Haiti
COHFEL: Promoting Women Participation in the Political Process
 Although
they comprise 52% of the population, Haitian women continue
to be under-represented as political party leaders and elected
officials. In 2003, USAID through a grant to the International
Republican Institute (IRI) conducted training seminars to
help sharpen women's political skills and increase their participation
in the political process. As a result, the Coalition Haïtienne
des Femmes Leaders (COHFEL) was created that July. COHFEL
is a non-partisan platform of women leaders and party activists
spanning the entire political spectrum and involved in several
civil society organizations. Its main objective is to promote
women's participation in the political process.
In preparation for the 2006 elections, COHFEL conducted a series of training workshops to increase women's participation in the political process through voting and running for office from July to December 2005. IRI international consultants held four seminars focusing on voter registration and outreach, public speaking, campaign techniques, and media campaign strategies. A two-day meeting in Cap Haitian trained women candidates and facilitated exchanges between them and former municipal and legislative candidate members of COHFEL.
Supporting women candidates for the 2006 elections, COHFEL joined forces with two other women's organizations (Femmes en Démocratie and Réseau des Femmes Candidates pour Gagner). Together, they facilitated the development and promotion of a common women's platform that focuses on four major issues: the fight against corruption; primary education; maternal health and children protection; and water and sanitation. With the assistance of IRI and the U.S. Embassy, this platform was published in French and Creole and distributed throughout the country to civil society organizations, political parties, private sector associations and government offices.
In December 2005, the program partnered with COHFEL to conduct eleven one-day voter education workshops for women leaders throughout the country. Over 1,000 women leaders of more than 200 women's organizations were involved in the activities. The workshops' themes highlight women's participation in the electoral process, voter responsibility, information about women candidates, and the common electoral platform.
COHFEL initiatives supported by USAID program have mobilized women to participate
in politics, be active in the 2006 elections and develop strategies
for women to assist female candidates. Three members of the
COHFEL board of directors—Eveline Cheron of Lavalas,
Marie Denise Claude of Fusion and Edmonde Beauzile of Fusion—will
be running for the Senate in the second round. Twelve participants
of COHFEL training workshop and programs that support women
candidates will be run as Deputies in the second round. They
all have campaigned on the women candidates' common electoral
platform.
Following the 2006 elections, COHFEL will invite former candidates and elected municipal and legislative officials to join the Coalition. COHFEL will mobilize funds and technical assistance to train women legislators in the drafting of legislation and the law making process. It will also conduct a public awareness campaign of the legislative process and legislation resulting from the training.
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