Haiti

Gangs have employed rape, including collective rape as a tactic of terror and control. Over 60 percent of gender-based violence cases involve sexual violence, and abuse of children—including forced recruitment—has surged. Women and girls who have fled Haiti face additional challenges, with reports of sexual exploitation and violence by security forces in the Dominican Republic and sweeping deportations of pregnant Haitian women and new mothers.  The official termination of Temporary Protected Status for Haitians in the US has heightened concerns about the risks facing those returned to Haiti amid ongoing violence, particularly for women and girls vulnerable to harm and exploitation.

The toll of violence on women is compounded by pre-existing vulnerabilities, including high levels of poverty, their overrepresentation in low-wage informal jobs, and lower rates of property ownership. Healthcare access is in crisis, exacerbating issues like maternal mortality; nearly half of all hospitals are out of service, gang attacks on medical facilities continue, and cuts to foreign aid have reduced much-needed support, including for women-led organizations aiding survivors of violence and displacement. Despite these challenges, Haitian women continue to build on a longstanding legacy of activism, leading frontline response and advocacy. 

Political turmoil further compounds threats to Haiti’s long-term security and impedes recovery efforts. The country is led by unelected, interim Prime Minister Alix Didier Fils-Aimé and lacks a functioning legislature, having long delayed elections amid persistent insecurity. Women remain dramatically underrepresented in decision-making, including in the transitional government. As the country attempts to prepare for a future electoral process, violence and displacement remain persistent barriers to women’s participation in political processes as voters and candidates. Without improved security, state capacity, and resources, the path toward democratic governance and women’s full participation will remain precarious.

 Gang violence continues to drive mass casualties and displacement in Port-au-Prince, while increasingly expanding into rural areas. Recent attacks—including an August 2026 assault in Kenscoff where gang members killed dozens of civilians and kidnapped women and children—underscore the deteriorating security landscape. Recent reporting found that more than 176 women and girls were raped by gang members between April and July 2026, often as a form of punishment against communities perceived to support rival gangs. Women and girls fleeing violence are increasingly pushed into overcrowded shelters, where limited protection and services expose them to heightened risks of sexual violence, exploitation, and abuse, alongside continued patterns of rape, abduction, and coercion perpetrated by armed groups.

Haiti’s planned August 2026 elections were delayed until December 2026 due to security concerns as violence and gang control of most of Port-au-Prince continues to displace civilians and overwhelm public services. Haiti has not held elections since 2016, and the worsening security environment limits both voter participation and the ability of authorities to guarantee safe political engagement. For women—already underrepresented in political leadership—the delay risks further narrowing political space at a moment when their participation is urgently needed to shape security, justice, displacement, and recovery priorities.

The US ended Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Haitians in July 2026, putting roughly 335,000 TPS holders at risk of return to Haiti, despite growing violence in the country. Women and girls returning to Haiti face particular risks given widespread sexual and gender-based violence, frequent kidnappings, and limited access to healthcare. The potential influx of TPS-holders from the US also risks further straining Haiti’s already limited institutional capacity.

Roughly 8,100 cases of sexual and gender-based violence were reported in 2025—a 25 percent spike from 2024— and it remains pervasive in 2026. Gangs are increasingly involved in child trafficking and forced recruitment, with girls facing systematic sexual exploitation; one in six survivors of GBV is under 18, and sexual violence against children has surged by 1,000 percent since 2023. Aid cuts have further limited access to services, with only around 30 percent of survivors receiving timely care, highlighting critical gaps in protection, recovery, and justice.

Insecurity, disaster-related damage, and gang control continue to severely degrade healthcare access in Port-au-Prince, where only 11 percent of health facilities with inpatient capacity remain fully operational. Ongoing violence and roadblocks restrict humanitarian access and disrupt essential services, while recent clashes have forced humanitarian providers to suspend or reduce services, further limiting access to maternal and reproductive healthcare. These constraints are particularly acute for women and girls, limiting access to maternal care, reproductive health services, and support for survivors of violence. The erosion of service delivery systems is increasing preventable health risks and compounding long-term gender inequalities.

5.8 million people—over half the population—are facing crisis-level food insecurity, including more than 1.8 million who are at emergency levels, unable to meet basic food needs. Rising fuel prices, escalating violence, and displacement continue to drive food costs and limit access to markets and livelihoods. More than one million women-led households report acute food insecurity, while pregnant women and new mothers face heightened malnutrition risks. Severe food shortages increase protection risks, as armed groups exploit economic desperation—recruiting children with promises of food and targeting women and young mothers struggling to provide for their families.

The UN Security Council’s September 30 vote on whether to renew the Gang Suppression Force (GSF) presents an opportunity to analyze and underscore the critical need for increased protection of women and girls. Gang violence has included widespread conflict-related sexual violence against women and girls, underscoring the urgent need for security measures that protect civilians and address gender-specific threats. Debates around the GSF’s renewal should include a clear gender lens when considering the security conditions necessary for recovery and political transition—including the planned December elections—as well as the international community’s role in supporting a broader response that strengthen Haitian institutions and expands access to essential services, including support to survivors of sexual violence.

Haitian women are sustaining critical health, protection, and community services despite insecurity and the erosion of state capacity. Women-led organizations and community networks are filling gaps in essential services, including through mobile clinics and support for survivors of violence. Protecting and investing in these locally led organizations offers an opportunity to sustain community resilience while strengthening women’s leadership in crisis response and peacebuilding.