An overview of the work Digital Democracy (Dd) is doing in Haiti.

1. Dd|Haiti
Empowering Women
Harnessing Technology to Address Gender-Based Violence (GBV)

2. 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. Immediately, Dd joined the tech disaster response, working on
Ushahidi mapping & Frontline SMS systems to help First Responders
save lives. But that was just the beginning...

3. Haitian women and girls were among the hardest by the earthquake. As
hundreds of thousands moved into tent camps with no doors to lock and
little or no lighting and formal security, women and girls became
increasingly vulnerable to rape and other forms of gender-based violence
(GBV).

4. As the international community of development organizations and
humanitarian crisis responders rallied to fund and plan for emergency
relief and reconstruction, Haitian voices were frequently left out of the
process. Women community leaders were entirely absent from the
conversation. In spring 2010, Dd committed to supporting community-
based women’s groups to help amplify their voices to inform viable and
sustainable change and ensure that the response & reconstruction
addressed the needs they deemed most.

5. Dd supports Haitian women’s groups in the strategic fight to address
gender-based violence by helping them build skills and integrate
technology into their work. Dd has brought trainings, digital tools, and
new systems to enhance the work of local groups that protect & serve
survivors, educate & engage the community and advocate tirelessly to
reduce violence and create safer environments for women and girls.

6. Collaboration has brought Dd’s partners new skills, increased confidence,
safer information systems, stronger communication networks, facilitated
intake processes, improved advocacy tools and channels to influence
decision-makers, and more.

7. Data Mobiles Media
Build
technical
skills
to
collect
GBV
data
Improve
communica9on
&
increase
Share
women’s
perspec9ves
through
at
a
local
level
&
improve
advocacy access
to
services photography
&
media
Dd has trained and collaboratively built systems using 3 kinds of
technology to help grassroots women effectively address GBV in Haiti.

8. “With the new system, we
are safer with our
information and can more
effectively share it. The
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
Dd has worked with local partners to build a secure system to collect data on GBV. With
1 Create a digital database analyze, map & share GBV data via reports.
over 900 cases entered, partners now track,to
document gender-based violence
Data

9. Partners share quantitative & qualitative data with local police, national government and
international influencers who inform concrete measures to address violence: increased
3
lighting & security, and and advocate for necessary changes survivors.
Map data better access to quality medical and legal services for
with local, national & international government.
Data

10. “The Call Center marries our
accompaniment & prevention
work. Not only does it let us
orient victims to the nearest
urgent care facilities, but it lets
us educate women on the
importance of getting medical
care within 72 hours, so we can
prevent STDs, HIV/AIDS and
unwanted pregnancy that result
from rape. This can completely
change the course of a
victim’s life.”
- Project Coordinator, KOFAVIV
24-hour free Call Center run by women offers resources & escorts to care for victims.
2
#572 has been promoted in 24 camps and communities via national TV & radio.
Establish a call-center to respond to cases &
The center has fielded over 500 calls since official launch in September 2011.
network responders via mobile phones
Mobiles

11. “A lot of people in my neighborhood know
I didn’t 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.
It’s a satisfying feeling.”
Dd has led trainings with over 100 women in photography, community journalism,
4 blogging & social networks and trainings with women & girls to
Conduct technical more.
amplify their voices through new media advocacy
Media

12. Dd and 3 grassroots women’s groups
launched the Fanm Pale/Women
Speak blog — a free, anonymous
platform for Haitian women to tell the
stories they deem most important —
in English & Creole.
Over 4,600 views on 31 blog
posts published since launch
Dd partnered with ELK Studios to
produce the photo exhibit Jan Nou
Wè l/The Way We See It, a collection
of 47 images taken by Haitian women
telling their own stories.
Over 2,000 attendees at
exhibitions in Port-au-Prince,
New York & Washington D.C.
“There are realities we are living here that cannot remain hidden. If we make sure these
realities don’t just stay within our own communities or within our own country, if we publish
them, then we have a better chance of getting the support we need.” - Community Agent
4
Media
Conduct technical trainings with women & girls to
amplify their voices through new media advocacy

13. The future of Dd|Haiti
• Plans for 2012: Scale the
database system, Scale the call
center, Provide trainings to
support locally-led National
Women’s network, Train other
women’s groups seeking our
expertise.
• Longterm goals: Transfer all
systems to local management
& position local trainers to carry
the lessons throughout their
communities and country.

14. “Crucially, their partnership is built on the
experience of a highly effective grassroots
women’s group. Finally, the technology training
and support for raising awareness of the call
center will benefit women in Haiti even once
foreign funding dries up, because the skills and
knowledge they gain will stay with them.”
Dd|Haiti news coverage

15. Supporters of this work include...

16. For more information: info@digital-democracy.org