CAFRA’s tragic loss of life in the Haitian earthquake

CAFRA's (Caribbean Feminist Research and Action Network) National Representative in Haiti Ms. Muriel Merlet has passed away along with three members who were attending a meeting at the Ministry of Women's Affairs in Haiti when the earthquake struck.  The whole building crumbled and with it went several women who worked tirelessly towards the cause of women.  Members of CAFRA around the region are besides themselves in grief. "
 
Flavia Cherry, Chair of CAFRA, in St. Lucia, wrote this two days ago.
 
Flavia will lead a CAFRA team to Haiti in two weeks.  One of the concerns is the tendency for aid workers to take advantage of vulnerable women and girls. During the last try to Haiti, Muriel and Flavia met with the head of the MINUSTAH (the UN millitary) there regarding cases of rape by their 'so-called' peace keeping forces.  One example which they will never forget, is the case of a twenty one year old woman who had been raped by two Pakistani Soldiers.  The Mission staff were saying that it was not a case of rape and that the young lady was a prostitute.  Flavia told them it was impossible for a twenty one year old girl who had only given birth two days earlier.  The poor girl was so traumatized by the violent experience and was mentally ill as a result.  They had the guts to say she was a prostitute, when the men raped her in a cane field in her state!