Haiti: The Women Sustaining What the State Has Abandoned

Tina Nadine Anilus, founder of the network Rezo Fanm Kapab d’Ayiti (REFKAD), has spent over 15 years providing protection and medical and legal support to women and girls in Haiti to fill gaps left by the state, according to an interview published by Amnesty International.

Founded on November 25, 2010, following the earthquake that struck Haiti earlier that year, REFKAD has grown into a network of more than 30 organizations. Anilus states that the organization has supported more than 30,000 people by creating spaces where survivors of violence are heard and protected.

The organization operates under the motto “N ap Tandew, Nou kwè w, An n Pale pou sa chanje,” which translates to “We hear you. We believe you. Let us talk so that things can change.” According to Anilus, the first step in the REFKAD process is listening to the woman, followed by the provision of psychological support, medical care, legal assistance, and emergency housing when necessary.

Sexual Violence as a Tool of Conflict in Haiti

Anilus describes the use of sexual violence in Haiti not as a byproduct of instability, but as a deliberate strategy. She asserts that gangs utilize sexual violence to control territory, displace entire communities, and spread terror.

When a woman’s body is turned into a message of power, the whole of society is harmed. Tina Nadine Anilus

This systemic violence has led Anilus to characterize Haiti not as a failed state, but as a “betrayed country.” She argues that the international community often focuses on images of poverty and violence while ignoring the local women and organizations that sustain the nation’s daily existence.

Challenges to Local Leadership and Political Participation

Anilus claims that international aid frequently arrives without consulting or trusting the local organizations already performing the work. She advocates for a shift in the humanitarian model, suggesting that the most effective sign of respect would be to strengthen and allow Haitian organizations to lead the response.

The risks associated with leadership in Haiti extend to the political sphere. In 2015, Anilus ran for a parliamentary seat representing the commune of Carrefour in Port-au-Prince. She reports that the campaign was marked by violence, including an incident where a supporter was attacked with a knife for displaying her photograph and an election day where her supporters were beaten and removed from polling stations.

Vision for Future Infrastructure and Justice

To address the fragmented nature of available services, Anilus is advocating for the creation of a “Women’s House.” This proposed facility would centralize several critical services under one roof, including:

• Emergency accommodation for survivors
• Medical care and psychological support
• Legal assistance and professional training
• Safe spaces for the children of survivors

Anilus describes this vision as part of a broader goal to create a Haiti where justice is not a privilege and where women do not have to choose between fear and flight.

The discussion of these efforts coincides with the International Day of Afro-Latin American, Afro-Caribbean and Diaspora Women, observed every July 25. Anilus views the day as a reminder that Black women in the region are not merely victims of crises, but are the primary actors organizing and rebuilding their communities in the absence of state institutions.