In November 2010, the Protection Working Group at InterAction issued a series of papers documenting an array of issues affecting the lives of Haitians made even more vulnerable by the 2010 earthquake. The papers set forth a number of recommendations calling on interested parties to ensure that all steps taken in rebuilding Haiti would uphold and restore lives with safety, dignity and rights. A critical area of focus was child protection. As we pass the second anniversary of the earthquake, it is an appropriate time to assess where and if progress has been made on the identified issues and to identify key challenges that limit protection to this critical group of Haitian society.

Haiti has 4.3 million children under the age of 18. To effectively ensure a safe and dignified life for these children, it is vital that donors fulfill their pledges and commit resources. The English summary of the 2012 Consolidated Appeal for Haiti notes, “The implementation of child protection projects has been hindered by lack of funds obtained in an amount that did not reach 41.5% of the required funds as of the mid-term review.” If momentum is to be maintained and critical gains to be strengthened, then the donor community must show their commitment to Haiti’s children and fully fund the programs to which they committed.