International Women’s Day 2026 – Joint Statement of the United Nations in Haiti

Port-au-Prince, 8 March 2026 

On International Women’s Day 2026, all entities of the United Nations System in Haiti are calling for concrete actions to fully guarantee the political, economic and social rights of women, in line with this year’s theme: Rights. Justice. Action. 

This theme resonates particularly strongly in Haiti, where women and girls remain the primary victims of violence, whether sexual, physical or psychological. 

The latest United Nations report on the human rights situation in Haiti indicates that more than 8,000 incidents of gender-based violence were recorded in 2025, over half of which involved sexual violence, with nearly two thirds constituting gang rape. 

Children are not spared. 566 cases of sexual violence against minors were documented, including 160 cases of gang rape. Women and children are also among the groups most vulnerable to food insecurity, which affects nearly 5.7 million people in Haiti, more than half of the population. Food insecurity among women is further exacerbated by limited access to livelihoods and income generating activities. 

At the same time, the internal displacement crisis continues to heighten the risks faced by these populations. Of the more than 1.4 million internally displaced persons, 54 per cent are women. Women and children are disproportionately affected, accounting for more than half of the displaced population, raising serious concerns regarding the protection of their rights. 

Beyond the statistics lie shattered lives. Women, mothers, girls, young people, professionals, traders, women and girls living with disabilities, all confronting systemic violence. A violence that demands responses rooted in the rule of law, and choices for justice and strong collective action to repair harm, restore hope, dignity and trust for women and girls who seek only one thing: to live in safety and fully exercise their rights. 

While acknowledging the progress made in women’s participation and recognizing their role and engagement in development spheres, the United Nations System reaffirms that this year’s theme - Rights. Justice. Action - must continue to resonate in Haiti and be translated into strong, tangible actions. 

Women play a key role in the economic dynamics of communities in Haiti. In this regard, actions must be carried out with women, and in line with the priorities they themselves have identified. 

At a time when security and the organization of free and inclusive elections have emerged as major national challenges, women must play a central role in building a safer, fairer and more democratic society, ensuring their full participation at all levels of decision making. 

In a country where women continue to be underrepresented in public and decision-making spaces, it is more necessary than ever to pacify the political arena, make it fair and accessible, and adopt inclusive policies and legal frameworks. 

Only under these conditions can full, effective and meaningful participation of women be guaranteed—not only in political life, but across all spheres of decision making. 

As the Secretary General has stated, we must tackle discriminatory laws and practices to ensure that all women enjoy the dignity and freedom they deserve and are provided with the opportunities to which they are entitled. 

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