Madam Minister for Women’s Affairs and Women’s Rights and members of her cabinet
Leaders and members of feminist organizations and women’s organizations in Haiti
Leaders and members of civil society organizations
Mr. The Representative of BINUH in Haiti
Madam Ambassador of the European Union in Haiti
Madam, the Representative of the Embassy of Canada in Haiti
Ladies and gentlemen representing UN Women in Haiti,
Madam member of the Advisory Council of NÈGÈS MAWON, Me Rosy Ducena Auguste,
Madam member of the Advisory Council of NÈGÈS MAWON, Me Rose Berthe Augustin,
Members of the press
Distinguished guests
Ten years ago, Gaëlle Bien-Aimé and I started this journey. After repeated failures in organizing a show titled “NÈGÈS MAWON” to honor the heroines of the War of Independence, we realized that a show alone would not be enough. And since we clearly did not have enough problems already (lol), we decided to create an organization.
We created it with a different and innovative vision, one carried by the artists and creators that we are. From the very beginning, we wanted a feminist organization capable of using a language that speaks to everyone: art. A language capable of mobilizing young people, creating space for creativity, using the tools available to us, such as new technologies, and transforming our activism into a collective, accessible, and inclusive project so that Haitian women and girls can fully enjoy their rights, their humanity, and their dignity.
Although it was extremely difficult at first to bring the majority on board with this vision, some people joined us very early and helped shape this organization. I want to mention, for example, Joanne Joseph, Jemima Augusin, Francesse Eugène, organizations such as FOKAL, and many others.
We were filled with admiration for our elders and organizations such as SOFA, KAY FANM, Fondation Toya, Fanm Deside, and many others, whose struggles and achievements instilled in us the resolve to fight and the desire to stand up for ourselves and for all other women. They inspired us to give meaning to our civic engagement, to leave a legacy, and to try to contribute to a more just society, not only for women in Haiti but for women around the world. Women such as Danièle Magloire, Nadine Louis, Marie Laurence Jocelyn Lassègue, and Michèle Duvivier Pierre-Louis have shaped the activist I am today.
At the time, Gaëlle and I did not fully realize what this decision would represent. We did not know that this initiative would radically change the course of our lives and the lives of those who joined us, supported us, accompanied us, and sometimes left us. Still, all of these contributed to the organization you know today.
NÈGÈS MAWON is a feminist organization that makes no compromises in its struggle. Our voice speaks not only for Haitian women and girls but also for all people from discriminated, marginalized, excluded, or violated communities. Over the years, our activism has embraced the struggles of all those suffering from inequality and discrimination, as well as from poor governance, corruption, impunity, systemic violence, capitalism, and the effects of colonialism and imperialism.
We fight in the streets, in communities, in institutions, and in the media, in Haiti and beyond. We are everywhere, all the time, and we never negotiate the freedom and dignity of Haitian women and girls. No matter the cost. And it has cost us, often at a very high price.
Over the years, this refusal to negotiate women’s freedom has generated many disagreements with institutions and public figures, even some who are with us today. We will continue to have disagreements because the only mission that matters to us is the protection, dignity, fulfillment, and humanity of Haitian women.
Over the years, we have protested in the streets, created spaces, acted in communities, contributed to knowledge production, engaged in advocacy, raised awareness, educated, and mobilized. We will continue to fight, guided by our values, principles, and ideals. Our work is not perfect; it is far from sufficient, but we promise to do better every day.
Every member of this organization present in this garden today is a heroine. I deeply admire and am grateful to every person at NÈGÈS MAWON who, almost every day, puts their life and reputation at risk to advance our mission. In a patriarchal and violent society that seeks to silence, exclude, and even destroy women, claiming membership in an organization like NÈGÈS MAWON, carrying its vision and political message, and contributing to its actions is an act of courage.
I want to honor the members of NÈGÈS MAWON who are survivors of violence and who accompany other survivors; those who are internally displaced and assist other displaced women; those who sleep for days on hospital benches to support our beneficiaries; those who participate in marches and sit-ins despite the dangers; those who do not count the hours; those who travel national roads. A tribute to all those who keep this organization alive.
NÈGÈS MAWON is the MARRAINAGE program, the Maison Claire Heureuse, the Feminist Festival NÈGÈS MAWON, ALASO, the Antoinette Duclaire Fellowship, the feminist studies, gender, and sexuality program in partnership with the State University of Haiti, our safe abortion program, our binational ANACAONA program with the Dominican Republic, Jenerasyon EGALEGO, the SANG TRÊVE program for menstrual dignity, and so many other initiatives.
But today, NÈGÈS MAWON goes far beyond its programs, projects, and activities. It goes beyond what is seen on digital platforms or in the media. It is more than reports, numbers, and data. NÈGÈS MAWON is an ideal. Above all, it is a safe space for all women and girls, and for every other person whom this world excludes, violates, diminishes, or kills.
This organization no longer belongs to its founders, volunteers, members, or staff. This organization belongs to Haiti. It belongs to every woman and every girl who needs a space where they feel loved, respected, valued, supported, safe, and accompanied.
It belongs to the eight-year-old girl survivor of sexual violence that I once was, to the child who witnessed domestic violence in her home from a very young age, to the young woman survivor of gynecological and obstetric violence that I was, who needed this space and could not find it. Today, I created it.
Infinite gratitude to all who created it with me and allowed me to heal, and to thousands of women who have healed over the past ten years.
If you have ever received an email from me, you have probably seen this quote by Dorothy Height at the bottom:”I want to be remembered as someone who used herself and anything she could touch to work for justice and freedom. I want to be remembered as one who tried.”
I will continue to try.
NÈGÈS MAWON will continue to try.
And we hope that each and every one of you will stand with us.