“MYRIAM MERLET, ANNE MARIE CORIOLAN & MAGALIE MARCELIN FEMINIST INTERNATIONAL CAMP"
The tragedy suffered by the Haitian people on January 12 has called to action feminist solidarity worldwide and, in particular, Latin American and Caribbean feminists who met here in Santo Domingo on January 26 and 27 with representatives of the Haitian omen’smovement. An agreement was reached to solidify this solidarity through the stablishment of the “Myriam Merlet, Anne Marie Coriolan & Magalie Marcelin Feminist International Camp”. International organizations and women’s movements have long recognized that women experience deep-seated inequality and marginalization –especially in the poorest ountries, such as Haiti – and their needs are made invisible and almost never met.
This situation worsens during emergencies and disasters. At the same time, it has also been recognized that when resources and support are put in the hands of women and in their organizations, these resources reach those who most need them and are better managed and utilized. We have learned from our Haitian sisters that in the current, dramatic conditions, there has been very limited response to women’s specific needs. Particular cases stand out among the various limitations:
•Treatment during births and obstetric / gynecologic emergencies –such as miscarriages brought on by trauma and the treatment of vaginal infections – has been practically nonexistent, including in the humanitarian aid camps and centers, with serious implications and risks of irreversible injury and death. •Immediate psycho-social attention must be guaranteed, respecting the necessities of women of all ages and establishing the conditions that will allow them to mourn. Additionally,
•It is urgent to take measures to prevent, protect and call to account genderviolence of all forms, the incidence of which has been proven to increase in similar disaster situations, particularly in temporary camps.
•The risk of human trafficking must be taken into account – especially women and children- which also tends to increase in emergency situations like that in Haiti. The Myriam Merlet, Anne Marie Coriolan & Magalie Marcelin Feminist International Camp is an initiative that seeks to respond to these problems in a flexible and adaptive manner, taking into account the particular needs of women and girls.
The Camp is a reference space for international solidarity that will make it possible to channelresources directly to women and their organizations, which contribute to the re-articulation of the feminist and women’s movements in Haiti, as well as guarantee their decisive participation in the reconstruction of the country.
The Camp is not only a physical space; it is also a solidarity initiative expressed in multiple forms and through each of the women and organizations that are showing theirsupport and solidarity with Haitian women.
This Camp has the following immediate priorities that respond to the petitions of our Haitian sisters: Advocate, impact and monitor so that the needs specific to women and girls are incorporated into the aid agendas of the bilateral and multilateral agencies. Support the efforts of Haitian and Latin American women’s organizations to affect positive change in national and international public policies on mitigation and reconstruction, and in Haiti’s case, the re-construction of the state, government and civil society, according to what the Haitian people articulate, taking into account theexperience of women’s organizations in the region in other disaster situations.
Contribute, together with Haitian women, to the creation of public policies that take into account the needs that have emerged from the natural and man-made disasters that have devastated the country, especially those related to the disabled (a significant increase inthis population, not yet quantified), general and specific emotional trauma, gender violence and health and reproductive rights.
Support the recuperation of historic memory of the feminist and women’s movements in Haiti. Accompany the mourning processes and give psychological support to address the different effects and consequences of the damage and losses.
Reinforce the continuance of the Women’s Ministry and the other Haitian governmental institutions that address and promote women’s rights. In addition to these actions, the sisters and fellow activists in attendance today decided to promote a Worldwide Day of Tribute, this 8th of March, Centennial of International Women’s Day, honoring three leaders: Myriam Merlet, Anne Marie Coriolan and Magalie Marcelin, all Haitian women who died in the earthquake.
SANTO DOMINGOJanuary 27, 2010
