New York.– Amnesty International has called for more action in addressing violence against women and girls in the Caribbean, pointing out that Haiti was among those countries with the most urgent need to correct the problem.

In its latest report, the international human rights organization said women’s groups continue to "demand action over an increasing number of homicides in the region." However, it said that laws to improve respect for women’s rights and, in particular, the right to freedom from violence in the home, community and work place, exist in most countries in the region, with the “notable exceptions of Haiti and some other Caribbean countries."

"Nevertheless, progress on preventing violence against women and punishing those responsible remained limited," the report said, stating that Haiti stands out where more than 50 per cent of all reported victims of sexual abuse are 18 years old or younger.         

Amnesty International said sexual violence against women is "pervasive" in Haiti, with girls under 18 "at particular risk". The report said that in the vast majority of cases the perpetrators were adult men, "many holding positions of power."

It said sexual abuse of girls in Haiti, some as young as nine or 10 yeas old, is "intrinsically linked to poverty, deprivation and exclusion," which it said leaves the girls "at risk of sexual exploitation as their only means of survival."