Haitian gang rape 'pervasive'
55 per cent of rapes reported in Haiti involve underage girls, Amnesty International demands government does more
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Friday, 28, Nov 2008 08:10
New warnings have been issued about the widespread gang rapes of girls in Haiti and the authorities' failure to protect potential victims.
According to Amnesty International UK 55 per cent of rapes reported in the Caribbean country this year so far have involved girls under the age of 18.
The human rights group said that despite a lack of central figures the problem facing the Haitian government was evident, with children as young as 19 months being raped.
Amnesty International reports that in the run-up to Carnival – an annual event in the Caribbean that takes place in Haiti on the two days before Ash Wednesday – gang rapes of young girls are "common practice".
Carnival 2007 rape victim Stephanie told Amnesty International: "I am not able to go to the police because I am really frightened. The attackers really pressured me not to report them, although I didn't know them. This is all so humiliating... I had to stay quiet."
Gerardo Ducos, Amnesty International's Caribbean researcher, said despite efforts by the Haitian government to improve the situation, its dedicated police unit tasked with protecting minors had just 12 officers and no vehicles.
"Sexual violence against girls, and in particular rape, is pervasive in Haiti and can no longer be ignored," he said.
"The Haitian government does not fulfil its obligations to protect girls. Given the lack of official help, it is perhaps not surprising that most of those who rape and attack girls are not brought to justice and are able to continue committing these crimes with no fear of punishment. For many girls, surviving sexual violence means keeping silent."
Mr Ducos is calling on Haiti's national plan to combat violence against women to be implemented nationwide.
"Leaders must address the lack of confidence in the police and the justice system so girls can rely on them when they're seeking help and redress," he continued.
"There must also be a coordinated way to collect information across Haiti to measure the nature and extent of violence against girls and women and to make these results public in both official languages. The government must not turn its back on the girls of Haiti."
Haiti, which has a population of almost nine million, is the poorest country in the western hemisphere.
It was named as one of 27 failed or failing states in a report by the IPPR thinktank's commission on national security yesterday.