Tuesday at the National Palace, the President Michel Martelly, accompanied by the First Lady, Sophia Martelly, received Ms. Michelle Bachelet, Executive Director of UN Women [created in July 2010), accompanied by Ms Moni Pizani, the Director of the Regional Office for Latin America and the Caribbean of UN Women, on official visit to Haiti in order toinquire about the current situation of women and to advocate for gender equality and the empowerment of women in Haiti.

Sophia Martelly, took the opportunity to solicit from Ms Bachelet, the support of UN Women to the Ministry for the Status of Women and Women's Rights.

Among the issues discussed at this meeting we can mention :

• The strengthening of institutional capacity of the Ministry for the Status of Women and Women's Rights ;

• The empowerment of women in rural areas ;

• The creation of the "Club of Women Leaders of Haiti" ;

• The presentation of the mission of the Ministry and creation/operation of the Office of Right of the Person and the fight against poverty ;

• The launch of social progras ;

• The integration of women in the Ministry ;

• The rehabilitation of craft booths in the North and the South-East.

The President Martelly, on behalf of Haitian women, thanked Ms. Bachelet for her solidarity and interest in the cause of women in Haiti and took the opportunity to announce the creation of Funds, intended primarily to help Women (Fund for the Emancipation of the Haitian Women, Capital fund SMEs million) which will be launched November 9, 2012 "It is time for women in Haiti are no longer victims of prejudice, it is time that women's rights are respected and that they fully play their role in society [...]"

For her part, the Executive Director of UN Women, has promised to support the political participation of women for there are many more women involved in decision-making positions. Immediately after this meeting, Ms. Bachelet held a working meeting with Ms. Marina Gourgue, the Secretary of State for Vocational Training, and the women Ministers (7) of the Government.

See also :

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-6974-haiti-politic-official-visit-of-michelle-bachelet-of-un-women.html

HL/ HaitiLibre