I thank you for this invitation and for the opportunity to celebrate together International Women’s Day.
Madam Minister, I welcome the close collaboration between the United Nations and your Ministry. I commend the important initiatives recently undertaken to promote women’s political participation and to advance the Women, Peace and Security agenda.
These initiatives reflect a strong national commitment to promoting women’s rights and strengthening their participation in public life.
This year’s theme — “Rights, Justice and Action for all Women and Girls” — resonates particularly strongly in the Haitian context.
Despite the progress achieved, women and girls continue to face many challenges in fully exercising their rights and accessing justice. In a context marked by violence and insecurity, they are often the first victims.
Strengthening access to justice for women and girls is therefore essential. In this regard, efforts to strengthen judicial institutions, including through specialized judicial units, are particularly important, especially for investigating and prosecuting sexual and gender-based violence.
The full and meaningful participation of women is also essential to address national priorities: security, the preparation of elections, and economic recovery.
It is crucial to guarantee the full and effective participation of women, both as citizens and as candidates. Their participation strengthens the legitimacy of institutions and contributes to more inclusive and representative political processes.
BINUH continues to promote their inclusion in political processes and to advocate for the respect of the 30 percent quota for women, at all levels, as established by the Constitution.
The appointment of five women among the eighteen members of the new government constitutes an encouraging step toward greater participation of women in public life, even though further efforts remain necessary to reach the level of representation provided for by the Constitution.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Equality between women and men is not only a matter of rights. It is also an essential condition for peace, stability and development in Haiti.
The United Nations remains fully committed alongside the Haitian authorities, the Ministry for the Status of Women and Women’s Rights, and civil society organizations to support these efforts.
Thank you.
