Friday at the Hotel Le Plaza, in the framework of an exchange workshop on the representation of women in all sectors of national life, the members of the Standing Committee on the Status of Women and Gender Equity of the Chamber of Deputies Deputies, together with the Caucus of Women Parliamentarians, met with more than 80 women representatives from 26 institutions and women's organizations.

Marie Gladice St Jean Lundy, Chair of the Commission, and Senator Dieudonne Luma Étienne, Chair of the Senate Gender Committee, all members of the Caucus presented their situation to Parliament and asked for the support of the women's organizations present to strengthen their work.

The discussions focused on : the absence of a legal framework reflecting the demands of Haitian women; violence against women and girls; compliance with and application of Article 17.1 of the 1987 Constitution amended, concerning the quota of at least 30% of women's representation in decision-making bodies and in the next electoral law.

In their interventions, Eunide Innocent, the Minister for the Status of Women, Marie Hérolle Michel and Marie Frantz Joachim, members of the Provisional Electoral Council and Gary Bodeau, President of the Lower House among others, congratulated the work initiated by the Commission, which according to them, promotes a dialogue between women parliamentarians and women's organizations.

At the end of the discussions, the participants produced a set of reflections and proposals, including the formation of a follow-up committee to serve as a bridge between feminist / women's organizations and women parliamentarians; expanding the caucus to former women deputies; the development of laws that take into account the living conditions of women in the environments in which they live...

Finally, this workshop, supported by the International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (IDEA International) was an opportunity for women parliamentarians to identify mechanisms and ways of collaboration that will enable the Commission and the Caucus to supply in legislation or any other issue within their jurisdiction and defending the cause of women in Haiti.

HL/ HaitiLibre