On Sunday, October 11, 2026, marking the International Day of the Girl Child, the Ministry of the Status of Women and Women's Rights (MCFDF) reaffirms its commitment to protecting girls, preventing early unions, and ensuring their full development.

Observed under the theme "End Child Marriage, Invest in Girls. Protect their Futures' this day calls for collective action to guarantee every girl the right to education, safety, health, and a freely chosen future.

In Haiti, the security, economic, and social crisis exacerbates the vulnerability of many girls. Forced displacement, poverty, interrupted schooling, and gender-based violence jeopardize their protection and future prospects. "In situations of hardship, adolescent girls are exposed to early unions and informal domestic arrangements—practices that can undermine their rights, health, and autonomy."

The Ministry reiterates that no economic or social hardship can justify depriving a girl of her childhood, her education, or her freedom to choose her own future. "Preventing early unions requires strengthening family and community protection, keeping girls in school, and raising awareness among families and communities about their rights."

On this day, the Ministry calls upon public institutions, international partners, civil society organizations, and families to join forces in making girls' rights a reality in every community.

"Protecting girls means preserving their childhood. Investing in their rights means empowering them to realize their potential and contribute to building a fairer, more inclusive, and more egalitarian Haiti."

IH/ iciHaiti