As the Security Council considers a report on the UN Stabilization Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH), it is vital for the Council to call for women’s full and equal participation and engagement in building Haiti’s future. This is particularly important given threats and harassment against women-led civil society organizations, including those calling for justice for SGBV. Options for consolidation of MINUSTAH must include gender mainstreaming and women’s participation and protection at the core of the mission’s mandate. The Council should call on MINUSTAH to:

• Ensure women’s full and effective participation in electoral processes, and coordinate with the Haitian National Police to develop and implement an integrated, gender-sensitive security plan for the elections.
• Ensure substantive legal and sensitivity training on adequate investigation and prosecution of SGBV crimes including violence motivated by sexual orientation or gender identity, and proper treatment of survivors for police, prosecutors, judges, new legislators and other Government officials who may interact with survivors.
• Provide technical assistance to support Haiti’s ability to pass and implement legislation addressing gender-based violence, including the Penal Code Revision Draft Law.
• Ensure gender-sensitive services for survivors of sexual exploitation and abuse (SEA) by UN peacekeepers, and establish transparent, survivor-centered and readily accessible mechanisms to hear claims for remedies.

Provide logistical and technical expertise for the establishment of protection and relocation mechanisms for women human rights defenders, and expand relocation funds to include family members and dependents of those at risk.

As the Security Council considers a report on the UN Stabilization Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH), it is vital for the Council to call for women’s full and equal participation and engagement in building Haiti’s future. This is particularly important given threats and harassment against women-led civil society organizations, including those calling for justice for SGBV. Options for consolidation of MINUSTAH must include gender mainstreaming and women’s participation and protection at the core of the mission’s mandate. The Council should call on MINUSTAH to:

• Ensure women’s full and effective participation in electoral processes, and coordinate with the Haitian National Police to develop and implement an integrated, gender-sensitive security plan for the elections.
• Ensure substantive legal and sensitivity training on adequate investigation and prosecution of SGBV crimes including violence motivated by sexual orientation or gender identity, and proper treatment of survivors for police, prosecutors, judges, new legislators and other Government officials who may interact with survivors.
• Provide technical assistance to support Haiti’s ability to pass and implement legislation addressing gender-based violence, including the Penal Code Revision Draft Law.
• Ensure gender-sensitive services for survivors of sexual exploitation and abuse (SEA) by UN peacekeepers, and establish transparent, survivor-centered and readily accessible mechanisms to hear claims for remedies.

Provide logistical and technical expertise for the establishment of protection and relocation mechanisms for women human rights defenders, and expand relocation funds to include family members and dependents of those at risk.