Rape of Women and Young Girls in Haiti Occurring—How To Help Stop Sexual & Other Crimes Immediately
Posted: Friday, January 29, 2010
by Steve Kovacs
The Kovacs Perspective
While the world is stepping up to the plate to help the needy in Haiti , another problem looms in the darkness. On top of all the unbelievable anguish the people of Haiti are going through, another horror is occurring-the rape of women and young girls. Females living on the streets and others living in makeshift camps are being sexually used and abused by the human predators who feed off the vulnerable. In addition, other vulnerable people-the young, the old, the week, the injured are also being harassed. This type of behavior happens in every mass-human tragedy. Predators come out and use and abuse who they can.
There's more than just the "average" thug harassing the good people of Haiti though. There are also thousands of escaped convicts making their terror known. According to Haiti 's national police chief Mario Andresoi, "We have more than 7,000 detainees in the streets who escaped from the National Penitentiary the evening of the earthquake... It took us five years to apprehend them. Today they are running wild."
The United Nations in conjunction with Haitian leaders should immediately take the problem in hand and get security in place with a strong, no nonsense professional commander, leading the mission. It should start today, not tomorrow, or next week. Urgency is in order to stop the degradation of these unbelievably vulnerable people.
Those who have worked with governmental agencies or those who keep up with government affairs know their action is generally slow. Bureaucracy and political correctness, or better put, trying to make sure every possibility has been repeatedly thought out so everyone is comfortable with intended actions cannot be the course taken now. Our imaginations can guide us to think of what other crimes are happening to the devastated and vulnerable populace. Child abuse, assaults, theft, and murder are certainly occurring at a higher rate than when order was established. As the clich says, someone needs to take the bull by the horns, and take care of the personal safety against a population that has endured more than enough.
These human abuses will continue until swift, strong and professional leaders with the best interest of the people in mind initiate concentrated action. The shame is that most often action to stop this sort of behavior takes much too long and too many people are used, raped and killed before anything is done. Tell your friends on Twitter, Facebook or use any other way you can think of to raise the awareness of this problem. Most people do not know this is occurring. Make it your business to change that-awareness to the right people can hurry the action needed to help.
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Top-level comments on this article: (5 total)Devastating disasters bring out the best and worst in people. Countless people want to help the homeless, starving, and injured victims of earthquake -torn Haiti; just as countless numbers of people want to loot and rape the homeless, starving, and injured victims. The rape of a child is sick enough. It would be almost as sick to know that a poor, limbless woman (who I saw a picture of in the Palm Beach Post)also was raped.Many American people are willing to travel to Haiti and help. Until the Haitian government decides to take action against the rapists, child molestors, looters, and other sick criminals maybe some qualified martial artists can pay Haiti a visit, camouflage as victims and surprize the the hell out of these gentlemen with a good groin kick when confronted. Maybe then they will think twice before raping or looting.You mention that disasters bring out the best and worst--well put--I hope the best outweighs the worst. Thanks for writing Mike.
It is truly a sad situation when you have the Haiti nightmare compounded with rape and abuse, not to mention the looting. Actually, looting is inevitable as the world is sadly learning the righteous truth that something wanted and then taken (stolen) is always better than paying for it. Hopefully this article will raise the awareness needed. Great job.
Mike, thanks for writing--criminal minded predators certainly come out when opportunities arise and you are exactly right when you say they feel it is "easier" to take what they want. I have heard criminals use that term. What an easy time this will be, kinda thing---in times like these a strong arm is needed to keep them from preying on the weak--some times that's the only thing that works--Steve
"According to Haiti 's national police chief Mario Andresoi, "We have more than 7,000 detainees in the streets who escaped from the National Penitentiary the evening of the earthquake... It took us five years to apprehend them. Today they are running wild."What are your sources? You've provided this one quote, but how does that substantiate the rest of your story?Is this from the acid queen?Some interesting sources of note used and interesting reads—relatively easily accessible for most folks as well.London Times1-29-10: Criminals in Haiti are preying on vulnerable earthquake survivors, even raping women, in makeshift camps set up in Port-au-Prince after the disaster."With the blackout that's befallen the Haitian capital, bandits are taking advantage to harass and rape women and young girls under the tents," Haiti’s police, chief Mario Andresol, said yesterday."We have more than 7,000 detainees in the streets who escaped from the national penitentiary the evening of the earthquake ... It took us five years to apprehend them. Today they are running wild." Rachelle Dolce, who is living at a large makeshift camp on the Petionville Club golf course, said that she thought a rape had occurred outside her tent the previous night. She said that she heard men making noise and a woman struggling."I heard a fight outside and I saw panties on the ground," she said. "I started to shout a lot and they left." Figures for the number of crimes were not available but women's organizations have already detailed a number of cases and alerted the United Nations mission in Haiti, Mr Andresol said”. …………………………..In addition, article by: by Taina-Bien-Aime, Executive Director of Equality Now entitled Haiti’s Women in the Aftermath of Disaster …………………More sources used as well…not going to revisit the article completely here but hopefully your suspicion was fed a little soothing salve…
Great article, Steve. I'll put a link to your article on my Facebook page. Security assistance is something we can and should do immediately.Cool Ken...you're a good man....
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