Exclusive: UNICEF denounces human rights abuses against Deaf women in Haiti

UNICEF Haiti has issued a statement on the mutilation and murder of Deaf women in the country, after the non-governmental organisation Off-The-Grid Missions launched a petition calling on decision makers to take action.

The petition has since received more than 25,000 signatures at the time of writing, and is addressed to 12 individuals and organisations  – including the Special Rapporteur on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, the World Bank and the United Nations’ High Commissioner for Human Rights.

The campaign is also supported by the World Federation of the Deaf, who have described the reports of human rights abuses in Haiti as “outrageous and egregious”.

In the petition’s description, Off-The-Grid Missions ask that UNICEF “support Haitian deaf associations through their organisations and agencies to better protect deaf girls and youth”, as well as “direct funds for protecting deaf children against abuse in Haiti”.

While UNICEF have “no specific programme” targeting deaf people this year, the organisation said in a statement to The Limping Chicken that “persons with disabilities fall in the group of beneficiaries” they serve in its overall protection programme across the country.

“As an agency implementing [the] Spotlight Initiative in Haiti, UNICEF fights gender-bases violence including physical violence perpetrated by a spouse, a partner, a member of the family or an unknown. UNICEF abides by a ‘leave no one behind’ policy, reaching the furthest and most vulnerable, mainly during emergencies.  

“In the current response to displacements in the metropolitan area of Port-au-Prince, UNICEF worked with a partner [non-governmental organisation] on a IDP site mostly hosting persons with disabilities including the deaf, before all the displaced – with or without disabilities – were forced to find refuge in […] Delmas following rival armed gang violence confrontations.

“Without discrimination, UNICEF denounces evidence-proven human rights abuses that have come to its knowledge in Haiti. Since the beginning of the year, UNICEF has made four media statements on human and child rights abuses including kidnappings, killings, rapes and displacement while maintaining strong advocacy towards chiefs of armed groups, authorities and communities for the continuous respect of human rights.

“UNICEF does not rule out having a specific project targeting persons living with disabilities including the deaf, if needs to single them out of the overarching programme are proven, and resources are available,” a spokesperson said.

Following its launch, The Limping Chicken has approached all 12 individuals or organisations mentioned in the petition.

While the Monitoring Mechanism of the Belen-Do-Para Convention for the Elimination of Violence against women (MESECVI) responded to say that they are addressing it with their authorities before responding, the remaining 10 are yet to provide an official comment.

More information about the petition can be found on the Change.org website.

Photo: UNICEF.

By Liam O’Dell. Liam is a mildly deaf freelance journalist and campaigner from Bedfordshire. He wears bilateral hearing aids and can be found talking about disability, theatre, politics and more on Twitter and on his website.

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Update – 13.07.21: In a statement to The Limping Chicken, a World Bank spokesperson  said they have taken note of the “serious issues” raised in Off-The-Grid Missions’ petition.

The petition, now at more than 26,000 signatures, calls on the World Bank to “direct funds for protecting deaf children and deaf women against abuse in Haiti”.

The spokesperson’s comment reads: “Including persons with disabilities and expanding equitable opportunities are at the core of the World Bank’s work to build sustainable, inclusive communities, aligned with the institution’s goals to end extreme poverty and promote shared prosperity.

“We know that women and children with disabilities are particularly vulnerable, and as part of our effort to address this issue, we recently developed a Brief on Violence Against Women and Children with Disabilities.

“[This] looks at the causes, types, and consequences of this type of violence and provides recommendations on how to promote constructive and holistic approaches to inclusive policies, more receptive institutions, and aware communities,” they said.

The spokesperson also linked The Limping Chicken to a blog post about the World Bank’s work in Haiti.

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Update – 15.07.21: Off-The-Grid Missions has confirmed to The Limping Chicken in a statement that they are yet to be contacted by any of the organisations petitioned.