Beyond Civil Unrest: Understanding the Crisis in Haiti and the Path Forward

by Eugenia López Uribe, Regional Director at IPPF ACRO

The recent episodes of violence on Haiti quickly made headlines worldwide through media outlets that exploit the image of a country in perpetual crisis, often neglecting the reasons behind it. This insufficient approach not only makes it challenging to understand the context but also to devise effective responses to it.

In Haiti, we see the ravages of a colonial history deeply rooted in slavery, interventionism from the global North, natural disasters exacerbated by climate change, the democratic void of an illegitimate state, and an international framework that has historically refused to work together with local actors to find solutions. As organizations and individuals working for human rights, it is our responsibility to prioritize a more concrete response to the Haitian people and to articulate a strategy to mitigate the social and political effects in the rest of the region.

In terms of migration, for instance, according to the United Nations, out of Haiti's 11.5 million inhabitants, at least 35,000 have fled their homes since the beginning of 2024 due to the escalating crisis, and over 362,000 have been displaced by violence. According to Human Rights Watch, more than 63,000 people from Haiti crossed the Darien Gap, one of the most dangerous points on the migratory route to North America, between January 2022 and November 2023, risking their lives to escape what is happening on the island.

As a counterpoint, according to the International Organization for Migration, in March of this year, 13,000 people were forced to return amid the unfolding crisis. This figure is 46% higher than that of February.

We cannot overlook the role of the arms industry, which thrives at the expense of the lives of thousands of people in vulnerable situations. Haiti is part of a list of territories struggling to survive in situations of armed conflict and violence around the world, such as Palestine, Yemen, Sudan, Congo, Syria, and Afghanistan, to name a few. In recent months, we have seen powerful and significant mobilizations that bring us closer to the reality of Africa and the Middle East. However, today we have a humanitarian situation in our region that also requires our attention and resources.

The sexual and reproductive health of all individuals, but especially women and girls, in all their diversity, is under imminent threat. The United Nations Integrated Office in Haiti warns that if the situation continues like this, 3,000 pregnant women will not be able to access the medical care they need. This means that nearly 450 women could experience complications during childbirth that could endanger their lives if they do not receive proper care.

Furthermore, the risk of being victims of sexual assault and abuse is growing even more in Haiti. The lack of access to gender-based violence services in internally displaced persons camps exacerbates the situation for victims and exposes them to a higher risk of experiencing further abuse.

In the past, there have been many efforts to "support" Haiti. However, they have not significantly involved the country's population or the local groups and organizations that have been mitigating the effects of instability for decades. Those who have the experience and knowledge about the root causes of the issues facing Haiti are those who live them. It is urgent not only to involve them in the solutions but also to follow their leadership, invest in the strategies they deem priorities, and address their demands for transparency and accountability throughout the process.

What is happening in Haiti today is, above all, the result of colonialism that has hindered the development and construction of an independent state. To de-escalate violence and restore damage in situations like Haiti's, something we can learn from its own history is the urgent need to listen to, empower, and finance local efforts and strategies to begin building a path towards peace and stability.

This text was written by Eugenia López Uribe, Regional Director at IPPF ACRO.

Eugenia is an experienced advocate for gender equality and sexual and reproductive rights, promoting innovation in the delivery of health services from a human rights perspective. She has worked with rural and indigenous people, adolescents, youth, LGBTQI+ populations, sex workers and women with HIV in Latin America and the Caribbean.