On Friday, May 22, 2026, Prime Minister Alix Didier Fils-Aimé, accompanied by Pédrica Saint-Jean, Minister for the Status of Women and Women's Rights, officially launched the first shelters for women and girls who are victims of gender-based violence.

Four shelters will be established in the departments of West, Grand'Anse, Central, and Artibonite. The first, located in Vivy-Mitchell, inaugurated on May 22 in the West, boasts modern facilities: eight dormitories, reception areas, cafeterias, an infirmary, a recreation room, and designated areas to ensure safety, dignity, and recovery. It is entirely funded by the Haitian government.

Organized under the patronage of the Prime Minister and implemented by the Ministry for the Status of Women, the ceremony brought together representatives from UN Women, technical and financial partners, and several members of the diplomatic corps accredited to Haiti.

More than just an inauguration, this event marks a strong commitment from the Haitian government: to finally offer safe havens to those who have suffered in silence for far too long.

A visibly moved Marie Gorreti Nduway, the UN Women representative in Haiti, hailed it as "a major step forward" and a concrete victory for the rights of Haitian women, reaffirming the organization's commitment to providing long-term support for this initiative.

Minister Pédrica Saint-Jean, clearly touched by the project's completion, emphasized that it is "an essential step in the fight for the dignity and protection of women," noting that these shelters will offer confidential and tailored psychosocial support to victims.

Speaking at the event, Prime Minister Alix Didier Fils-Aimé described the project as “an act of solidarity, justice, and national hope.”

"Faced with violence, we choose light. These houses will be spaces for rebuilding, rebirth, and dignity. Women have the right to protection, to be heard, and to receive support."

The Prime Minister announced that long-term funding for these facilities will be included in the next supplementary budget.

HL/ HaitiLibre