Protecting Dignity in Crisis: A Humanitarian's Moral Stand in Haiti

Episode Summary

Dr Lina AbiRafeh shares her harrowing experience from the 2010 Haiti earthquake response, where she led sexual violence prevention efforts. During one particularly challenging day, she made a split-second decision to protect a young rape survivor giving birth from exploitative journalists, ultimately prioritising human dignity over professional expectations. This powerful conversation explores the moral courage required in humanitarian work, the personal costs of standing up for one's values, and how to create meaningful change from wherever you stand.

Key Points

• The immediate aftermath of the 2010 Haiti earthquake and its impact on vulnerable populations
• The ethical dilemmas faced by humanitarian workers dealing with media pressure
• How journalists sometimes exploit trauma survivors for sensational stories
• The personal and professional consequences of taking moral stands
• The evolution from frontline emergency work to systemic change-making
• The importance of exercising judgement and acting on principles in crisis situations
• Understanding that effective change doesn't always require going to the frontlines
• The complex funding dynamics in humanitarian emergencies

Best Quote

"Start where you stand. You don't have to go far to do good. You don't have to go big to do good." Look around your own community and identify where you can make a difference right where you are. What small but meaningful action can you take today to protect someone's dignity or stand up for what's right?

Resources

• Lina’s TEDx 2025: How to build a better world for women https://youtu.be/p-v71cYvkSg?si=UqvRXX-aQEeGRAQl
• Lina’s TEDx 2015: Women’s Safety in a Violent World https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=krSG-RtiWUA

Contact Information

Find Dr Lina AbiRafeh here:

• Website: www.Better4Women.com
• LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/lina-abirafeh-28774867/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/linaabirafeh/
• Medium: linaabirafeh.medium.com/

Find Leah Brown FRSA here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/leah-brown-frsa-b71b0844/ and @leahtalks_ on Instagram, TikTok and X.

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