Haiti’s political transition, initiated in July 2021, is advancing toward scheduled 2026 elections under a newly established electoral calendar. While this marks procedural progress, the nation continues to grapple with significant gender disparities in political representation.
Current data reveals substantial underrepresentation of women across Haiti’s governance structures. Female participation remains notably below the constitutional mandate of 30%, with women occupying merely 22.22% of government positions and a minimal 11.11% within the Presidential Transitional Council (CPT), where they hold observer status without voting rights. At departmental and municipal electoral levels (BED/BEC), representation marginally improves to 27%, still falling short of constitutional requirements.
Despite the suspension of constitutional review processes by transitional authorities, advocacy efforts led by the Ministry of Women’s Affairs and UN Women have yielded significant provisions in the draft electoral decree. Article 138 mandates rejection of any electoral list containing fewer than 30% women candidates, while Article 138.1 establishes additional funding incentives for political parties that exceed 50% female representation.
In response to these developments, the Provisional Electoral Council (CEP) and UN Women jointly launched a comprehensive national campaign based in Port-au-Prince. The initiative gathered approximately 150 participants from all ten Haitian departments, including 63 women from regions outside the capital. This campaign aims to mobilize female political participation while raising awareness among political parties and the general public about women’s transformative potential in governance.
Supplementing these efforts, government-supported departmental consultations and the National Conference on Women’s Political Participation have facilitated strategic dialogue. A pivotal outcome emerged through the adoption of the Declaration of Haitian Women for Active and Effective Participation, which embodies women’s commitment to shaping Haiti’s democratic future and asserts their right to decisive political involvement.