In the Haitian capital of Port-au-Prince, a young mother named Helene has emerged as a symbol of resilience amidst a backdrop dominated by gang violence and sexual assault. At just 19 years old, Helene recounts her harrowing past, when at the age of 17, armed gang members attacked her neighborhood, leading to her abduction and repeated assaults over two months. Despite the trauma and the gang's insistence that she abort her pregnancy, Helene resolutely chose to keep her baby—believing this child could be her only opportunity to become a mother.
Currently residing in a safe house with at least 30 other girls and young women, Helene has dedicated the past year to nurturing her daughter in a supportive environment. The safe house, characterized by colorful decorations and communal living arrangements, provides shelter for other survivors like Helene. The youngest in this refuge is merely 12 years old, each with heart-wrenching stories of violence as the nation's crisis unfolds.
The situation in Haiti has deteriorated sharply since the assassination of President Jovenel Moïse in 2021, with armed gangs reportedly exerting control over 90% of the capital. The increase in violent sexual crimes is alarming, reflected in the nearly tripling of patients at Médecins Sans Frontières' clinic for survivors of sexual abuse. Women and girls are often victims of mass sexual assaults during the widespread territorial conflicts perpetrated by these gangs, used as tools of terror against entire communities.
Haitian security is further compromised by the emergence of rival gangs forming alliances against the state, leading to rampant violence and a significant deterioration in public safety. UN agencies report that over 1.3 million people have been displaced, and half of Haiti is facing acute hunger, a crisis that disproportionately affects women, particularly those who have experienced sexual violence.
Within this tumultuous landscape, many are forced to grapple with the combined trauma of displacement and abuse. Helene reflects on her dreams of education and independence for her future and her daughter's, uncertain of how she will offer her child the support she needs as she grows. Meanwhile, humanitarian efforts are hampered as funding cuts threaten vital resources for survivors and food aid.
Despite the odds, Helene's determination to raise her daughter shines as a beacon of hope amid despair, as she longs to break the cycle of violence and provide a different life for her child.
Currently residing in a safe house with at least 30 other girls and young women, Helene has dedicated the past year to nurturing her daughter in a supportive environment. The safe house, characterized by colorful decorations and communal living arrangements, provides shelter for other survivors like Helene. The youngest in this refuge is merely 12 years old, each with heart-wrenching stories of violence as the nation's crisis unfolds.
The situation in Haiti has deteriorated sharply since the assassination of President Jovenel Moïse in 2021, with armed gangs reportedly exerting control over 90% of the capital. The increase in violent sexual crimes is alarming, reflected in the nearly tripling of patients at Médecins Sans Frontières' clinic for survivors of sexual abuse. Women and girls are often victims of mass sexual assaults during the widespread territorial conflicts perpetrated by these gangs, used as tools of terror against entire communities.
Haitian security is further compromised by the emergence of rival gangs forming alliances against the state, leading to rampant violence and a significant deterioration in public safety. UN agencies report that over 1.3 million people have been displaced, and half of Haiti is facing acute hunger, a crisis that disproportionately affects women, particularly those who have experienced sexual violence.
Within this tumultuous landscape, many are forced to grapple with the combined trauma of displacement and abuse. Helene reflects on her dreams of education and independence for her future and her daughter's, uncertain of how she will offer her child the support she needs as she grows. Meanwhile, humanitarian efforts are hampered as funding cuts threaten vital resources for survivors and food aid.
Despite the odds, Helene's determination to raise her daughter shines as a beacon of hope amid despair, as she longs to break the cycle of violence and provide a different life for her child.
