Providing security and protecting the human rights of all citizens are among the most fundamental responsibilities of the state. Often it is a country’s most vulnerable populations who require advocacy and protection of their human rights: women, LGBT individuals, children, and youth – many of whom are at high risk of sexual and gender-based violence, exploitation, forced labor and sex trafficking, child labor and domestic violence. Additionally, with over 46 percent of the Haitian population under 18 years old, the protection of the rights of children and youth is fundamental to the nation’s future.

Important progress has been made in recent years to advance the legal rights of vulnerable groups, including legislation criminalizing trafficking-in-persons; updated adoption regulation; and laws protecting the rights of children. Despite these legislative achievements, Haitian governmental institutions responsible for protecting vulnerable populations remain weak.

To strengthen the protection of vulnerable groups in Haiti, the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) supports the Government of Haiti, non-governmental organizations, and community organizations to prevent abuses and address the needs of victims, while strengthening their ability to address these challenges more effectively. USAID activities aim to:

• Strengthen and expand networks for child protection monitoring, prevention, and response services to improve quality and quantity of services provided in select departments and communes;
• Strengthen and expand networks for gender-based rights, as well as sexual or gender-based violence (SGBV) monitoring, prevention, and response services to improve quality and quantity of services provided in select departments and communes; and,
• Disseminate information to critical judicial and social service actors about social protection laws and regulations concerning child protection, trafficking, gender-based rights, sexual and gender-based violence, and broader human rights issues.