By Jess McCabe | 21 January 2010, 11:19

The Association for Women’s Rights in Development is collecting together information on the crisis in Haiti, where you can read about the historical context, the gendered impact of the current disaster, and gather ideas on how to show your solidarity.

Over at Global Comment, Renee Martin sets out some of the historical background too, which looks at why it’s important to, yes, give to help the relief effort in the short term, but also look beyond that.) INCITE! has also put out a statement.

Madre has been updating its blog, with info from their contacts.

And, over at Black Looks, Sokari has written about the US’ military response and lack of historical analysis in the media reporting on the crisis.

Today I also got sent this press release about a feminist solidarity camp being set up on the frontier between Haiti and the Dominican Republic, from FIRE Radio:

FEMINIST INTERNATIONAL SOLIDARITY CAMP “MYRIAM MERLET” TO OPEN ON HAITIAN-DOMINICAN REPUBLIC BORDER NEXT WEEK

María Suárez
Radio Internacional Feminista/RIF-FIRE

The solidarity camp is named after Myriam Merlet, a feminist activist who was killed in the earthquake last week. As an outspoken activist, Merlet helped draw international attention to the use of rape as a political weapon.

A Feminist International Solidarity Camp to help mobilize and transfer resources, and to open channels of communications directly with Haitian women will open next week on the frontier Jemaní between the Dominican Republic & Haiti. As a project organized by women’s groups in Haiti, the Dominican Republic, and elsewhere in Latin America & the Caribbean and beyond, the Camp will be eventually handed over to Haitian women.

The international solidarity camp is named after Myriam Merlet, It is organized as a Resource Center for international solidarity efforts to send resources directly to the women of Haiti, and also work with Human Rights defenders from Haiti to monitor, denounce and demand legal action regarding violations of human rights including women’s human rights during the earthquake and the aftermath.

Also to be included is a Health Center to help deal the grief, injuries, illnesses and traumas of the earthquake.

Coordinators of these efforts include the Women & Health Collective (COMUS) a women’s human rights and health NGO, and CIPAF, a feminist NGO of the Dominican Republic that works in building social/political movement.

The space will also serve as a Communications Center to include radio transmissions via Internet by FIRE (Feminist International Radio Endeavour), as well as blogs, and electronic networks organized by women’s communication networks throughout the region. FIRE was the first international internet radio created and run by women from Latin America and the Caribbean.

Participation is needed, particularly to find resources, share information from the Camp and develop solidarity in your place. .

For more information in English about the Myriam Merlet Feminist International Solidarity Camp and other ways to participate go to: www.radiofeminista.net (webpage of FIRE radio) as of Febrary 1st.

Write in English to oficina@radiofeminista.net

Or write in Spanish to:

Colectiva Mujer y Salud in the Dominican Republic at www.colectivamujerysalud.org
colec.mujer@codetel.net.do

Centro de Investigación para la Acción Femenina CIPAF also in the Dominican Republic at: http://www.cipaf.org.do