In the aftermath of the January earthquake, the massive displacement of over a million people and the profound disruption of every aspect of daily life have greatly exacerbated the protection risks for women and girls in Haiti. While the Government of Haiti and the international community have made important progress in certain areas of humanitarian response, under very difficult conditions, there are still significant gaps in protection, and minimum standards remain unmet in many areas.
All parties engaged in response and reconstruction efforts in Haiti should be held accountable--and hold themselves accountable--for meeting protection standards and implementing programs that reflect interna-tionally established guidelines. This will help ensure that women and girls have safe access to humanitarian assistance and equal opportunity to contribute to and benefit from international efforts to rebuild their country. Urgent action is required to address these issues. This article contains recommendations for the international community and donor governments, working in concert with the Government of Haiti.
