Fanm yo di se twòp atò!

Robin Morgan had it right when she declared that "Sisterhood is global!"  I just noticed this article on RH Reality Check, http://www.rhrealitycheck.org/article/2012/11/21/young-women-are-haitis-future.

Read it before reading on.  The article details a feminist group in Haiti named KOFAVIV.  The group is primarily comprised of women who were sexually assaulted during the military dictatorship, and that is why the acronym stands for Commission of Women Victims for Victims (in Haitian Creole).  Their work is radical, grassroots, and really attuned to the needs of the women in their communities.  Spurred to action by both their own experiences and by the increase in sexual assaults against Haitian women, the founders began KOFAFIV to provide medical and psychological care to their fellow survivors.  They’ve been active for seven years now.  Because sexual abuse is really stigmatized down in Haiti, the women use one-on-one discussions with women in their communities to find those who need rape treatment services and help them to get medical or psychological attention.  They're similar to the second wave feminists who began the first rape crisis centers here in the US! 

Now you might be wondering, why the attention to KOFAVIV?  Aren't I specializing in American feminism?  I am.  However, I had the pleasure of meeting two members of KOFAVIV last year, a nurse and a translator.  They came to my workplace and talked to the advocates about all that they do.  The nurse didn't speak English, so the translator spoke for both of them.  I was really impressed to hear all about their work.  I was, though, taken aback by a particularly provocative question, “Do you ever find it difficult to get clients to come to the center?”  At an agency that serves thousands of women, men, and children every year through all of our programs and that is constantly in demand for the specialized counseling and advocacy we provide, I was surprised to hear this question.  However, I soon learned that their group has had the opposite experience of us.  Because rape survivors are heavily stigmatized, women had originally been hesitant to come to KOFAFIV and to disclose that they had been sexually abused.  The members of KOFAFIV, therefore, employ community outreach workers (termed “Community Human Rights Defenders”) who work within the different communities in Haiti to locate survivors and to tell them about how they can get help for the violence they suffered.  Through one-on-one work with survivors, the outreach workers are able to help the women take the first step of coming forward for help.

It's incredible to see the strength and commitment of these women all around the world.  I was absolutely overwhelmed to think about them, but they remind me that we cannot stop our work now.  We're all working for a fairer world.  And to which I say along with them, my international sisters, "Fanm yo di se twòp atò!"  Women say enough is enough!