This document summarizes the role of perception surveys in measuring security and safety impacts in Haiti. It discusses organizations that have promoted security sector reform since 1991 and disarmament efforts from 1994-2006. It then outlines that there is limited reliable data on impacts due to a lack of administrative records or surveys since 1990. However, a few surveys have attempted to measure homicidal violence, assaults, crime rates, police effectiveness, and attitudes toward security providers. The surveys find high rates of violence but identify declines in crime since the 2010 earthquake. They also reveal who households would turn to for security help and perceptions of the police. Reflections note the importance of timely evidence to inform policy and of robust, transparent survey methods.

1. SECURITY AND SAFETY IN HAITI
What is the role and impact of perception surveys?
June 2012
Robert Muggah

6. WHO IS PROMOTING SECURITY?
Rule of Law (RoL) and security
sector reform (SSR)
(1991-2004)
Disarmament, demobilization and
reintegration (DDR)
(1994-1996 and 2004-2006)
Stabilizaton and community violence
reduction (CVR)
(2007-2012)

7. WHO MEASURES IMPACTS?
• No reliable administrative data since 1990
• Limited census or survey data since 1990
• No valid monitoring and evaluation by UN
• No comparative assessments by NGOs
• A small selection of human
rights, victimization and nutritional surveys by
foreign research institutes
• YET MUCH SPECULATION ABOUT
VIOLENCE

8. SURVEYING SECURITY
• 2005 household survey (n: 1,260) cluster
survey focused on Port-au-Prince
• 2009 household survey (n: 2,800) including
1,800 from Port-au-Prince and 1,000 national
• 2010 household survey (n: 2,947) including
1,800 from Port-au-Prince and 1,147 from
IDP camps (25 randomly selected)

9. SURVEY METHODS
• Multi-cluster random sampling – GPS
coordinate sampling and random number
table (and ILO, USDA food sec, Pearsons QoL
index)
• Haitian, Canadian and US team members
deployed for several months at a time
(University of Michigan, University of
McMaster, Igarape Institute, SAS)

10. SURVEY THEMES
• Demographic and socio-economic profiles
• Mortality and morbidity (verbal autopsy)
• Victimization and insecurity
• Mental health
• Quality of life
• Access to services
• Attitudes toward service providers
• Attitudes toward disarmament

11. HOMICIDAL VIOLENCE
(per 100,000)

12. PHYSICAL ASSAULTS
(per 100,000)

13. CRIME BEFORE/AFTER THE
QUAKE (n - 2,947)

14. HOUSEHOLDS REPORTING
PROPERTY CRIME (n – VARIOUS)

15. WHO WOULD YOU TURN TO IF
ROBBED/THREATENED (n-2974)

16. WHO SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE
FOR SECURITY (n – 2,947)

17. LAST TIME YOU SAW THE
POLICE (n – 2,947)

18. EFFECTIVENESS OF POLICE
(n - 2,900)

19. CONFIDENCE IN POLICE
(n – 2,900)

20. WHO IS COMMITING CRIME
(n – VARIOUS)

21. RISK FACTORS FOR GANGS (1,042)

22. PROTECTION FACTORS FOR GANGS (1,042)

23. GANG MEMBERSHIP (18-29) P-AU-P

24. ACADEMIC IMPACTS

25. MEDIA IMPACTS

26. POLICY IMPACTS

27. REFLECTIONS
• Critical role of timely and targeted evidence to
shape policy – pursue multiple outlets
• Investment in robust empirical methods and
transparency in the methods
• Surveys are rapid/cost-effective but need to be
supplemented – multi-prong approach
• Importance of well-trained local teams with deep
contextual understanding
• Value of longitudinal and geo-tagged datasets
to allow for measurement over time