University of Michigan/Small Arms Survey Study of Health and Harm in Post-Earthquake Haiti (2010)

(Principle Investigator) As far as we know, this was the only research study capable of capturing pre- and post-earthquake data on the same group of households (and thus giving an accurate estimate of deaths, injuries, property destruction, and changes in health and mental health). Households interviewed in the Port-au-Prince metropolitan area in 2009 (n=1800, response rate of 90%) were located and interviewed regarding post-earthquake experiences, health, mental health, violence, crime and opinions about security provision and rebuilding needs. An additional assessment of the household’s physical living location was taken as well. Data was made available to international and national actors leading rebuilding and redevelopment efforts on the ground so that such work can be guided by empirical knowledge of the situation.

University of Michigan Haiti Violence Assessment: A National Study of Health, Human Rights, and Small Arms Violence (2009)

(Principle Investigator) Haiti, the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere, has a long history of human rights abuse. Using Random GPS Coordinate Sampling (RGCS) 2800 households were surveyed about their experiences with mental health, human rights, and gun violence. Interviews were held with victims, household members of victims, and community leaders to address attitudes about gun use and ownership and to explore barriers that victims experience when seeking services for problems related rights violations.

Perceptions of Security in Southern Lebanon (2008)

(Co-Investigator with PI Royce Hutson) The 2006 war between Hizbollah and Israel killed approximately 1,000 people in Southern Lebanon, decimated its infrastructure, and led to the displacement of an estimated one million people in both countries. This household study examined how the people of Southern Lebanon feel about their security, who they look to for protection against local and external threats, what political parties do they support, their views on gun use and ownership, as well as their experiences with violence, crime and human rights violations. We found that 1,000 people were killed and 5,800 injured in Southern Lebanon as a direct result of the 2006 war, while combat activity resulted in the damaging or destruction of approximately 69,000 homes in this area. The people of the south, whatever their political affiliations, express strong support for state security institutions, with the Lebanese army and police consistently cited as preferred security providers. This assessment also revealed that the opinions and experiences of the people of the region are somewhat more diverse than previously assumed.

Wayne State University Study of Health and Human Rights in Haiti (2006)

(Principle Investigator) Reliable evidence of the frequency and severity of human rights abuses in Haiti after the departure of the elected president in 2004 was scarce. We assessed data from a random survey of households in the greater Port-au-Prince area. Using random Global Positioning System (GPS) coordinate sampling, 1260 households (5720 individuals) were sampled. They were interviewed with a structured questionnaire by trained interviewers about their experiences after the departure of President Jean-Bertrand Aristide. The response rate was 90·7%. Information on demographic characteristics, crime, and human rights violations was obtained. Our findings suggested that 8000 individuals were murdered in the greater Port-au-Prince area during the 22-month period assessed. Almost half of the identified perpetrators were government forces or outside political actors. Sexual assault of women and girls was common, with findings suggesting that 35 000 women were victimised in the area; more than half of all female victims were younger than 18 years. Criminals were the most identified perpetrators, but officers from the Haitian National Police accounted for 13·8% and armed anti-Lavalas groups accounted for 10·6% of identified perpetrators of sexual assault. Kidnappings and extrajudicial detentions, physical assaults, death threats, physical threats, and threats of sexual violence were also common. Our results indicate that crime and systematic abuse of human rights were common in Port-au-Prince. Although criminals were the most identified perpetrators of violations, political actors and UN soldiers were also frequently identified.