Enforcing the Right to Be Free from Sexual Violence and the Role of Lawyers in Post-Earthquake Haiti

Abstract

INTRODUCTION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 101 R I. HUMAN RIGHTS OF WOMEN AND GIRLS IN HAITI . . . . . . . 105 R A. Brief History of Rape in Haiti . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 105 R B. Sexual Violence in Post-Earthquake Haiti . . . . . . . . 109 R 1. Vulnerability of Haitian Women and Girls . . . 110 R 2. Psychological and Physical Effects . . . . . . . . . . . . 114 R 3. Impact of Gender-Based Violence on Women’s Human Rights Defenders . . . . . . . . . . 116 R 4. Political Instability Generates an Increase in Rape . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 116 R II. BARRIERS TO ENFORCING WOMEN’S HUMAN RIGHTS IN HAITI . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 118 R III. THE ROLE OF LAWYERS IN ENFORCING WOMEN’S RIGHTS IN POST-EARTHQUAKE HAITI . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 122 R A. The Comprehensive Rights-Based Approach of the BAI and IJDH . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 123 R B. Post-Earthquake Projects Enforcing Women’s Rights . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 127 R C. Involvement of International Attorneys . . . . . . . . . . . 131 R