IN REFERENCE TO THE WEEK FOR THE PROTECTION OF CIVILIANS IN CONFLICT
AN ANALYSIS OF THE SITUATION FOR INTERNALLY DISPLACED WOMEN AND YOUTH IN HAITI
Our May program was organized in connection with International Protection of Civilians Week. This discussion, focused on Internal Displacement in Haiti, especially in terms of women, and proposed inter alia restorative justice strategies. Featured speakers included Mr. William O’Neill, the UN High Commissioner’s Expert for Haiti; Vermont State Representative Mary-Katherine Stone of Chittenden County; Jessica Hsu and Isabelle Clerie, advisors in Haiti; Diego Osorio and Dr. Vivian Valencia, humanitarian agriculture experts from the University of Quebec in Montreal; Monica Villarindo a Grace Initiative advisor, based in Rio de Janeiro, made an intervention, as well Luis Miguel Ruiz Rios. In addition, we included a video from Mercy Hands of European; and conclusion from Dr. Massimo Tommasoli.
Since January 24, 2025, Grace Initiative Global has been preparing for legal transition affecting Haitians who we resettled through the ORR matching grant program.
To this end, we launched our first program on Haiti, on June 20, 2025, in which the permanent mission of Haiti attended. The permanent representative, quieried and lamented, how did we get here. In 1949, Haiti hosted a world fair to mark its 200 anniversary. During the opening week of the UN General Assembly in September 2025, we organized a discussion on holistic approaches for Haiti.
On March 17, 2026, Grace Initiative organized a parallel event during the UN Commission on the Status of Women, that included Esther Charlestin, a Haitian American candidate for Lieutenant Governor of Vermont, as well as Episcopal Relief Development, World Evangelical Alliance, International Development Law Organization, as well a Diego Osorio and Dr. Vivian Valencia in Canada, proposed humanitarian sustainable agricultural plan. In all of our UN related events, we were honored to collaborate with Yale Divinity School. At our events, representatives of permanent missions, UN Secretariat staff, and permanent observers to the United Nations attended and participated.
The situation in Haiti calls for coordinated action. The UN Security Council approved a gang suppression force, and the UN political mission continues to focus on inter alia the future of national dialogue. In addition, supportive governments, international agencies, civil society, faith-based organizations, and NGOs must help support a transition away from rampant fear, destruction and violence and toward protection, stabilization, accountability, and inclusive political transformation. We urge your support for Haiti.
GRACE INITIATIVE PRODUCED A VIDEO OF THE MAY 23 2026 DISCUSSION. IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN REVIEWING THIS VIDEO, PLEASE REQUEST THIS ACCESS AT CONTACT@GRACE-INITIATIVE.ORG