Barometer of the social representation of Haitian civil society

 

Haiti is currently experiencing one of the worst crises in its history. Organized crime and violence have
overwhelmed the country, already in the grip of an economic and humanitarian crisis. In this context, civil society organizations in Haiti have been tasked with acting as a fundamental pillar of democracy that monitors state institutions and ensures freedom of expression, and with serving as an incubator for community development and a social safety net.

This project will assess how Haitian civil society is socially represented, with a focus on human rights, arts and culture organizations. It will conduct opinion polls, surveys and focus-group discussions to gain a better understanding of how civil-society organizations working to protect human rights in Haiti are represented in the public arena and in the Haitian collective consciousness, with a focus on the opinions of women, youth, people living in working-class neighbourhoods and rural areas, and members of other marginalized communities. The project will also aim to document the different roles these organizations play in Haitian society, including those of advocacy, service delivery, community development, social mobilization and the promotion of human rights, democratic governance and civic engagement. This diagnosis will enable an assessment of the prospects for these organizations to influence the protection and strengthening of democratic processes and institutions in Haiti.

Using evidence-based data, the project aims to provide a nuanced understanding of the social representation of civil-society organizations in Haiti, their challenges and their potential for social transformation in order to equip them to respond more effectively to the most pressing needs of the Haitian population as the country strives to emerge from the ongoing crisis.