Meeting Haitian Women's Specific Needs

[tekisui]

Source: change.org

Food, shelter, water and medical care -- these are critical, universal needs following any disaster. If they're not provided, a humanitarian crisis ensues. Right now, relief workers are struggling to provide aid to the people of Haiti, and the situation remains dire for everyone. But women and children are particularly vulnerable after disasters, and they have distinct needs that must be addressed.

As women's rights group MADRE points out, "Women are often the hardest hit when disaster strikes because they were at a deficit even before the catastrophe." Haiti is the poorest country and has the highest rate of both infant and maternal mortality in the Western hemisphere. The UNFPA reports that seven out of ten women in Haiti have experienced violence, and that 37% of those incidents were sexual. According to a 2008 Amnesty International report, "Haiti is also gripped by shocking levels of violence against girls."

In this time of heightened stress, lawlessness, and homelessness, women and children face an increased threat of violence. Women will find it even harder to support themselves and the children, elderly, and infirm who are disproportionately in their care. Pregnant women and new mothers will be especially vulnerable; their access to reproductive health care will be even more limited in the wake of this disaster.

The Women's Refugee Commission has identified ten critical needs for those displaced by the earthquake in Haiti. Many of them address risks faced specifically or disproportionately by women and children.

more: http://ow.ly/XpyS

[MineralMan]

1. First, water. Second, food. Third, everything else.

Without the first two, there is nothing. Once those fundamental human needs, which affect everyone, are met, then specific needs can be addressed. Until then, only the first two matter.

[XemaSab]

2. Thanks, Mineral MAN

I, for one, think that not being violently assaulted should also be near the top of the list.

[MineralMan]

5. In a disaster situation, that is going to depend on the local

population. We could not possibly have enough security forces on the ground to prevent assaults. First, we have to feed everyone. Starving to death or dying of dehydration is a real issue for women, too. Right now, those are the prime issues.

I have no doubt that the plight of women in Haiti is terrible. I'm sure it was, even before the earthquake. It is in most third and fourth world countries. Right now, though, we must save lives...all lives. We don't even have all the resources on hand to do that yet.

Do not mistake my prioritization of needs to be a denial of the problems of women in Haiti. It's just that staying alive is at the top of the list.

[malaise]

3. Agreed

the men and boys need as much help right now

[Gormy Cuss]

8. The list doesn't exclude men. It's really a good reminder of what needs to happen beyond the basics

of food, water, medical care, and shelter. Because it was written by a women's rights group it does include more language about women's specific needs.

The Women’s Refugee Commission has identified 10 pressing needs that must be met during the first weeks and months of an emergency to ensure the safety and well-being of people displaced by the emergency.

1. Keep displaced persons safe. Ensure that they are settled in a secure location.

2. Provide safe access to basic needs, including food, safe and appropriate cooking fuel, potable water, sanitation and shelter.

3. Communicate with the people most affected and ensure their safety whether or not they have legal status or official documents. Ensure every adult is provided with individual documentation that allows him or her to access key services.

4. Provide life-saving health care, including reproductive health care. Ensure there are enough health workers and all necessary medicines and supplies to prevent and respond to infectious diseases and other health needs. Establish the following priority reproductive health services for women and girls.

5. Prevent and respond to sexual violence. Protect women and children from sexual violence by ensuring safe access to food, cooking fuel, water, latrines and other basic necessities. Offer medical services and psychosocial support to survivors of sexual violence.

6. Reduce the transmission of HIV. Enforce use of infection control measures by health workers; make condoms freely available; and ensure blood for transfusion is safe by screening it for HIV and other blood-borne diseases.

7. Prevent excess maternal and newborn mortality and morbidity. Manage maternal and newborn emergencies by establishing a referral system to health facilities. Provide midwifery supplies to all functional health facilities and clean delivery packages to visibly pregnant women.

8. Identify vulnerable individuals with specific needs, such as unaccompanied minors, child- or women-headed households, pregnant women, victims of trafficking and persons with disabilities. Secure their care and physical security. Monitor, report and respond to violations against children.

9. Provide education to children and young people. Offer structure for children and restore hope and a sense of normalcy in a safe, adult-supervised space. Teach basic literacy and numeracy skills, and provide vocational training for young people.

10. Provide economic opportunities and preserve existing economic assets. Build on displaced persons’ skills, taking into account local market needs, to provide the best chance for a sustainable income. Protect women and girls from sexual exploitation by providing them with economic opportunities.

[Solly Mack]

4. K&R

[BlueIris]

6. Great link; thanks. nt

[Guilded Lilly]

7. Passing this on...thank you (n/t)

[niyad]

9. k and r and thank you. will send this out to my contacts as well.

[Odin2005]

10. I find it horrific that people use things like this to get away with rape, DISGUSTING!!!

:grr: