Digital Democracy

Empowering Women in Haiti

Harnessing Technology to Address Gender-Based Violence

On January 12, 2010, a 7.0 magnitude earthquake shook Haiti, killing an estimated 250,000 people and wounding some 300,000. More than one million people were displaced, moving into tent camps around Port-au-Prince. Haitian women and girls were among the hardest hit and continue to face acute challenges including increased rates of pregnancy, rape and other forms gender-based violence (GBV). Digital Democracy (Dd) was in Haiti when the earthquake hit. Immediately, Dd joined the tech disaster response, working on Ushahidi mapping & Frontline SMS systems to help First Responders save lives. Following the initial emergency response, Dd committed to helping women and girls build sustainable change by enhancing their strategic fight to address gender-based violence in April 2010. Collaborating with grassroots Haitian womens groups, Dd brings technical training, digital tools, and new systems that leverage Data, Mobiles and Media to support local partners in their work to protect & serve survivors of violence, educate & engage the community and advocate tirelessly to systemically fight gender- based violence. This collaboration has brought Dds partners new skills, increased confidence, safer information systems, stronger communication networks, facilitated intake processes, stronger advocacy tools and channels to influence decision-makers, and more.

A lot of people in my neighborhood know I didnt finish school and they are shocked to hear what I do at work manage a database, run the call center, verify reports, use applications. They are always taken aback. They congratulate me. Its a satisfying feeling. -Tech Agent, KOFAVIV

Dds program in Haiti is generously supported by: Clinton Global Initiative, United States Institute of Peace (USIP), USAID/OTI, Abundance Foundation, Channel Foundation, Arca Foundation, Google, Digicel, Voila, & individuals donors.

Digital Democracy works with marginalized communities to help them leverage technology to fight for their human rights. For more information, or to help, contact: info@digital-democracy.org | www.digital-democracy.org | twitter: @digidem

DATA

Build technical skills, collect local GBV data & improve advocacy

The lack of an effective nation-wide, aggregated system for tracking incidents of GBV in Haiti significantly hinders efforts to reduce violence and make communities safer. Dd and local partners have built a secure system to collect GBV data, allowing local women to track, analyze, map & share data on documented violence. 6 database agents & 2 technical support staff trained to enter cases and manage the system Over 1,000 incident reports from 2010-2012 recorded in the database Partners can now share quantitative & qualitative data with local police, national government and international influencers who inform concrete efforts to address violence such as increased lighting & security, better access and higher quality medical and legal services for victims.

With the new system, we are safer with our information and can more effectively share it. Data gives us more quantifiable and legitimate statistics on our cases. With the system, we can generate reports more efficiently than before and in a more presentable form, too. -Tech Agent, KOFAVIV

MOBILES

Improve communication & increase access to services

Dds programs help Haitian women leverage mobile phones already present in their communities to improve communication in existing networks & increase access to free services for survivors of violence. Dd and KOFAVIV launched the 572 GBV Emergency Response Call Center, Haitis first hotline dedicated to gender-based violence that connects survivors to free medical, legal & psychosocial services. More than 2500 calls fielded since the official launch of the Call Center in September 2011 6 local call center operators and 2 technical support staff manage the system 24 hours a day 572 has been promoted in 24 camps and communities, on national television and radio Dd has trained groups to use free SMS software to organize civic action and share information. 572 joins the accompaniment & prevention components of work. It lets us orient victims to urgent care facilities & educate on the importance of care within 72 hours to prevent STDs, HIV/AIDS & unwanted pregnancy from rape. This can completely change a victims life. - Project Coordinator, KOFAVIV

MEDIA

Equip with skills & share perspectives through photography and media

Dd leads trainings designed to amplify Haitian womens voices and give them new ways to actively participate in the dialogue on women & reconstruction in Haiti. Through workshops in community journalism, digital photography and blogging, Dd has enabled Haitian women partners to capture realities from their communities and share them digitally with national and international audiences. Dd created the Fanm Pale/Women Speak blog with three womens groups, providing an anonymous, free platform for Haitian women to tell the stories they deem most important in English and Kreyol. Over 100 women trained in photography, community journalism, blogging & social networks Over 4,600 views on the 31 blog posts published since platform launch Dd & ELK Studios organized Jan Nou W l/The Way We See It collection, 47 photos taken by Dds Haitian woman partners, telling their own stories. Over 2,000 people have seen the exhibit in Haiti and the US. There are realities we are living here that cannot remain hidden. If we ensure these stories dont just stay within our own communities or within country, if we publish them, then we have a better chance of getting

the support we need. - Community Agent, KOFAVIV