Rio de Janeiro, November 2024 – The International Planned Parenthood Federation’s Americas and the Caribbean Regional Office (IPPF ACRO) has been at the forefront of advocacy efforts, urging the G20 to address the escalating crisis in Haiti. During the Civil 20 (C20) Engagement Group discussions, IPPF ACRO played a key role in driving forward a joint statement that calls on the G20, under Brazil’s presidency, to take decisive action to support Haiti amidst its deepening humanitarian emergencies. 

The statement, delivered to Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, highlights the alarming political instability and escalating violence in Haiti, which have severely impacted vulnerable populations. According to the International Organization for Migration (IOM), at least 35,000 people have fled their homes since early 2024, and over 600,000 Haitians are now displaced. The compounded crises have severely threatened fundamental rights, particularly the sexual and reproductive health and rights of women and girls in all their diversity, who face heightened risks of gender-based violence. 

Throughout this year, IPPF ACRO has consistently championed the inclusion of Haiti’s crisis on the G20 agenda. “The situation in Haiti is a stark reminder of the vulnerabilities faced by the Caribbean in the face of climate change, political instability, and deep-seated inequality,” said Alessandra Nilo, C20 Sherpa and IPPF ACRO’s External Relations Director. “We pushed for this statement because it is imperative that the G20, especially under Brazil’s leadership, acknowledges the urgent need for action. Women and girls in Haiti are bearing the brunt of this crisis, and they cannot wait any longer for the international community to act.” 

Jeffthanie Mathurin, midwife, Member of the Board of Trustees and spokesperson of the Midwife Association of Haiti, IPPF Member Association in the country, further emphasized the urgency of the situation: “The time has come for social solidarity to transition from words to actions, from statements to safeguards, from declarations to transformations. Stand with Haiti, stand with our midwives, with our women and girls, and with every community affected by this crisis. Together, let us ensure that our shared humanity does not turn into a fleeting ideal, but rather a strong force for peace, dignity, and justice for all Haitians.” 

IPPF ACRO remains committed to centering the voices of local organizations and communities in the response to Haiti’s crisis. “We believe in a response that prioritizes the rights and needs of those most affected, particularly in access to critical maternal health care and sexual and reproductive health services,” emphasized Eugenia López Uribe, Regional Director of IPPF ACRO. “We call on the G20 leaders to recognize that true resilience and recovery for Haiti must be rooted in ensuring the fundamental rights of its people, especially women and girls.” 

The joint statement by the C20, Women 20, and Labour 20 Engagement Groups calls on the G20 to speak out in favor of restructuring Haiti’s healthcare system, including essential maternal health care and sexual and reproductive health services. The statement urges G20 leaders to include a commitment in the official Communiqué for zero tolerance towards sexual and gender-based violence and immediate protection measures for women, children, and those most at risk in Haiti. 

“At a time of multiple global crises, we cannot forget Haiti,” added Nilo. “Decades of colonial exploitation, compounded by climate impacts, have created the conditions for today’s instability. The G20 must step up and commit to a future where human rights are protected, and no one is left behind.”