Port-au-Prince, April 3, 2026.- Forty years after the historic march of 1986, the Ministry of Women's Status and Women's Rights (MCFDF) and civil society organizations commemorated, this Friday, April 3, 2026, the National Day of the Haitian Women's Movement. In a country plagued by an unprecedented security and humanitarian crisis, Minister Pedrica Saint John reiterated the urgent need to integrate women into decision-making. Between historical reminders of the fight against dictatorship and the imperatives of protection against gender violence, this celebration is intended to be a lever for the reconstruction of a rule of law where equality is no longer an option.
April 3, 1986: The birth certificate of a political force
The history of modern Haitian feminism crystallized one morning in April 1986. In the aftermath of the fall of the Duvalier regime, approximately 30,000 women invested in the streets of Port-au-Prince and provincial cities. This event, driven by the organisation « Fanm of Ayiti », marked a definitive break with exclusion. « The bourgeois woman was with the unemployed »recall historians, joining their voices to demand direct participation in the management of public affairs. On that day, Haitian women stopped being political spectators to become central actresses, imposing the slogan that became inseparable from the struggle: « Pa gen demokrasi san fanm ».
Walls facing current chaos
Today, the context has changed, but adversity remains a challenge. While Haiti is going through a period of major security turbulence, feminist organizations stand as the last ramparts of the social bond. Present in the most vulnerable neighbourhoods and internally displaced persons sites, they provide protection and solidarity missions that State structures are struggling to fulfil. This resilience demonstrates that the women's movement is not only a force of demand, but an essential pillar of the community's humanitarian response.
Departmental Roadmap: Security and Representation
In her official message, Minister Pedrica Saint Jean turned the commemoration into a strong political plea. For the government, the 1986 legacy must be translated into concrete legislation and security. The Minister announced the MCFDF's priorities for the current year, based on the recommendations of the 2025 General States:
- Political participation: Ensure women's access to decision-making positions at all levels of the State.
- Zero tolerance against violence: Strengthen the protection of citizens, especially during election periods often marked by targeted attacks.
- Digital protection: Launch an offensive against gender violence on social networks.
- Women leadership: Promote equal opportunities in all sectors of national life.
A commitment to the future
In conclusion, Pedrica Saint John recalled that respect for women's rights is a « obligation » society. The Department urgently appeals to all sectors, private, religious and civil, for national synergy. The objective is clear: to ensure that the 1986 spark continues to inspire new generations to build a Haiti where justice and peace no longer combine only with men.
W.A.
