The need
The crises affecting Haiti expose children to serious risks: family separation, loss of schooling, exploitation, recruitment by armed groups. Gender-based violence, aggravated by insecurity and displacement, particularly affects women and girls. Response services — medical, psychosocial and legal support — remain limited, and fear and stigma often deter survivors and families from seeking them out.
Our approach
HASDI defines and steers its programmes from France; local Haitian partner organisations carry out implementation. Our work is guided by the best interests of the child and by a survivor-centred approach: safety, confidentiality and respect for each person's choices. We prioritise prevention, the identification of at-risk situations and referral to existing services, building on community-based protection mechanisms. The do-no-harm principle takes precedence in every decision.
How we intervene
Our partnership agreements include explicit safeguarding commitments: a code of conduct, staff training, referral protocols and strictly confidential data management. Monitoring combines remote management with field visits when conditions allow. Our safeguarding policy applies to everyone acting on HASDI's behalf, and an independent reporting channel is open to all.
The standards we apply
Our work is guided by the Minimum Standards for Child Protection in Humanitarian Action (CPMS), by the IASC Guidelines for Integrating Gender-Based Violence Interventions in Humanitarian Action (2015), by the Convention on the Rights of the Child, by the principles of protection from sexual exploitation and abuse (PSEA) and by the Core Humanitarian Standard (CHS).
Stand with us
HASDI is building its first programmes with its Haitian partners. Your support makes this work possible.