After seeing this Los Angeles Times article, it is safe to say that females (as young as 5 years old and maybe younger) in Haiti have lost all sense of humanity. Women, adolescent girls and little girls are being stalked like prey in the displacement camps. It is upsetting to read that after a teenaged girl went to the police to report what happened to her, the officer told her that the reason she was raped was because she was "in heat". That phrase is only ever used in reference to animals and to see it referencing a young girl is appalling.
Who are these women supposed to run to for help? There is practically no security in the camps and the local law enforcement doesn't seem to be able to help (when they are even willing to). The only option that the women of Haiti have is to defend themselves.
There are organizations in Haiti that help with self defense and provide help with general well being, but there are very few of them and there is only so much that they can do.
This is an opportunity for us to reach out and help a country that is desperately in need of it. People tend to be more concerned about helping the people in their own communities, and that is commendable, but there is something special about helping people that you have never met before.
Written By:
Regine Riviere
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