Haiti: Women call against domination, discrimination and violence

On March 8, 2025, in honor of International Women’s Struggle Day, Haitian peasant organizations Mouvman Peyizan Papay (MPP) and Tèt Kole Ti Peyizan Ayisyen, both members of the CLOC – LVC in Haiti, raised their voices to denounce the violence, discrimination, and inequalities faced by women. Amid a severe political and social crisis, they are calling for mobilization to recognize and defend the rights of Haitian women.

The struggle of the women of Mouvman Peyizan Papay (MPP)

The women of MPP have issued a call to action to end all forms of domination, violence, and discrimination, both toward migrant women and girls abroad and within Haitian society itself.

Male domination, discrimination, and social exclusion are extensions of the colonial system. They demand increased representation of women in decision-making spaces to combat impunity, the complacency of authorities regarding uncontrolled gender-based violence, and the economic and political inequalities that continue to affect women. In Haiti, women are still dying from the blows of sexist violence.

They are still criminalized for demanding the right to control their own bodies and must face structural inequalities that condemn them to precariousness and marginalization.

“Faced with these scourges, we must continue to fight, persevere, and resist in order to transform the world and ensure the respect of women’s rights,” they declared.

The commitment of Tèt Kole Ti Peyizan Ayisyen

The women of Tèt Kole Ti Peyizan Ayisyen mobilized to claim their rights and continue the struggle initiated by those who fought for the liberation of the popular masses.

On March 8, 2025, the peasant organization organized activities in several regions of the country to commemorate International Women’s Struggle Day. In the context of Haiti’s profound political crisis, peasant women, who are the driving force of the country, also suffer the consequences of this growing instability. This is reflected in the inaccessibility of local products, which are blocked in rural areas and prevented from reaching the large cities. Historically, this distribution role has been carried out by women known as “Madan Sara,” who ensure the survival of their families. Today, they are suffocated by the economic blockade orchestrated by North American imperialism, a process initiated during the American occupation and still in effect.

Despite these challenges, they refuse to remain inactive. They continue the fight for women’s empowerment while also addressing other urgent issues related to the current situation, such as security, fair justice, and the violence planned by armed gangs in the Haitian capital, where collective rapes are on the rise.

In light of the government’s inability to respond to their demands, the women of Tèt Kole Ti Peyizan Ayisyen organized conferences and debates followed by protest marches in different regions of the country: in the Grand’Anse department, particularly in Roseaux; in the Upper North (Saint-Raphaël, Ranquitte, Dondon, Bahon, and Pignon); and in the Lower North, particularly in Plaisance.

Their messages align with their organization’s guiding principles, which are combative, vigilant, and demanding. They demand the preservation of the 1987 Constitution, which some actors are attempting to amend without popular consent. We call for a genuine national consultation before any major decisions are made.

The peasant women of Tèt Kole Ti Peyizan Ayisyen firmly oppose any illegal and arbitrary attempts that would further plunge the country into chaos.

A common struggle for the dignity of Haitian women

The struggles of MPP and Tèt Kole Ti Peyizan Ayisyen converge toward a common goal: the recognition and protection of the rights of Haitian women. Whether they are in rural or urban areas, whether they fight against patriarchal domination or economic exclusion, they are united in demanding the end of oppression and access to a dignified life. In the face of the multiple crises plaguing Haiti, their collective resistance is more essential than ever to build a future where women will fully play their role in the country’s social transformation.

Long live the struggle of Haitian women!
Long live the peasant struggle!
Long live the empowerment of women!