Overview:
As Haiti navigates yet another political transition, women continue to be left out of significant leadership roles, despite constitutional mandates that advocate for their inclusion. The crucial question remains: Will Haiti persist in these cycles of repetition, or will it choose a transformative path forward?
I often ponder the parallels between Haiti and other nations that share similar histories and challenges. Countries like Ireland and England come to mind due to their complex relationship on a single island, akin to that of Haiti and the Dominican Republic. Likewise, I consider nations such as Honduras, which faces alarming levels of gang violence and instability similar to that experienced in Haiti’s capital.
During a recent panel discussion on March 14, part of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) sessions, I gained valuable insights into the lessons Haiti could draw from Rwanda. This event, organized by the Haitian Women’s Collective, Nègès Mawon, and the Institute for Justice & Democracy in Haiti, shed light on the escalating crisis confronting women and girls in Haiti, reflecting the broader governance issues plaguing the nation.
Laura Nyirinkindi, chair of the UN Working Group on discrimination against women and girls, emphasized Rwanda as a model for Haiti amid its ongoing political instability. Nyirinkindi shared that the 1994 Rwandan genocide disproportionately affected women through sexual violence. However, in the aftermath, women emerged as pivotal figures in peace and reconciliation, demonstrating resilience despite their trauma.
She noted, “This illustrates how a crisis can be transformed into an opportunity to enhance women’s leadership.” Unlike Haiti, where the constitutional mandate for women in government positions has been largely ignored, Rwanda actively enforced and surpassed its 30% requirement, with women constituting 60% of its governmental body today.
For Haiti to emerge from its current turmoil, it could benefit substantially from Rwanda’s historical experiences and transitional justice practices, particularly by prioritizing women in decision-making processes—a stark contrast to the current reality in Haiti.
Female leaders at the CSW panel cautioned that the continued exclusion of women from political decision-making in Haiti is amplifying gender-based violence and social unrest.
Lucia D. Pasacale Solages, general coordinator of Nègès Mawon and a panelist, stated, “In the CPT, there is only one woman who lacks a vote in the presidential council, with less than 20% representation of women in Alix Didier Fils-Aimé’s government.”
How can progress be made when our foundational constitutional principles are being disregarded without a public outcry?
What steps can we take to rise above the latest crisis when innovative leadership, such as that exhibited by Dominique Dupuy, is stifled?
This pivotal moment of transition presents an ideal opportunity to redirect our course.
As the saying goes: If you always do what you’ve always done, you’ll always get what you’ve always had.
Thus, I urge the decision-makers in Haiti: Are we destined to repeat the same patterns once again?
