Young Survivor Defies Gang Violence in Port-au-Prince to Raise Her Child

In the gang-controlled areas of Port-au-Prince, 19-year-old Helene shares her harrowing tale of survival, fighting through violence and trauma to raise her daughter, amidst a backdrop of escalating sexual violence and displacement affecting countless women in Haiti.

In the chaotic streets of Port-au-Prince, where gang violence reigns, a poignant story emerges of resilience from Helene, a 19-year-old rape survivor who defied the odds to raise her baby daughter. Although coerced by her captors to terminate her pregnancy, Helene’s determination saw her through an ordeal filled with brutality and despair.

At just 17, Helene was a victim of a gang invasion in her neighborhood, where armed men abducted her, holding her captive for over two months. "They raped me and beat me every single day," she recounted, unable to forget the pain inflicted by her masked aggressors. "I fell pregnant, and they told me I must abort the pregnancy, but I said 'no'. This baby could be the only one I ever have." Amidst intense territorial fights between gangs, she seized an opportunity to escape and is now nurturing her daughter at a safe house designed to protect young women survivors of violence.

The safe house, filled with vibrant colors and laughter, houses around 30 girls and young women, some as young as 12, who share haunting stories of sexual violence as gang control spreads across the capital, exacerbated by the political turmoil following the assassination of President Jovenel Moïse in 2021. The situation for women in Haiti has deteriorated drastically, according to data from the medical charity Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF), which reported a tripling in patient numbers for sexual violence cases since 2021.

In the ongoing chaos, statistics reveal that gangs now control an estimated 90% of Port-au-Prince, initiating violent raids that often include murder, sexual assault, and arson. Survivors speak of horrific encounters, with reports of gangs using rape as a weapon to instill fear and assert dominance over communities.

As the streets of the city become increasingly perilous, humanitarian organizations warn that nearly 1.3 million people have fled their homes, and the ongoing crisis has resulted in significant food insecurity. Without stable government leadership since the president's assassination, rival gangs have turned their weapons against the state, leaving citizens—and particularly women—vulnerable and suffering.

In these perilous conditions, local communities have begun to take matters into their own hands, forming vigilante groups to combat gang encroachment. However, this has only heightened the risk of violence, as armed young men escalate their presence on the streets.

For Helene and other women in her safe house, hope flickers amid despair. Bonded by shared experiences, they find solace in each other while grappling with their uncertain futures. "I always dreamt of going to school, to learn and to make something of myself," Helene reflected, expressing fears about her ability to provide for her daughter. Within a country deeply grappling with violence, political instability, and humanitarian crises, Helene's story serves as a beacon of strength against overwhelming odds.