UNIFEM’s Caribbean Office is mourning deaths of several fearless women leaders from governmental and civil society organisations in Haiti.
In a press release, the United Nation’s Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM) said it learnt about the deaths of Myriam Merlet who was the Chief of Cabinet of the Ministry of Women’s Condition and Rights founder of CONAP, the umbrella women’s organisation; Myrna Narcisse, the Director General of the Ministry of Women’s Condition; Magalie Marcelin, the founder of KayFamn which operated the only shelter for victims of gender-based violence; and Anne-Marie Coriolon, founding member of one of Haiti’s largest women’s groups, Solidarite Fanm Ayisyèn. “These women had a long history of service and commitment to human rights, gender and social justice,” the release said, adding, “their lives exemplified the character traits of courage, fortitude and optimism.”
UNIFEM said none of the women was faint of heart nor easily discouraged by the magnitude of the socio-economic challenges which Haiti confronts. It also indicated that it honours all the men, women and children who lost their lives in the earthquake and the Caribbean office along with its headquarters pledges its long-term commitment to the task of rebuilding and supporting in very practical ways the struggles of the Haitian peoples.
The organisation said it joins Haitians in the knowledge that sustained work undertaken with optimism and good faith is the pathway to the realisation of the vision of Haiti, characterised by development, equity and peace for all.
