Global Health Institute

Growing up in Haiti, childhood violence was a common sight, particularly due to the restavèk (meaning “stay with”) system in which children from poor families are sent to live with strangers for a chance at opportunities not afforded by rural life. The unfortunate reality is that for most of these restavèk, little attention is given to their studies; rather, they are used for menial and household labor, and they are often physically, emotionally, and sexually abused. Dr. Daniela Ligiero’s talk and professional background reminded me of the realities of 61% of girls and 57% of boys living in Haiti, and the many more around the world, who face physical as well as other manifestations of violence.

Dr. Daniela Ligiero came to Georgetown as a speaker for the Conversations in Global Health series. She serves as an international advocate and CEO at Together for Girls, an international partnership, which includes 6 United Nations agencies and 22 countries, focused on ending child violence. During her talk, Dr. Ligiero also described her life events and the decisions that led her to her current position as one of the leaders in promoting the safety of children.