A Hidden Shame: Sexual Violence in Haiti.
Sexual violence in Haiti is a true problem. Women are consistently made victims of sexual violence and they have little or no recourse either through their family or the law. Rapes, domestic violence are an accepted fact of life in the country and especially the slums. Doctors Without Borders offers psychological treatment and medical diagnoses to help treat the victims wounds. The massive destruction of the earthquake has also lead to further dislocation and insecurity and abuse of women. The shame of this type of violence leads many women to hide and deal with the pain in isolation, but luckily some brave women stepped forward to tell their stories. These stories include women who have been victimized in front of their children, on the street and in their homes. There truly is no safe place for women and this constant feeling of insecurity pervades o many women's existence.
A Hidden Shame: Sexual Violence in Haiti.
This woman's sister, Eveline, left her home because of alleged domestic abuse and currently lives in a small tent in the courtyard of a former upscale hotel that was frequented by Papa Doc Duvalier supporters before the 1986 revolution. She has no lock on her door, has an infant and is constantly concerned for her personal safety.
A Hidden Shame: Sexual Violence in Haiti
Lucie's younger sister sits in their new home in a safer neighborhood in Port au Prince. The family moved after the assault. Lucie was raped when her family's house in the Martissant neighborhood was invaded by seven armed men who climbed the side of the building to the roof and entered through a door. Once inside they raped Lucie, in front of her infant. They were going to kill her, but one of the men fought for her not to be killed and the men left the family without killing anyone. The home invasion and rape has been devastating for the family and they were forced to move out of their home which they had bought over years of hard work in order to rent another home in a safer neighborhood. The father has had serious problems dealing with the experience and Lucie, the woman who was raped, has dealt with it proactively by seeking help at the Martissant Doctors Without Borders center. She works with Flauberte, the MSF psychologist to overcome the psychological damage. She has made great strides and says she refuses to let these men ruin her life.
A Hidden Shame: Sexual Violence in Haiti
Emmanuella admits that violence is a real problem that she has to contend in her neighborhood and that although people don't like to talk about it she witnesses violence a lot.
A Hidden Shame: Sexual Violence in Haiti.
A young boy who's mother was sexually assaulted stands on his head. His mother works at the hospital and stays at the hospital so this boy's older teenage brother is in charge of taking care of his younger brother.
A Hidden Shame: Sexual Violence in Haiti
Street scene in the Martissant Slum in Port au Prince, Haiti.
A Hidden Shame: Sexual Violence in Haiti.
Angeline says she worries constantly for her safety and was attacked by a woman with a knife. She studies nursing, speaks French perfectly and is living in a tent with her family after being displaced by the 2010 earthquake.
A Hidden Shame: Sexual Violence in Haiti.
Women pray at a church in the Martissant neighborhood in Port au Prince, Haiti.
A Hidden Shame: Sexual Violence in Haiti.
Francesca was assaulted and raped while walking in her neighborhood, not far from her house. She was attacked in a vacant lot and nothing happened to her attacker.
A Hidden Shame: Sexual Violence in Haiti.
A view of the Martissant slum in Port au Prince, Haiti.
A Hidden Shame: Sexual Violence in Haiti.
Sexual violence in Haiti is a true problem. Women are consistently made victims of sexual violence and they have little or no recourse either through their family or the law. Rapes, domestic violence are an accepted fact of life in the country and especially the slums. Doctors Without Borders offers psychological treatment and medical diagnoses to help treat the victims wounds. The massive destruction of the earthquake has also lead to further dislocation and insecurity and abuse of women. The shame of this type of violence leads many women to hide and deal with the pain in isolation, but luckily some brave women stepped forward to tell their stories. These stories include women who have been victimized in front of their children, on the street and in their homes. There truly is no safe place for women and this constant feeling of insecurity pervades many women's.
A Hidden Shame: Sexual Violence in Haiti.
The entryway to the MSF hospital in Martissant.
A Hidden Shame: Sexual Violence in Haiti.
Lucie was raped when her family's house in the Martissant neighborhood was invaded by seven armed men who climbed the side of the building to the roof and entered through a door. Once inside they raped Lucie, in front of her infant. They were going to kill her, but one of the men fought for her not to be killed and the men left the family without killing anyone. The home invasion and rape has been devastating for the family and they were forced to move out of their home which they had bought over years of hard work in order to rent another home in a safer neighborhood. The father has had serious problems dealing with the experience and Lucie, the woman who was raped, has dealt with it proactively by seeking help at the Martissant Doctors Without Borders center. She works with Flauberte, the MSF psychologist to overcome the psychological damage. She has made great strides and says she refuses to let these men ruin her life.
A Hidden Shame: Sexual Violence in Haiti.
Lucie was raped when her family's house in the Martissant neighborhood was invaded by seven armed men who climbed the side of the building to the roof and entered through a door. Once inside they raped Lucie, in front of her infant. They were going to kill her, but one of the men fought for her not to be killed and the men left the family without killing anyone. The home invasion and rape has been devastating for the family and they were forced to move out of their home which they had bought over years of hard work in order to rent another home in a safer neighborhood. The father has had serious problems dealing with the experience and Lucie, the woman who was raped, has dealt with it proactively by seeking help at the Martissant Doctors Without Borders center. She works with Flauberte, the MSF psychologist to overcome the psychological damage. She has made great strides and says she refuses to let these men ruin her life.
A Hidden Shame: Sexual Violence in Haiti.
A woman looks down at her sick baby in the emergency room at the MSF hospital in the Martissant neighborhood.
A Hidden Shame: Sexual Violence in Haiti.
The waiting room at the MSF Hospital in Martissant.
A Hidden Shame: Sexual Violence in Haiti.
Sexual violence in Haiti is a true problem. Women are consistently made victims of sexual violence and they have little or no recourse either through their family or the law. Rapes, domestic violence are an accepted fact of life in the country and especially the slums. Doctors Without Borders offers psychological treatment and medical diagnoses to help treat the victims wounds. The massive destruction of the earthquake has also lead to further dislocation and insecurity and abuse of women. The shame of this type of violence leads many women to hide and deal with the pain in isolation, but luckily some brave women stepped forward to tell their stories. These stories include women who have been victimized in front of their children, on the street and in their homes. There truly is no safe place for women and this constant feeling of insecurity pervades on many women's existence.
A Hidden Shame: Sexual Violence in Haiti
Street scene at a local market in the Martissant Slum in Port au Prince, Haiti.
Sexual violence in Haiti is a true problem. Women are consistently made victims of sexual violence and they have little or no recourse either through their family or the law. Rapes, domestic violence are an accepted fact of life in the country and especially the slums. Doctors Without Borders offers psychological treatment and medical diagnoses to help treat the victims wounds. The massive destruction of the earthquake has also lead to further dislocation and insecurity and abuse of women. The shame of this type of violence leads many women to hide and deal with the pain in isolation, but luckily some brave women stepped forward to tell their stories. These stories include women who have been victimized in front of their children, on the street and in their homes. There truly is no safe place for women and this constant feeling of insecurity pervades on many women's existence.
A Hidden Shame: Sexual Violence in Haiti.
A typical family living in close quarters in the Martissant neighborhood in Port au Prince, Haiti.
A Hidden Shame: Sexual Violence in Haiti.
Street scene in the Martissant Slum in Port au Prince, Haiti.
