‘They take advantage of, and force themselves on us’: a qualitative analysis of Haitian women’s perceptions of sexual exploitation and abuse by MINUSTAH

The United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH), established in 2004, was tasked with maintaining peace and stability in the aftermath of political upheaval in Haiti. However, it faced numerous allegations of peacekeeper-perpetrated sexual exploitation and abuse (PP-SEA) during its deployment, drawing significant international attention and criticism. This qualitative study conducted eight focus group discussions with Haitian women who have been affected by or had knowledge of PP-SEA. Through rigorous thematic analysis, this research uncovers narratives that illuminate how Haitian community members articulate harm, resistance, and meaning within the entangled dynamics of gendered violence and foreign intervention. By situating these narratives within broader conversations of justice, reparations, and accountability, this study interrogates the violences that underpin peacekeeping operations in postcolonial contexts like Haiti. Moreover, it challenges normative humanitarian discourse by reframing PP-SEA as symptomatic of systemic inequities embedded within the architecture of international governance. By centring Haitian community perceptions of PP-SEA, this study reimagines accountability beyond institutional mechanisms, calling for a transformation of global power relations that continue to render certain lives vulnerable to violation under the guise of peace.