UNIFEM Goodwill Ambassador Nicole Kidman Visits Haiti
UNIFEM Goodwill Ambassador Nicole Kidman visited Haiti with UNIFEM Executive Director Ines Alberdim, as part of the UN's outreach to women affected by the Haitian earthquake. Nicole and Ines are standing in front of the ruins of the house of Hermione M. (center), a schoolteacher who now conducts educational activities with children of the surrounding temporary shelters. UNIFEM is concerned with the safety and welfare of women and children in the aftermath of natural and other disasters. Many of the women are not safe after these disasters and are easy prey for rapists and criminals.
In Haiti, Nicole met with survivors of violence living in a temporary camp, with Haitian and UN officials, and with national non-governmental organizations working to support women's needs in recovery efforts.
Nicole said,
"During this trip I saw first-hand how this humanitarian disaster is impacting women and girls. The lack of shelter and security makes them more vulnerable to violence, in particular sexual violence. Yet, I have also seen the determination and resilience of women and men in Haiti to rebuild their country. Today I visited a temporary shelter for women and girls who experienced sexual violence or are at risk, where women leaders work to make sure there are medical and legal services as well as counseling and livelihood training. This needs to be done on a large scale and they need our support."
In this photo Nicole and Ines meet with Haitian women's rights activists Yolette Jeanty and Daniele Magloire to discuss the needs of the women and how they can best be addressed.
