MCFDF: Advocacy for Women's Rights at the 16th CEPLAC Session

MEXICO.— The Mexican capital hosted, from August 12 to 15, the 16th session of the Regional Conference on Women of Latin America and the Caribbean, organized by the United Nations Economic Commission for the region (CEPLAC). This international meeting offered a prime platform to the Haitian Minister for the Status of Women and Women's Rights, Pédrica Saint Jean, who strongly defended Haiti's commitment to gender equality. In a speech filled with conviction, the Minister highlighted both the progress made and the persistent challenges regarding women's rights in Haiti, particularly in the health sector. “Women are the invisible pillars of the informal economy, the guardians of community resilience, voices too often stifled in decision-making spheres,” she declared. Ms. Saint Jean called for a profound re-establishment of power relations within the state, the economy, culture, and even in citizens' relationship with the environment. National Policy at the Heart of Advocacy The Minister recalled the existence of the 2014–2034 Women-Men Equality Policy, described as a strategic lever to transform gender relations in Haiti. Three priorities were highlighted:

1. Strengthen protection mechanisms: guarantee access to justice and essential services, with appropriate psychosocial support.
2. Integrate gender equality into public governance: take into account the gender dimension in budgets, recovery programs, and inclusive recovery initiatives.
3. Establish permanent social dialogue: maintain continuous consultation between local authorities, women's organizations, and the state to design sustainable policies adapted to community realities.

Advocacy for Vulnerable Women The Minister also mentioned concrete actions in favor of women displaced due to urban violence. Among them, a socio-economic reintegration program for women and girl-mothers, funded by the Public Treasury, which aims to train them in sectors previously reserved for men. Ultimately, Pédrica Saint Jean praised the resilience of Haitian women and emphasized the importance of embedding their struggles and successes within a national dynamic. She urged decision-makers to move beyond “gender-sensitive” policies to adopt truly transformative measures capable of eradicating structural inequalities and building a more equitable society. Her intervention at CEPLAC was perceived as a strong call to action, recalling the central role of women in the economic, social, and cultural reconstruction of Haiti. Jean Mapou