available to women in their sexual relationships within the context of the HIV/AIDS epidemic. Using groups of women and men, guided by trained moderators, it explores the participants’ knowledge on HIV/AIDS transmission and prevention, the consequences of AIDS, communications with sexual partners and counseling adolescents on HIV/AIDS prevention, among other topics. A key finding suggests that although the female participants are knowledgeable on HIV transmission, they are still fearful of acquiring the disease.

Women and girls are the backbone of Haitian society and local economy. Nearly half of Haitian households are women-led. Women are also pillars of economic life, as they form the majority of street vendors and support agricultural supply chains. However, women and girls continue to be affected by severe inequality, and genderbased violence (GBV).