Haiti women’s ministry vows legal action over groping of girls at viral colour event

Haiti’s Ministry of Women’s Conditions and Rights condemned acts of sexual assault caught on video during a Festi Colour event on April 4 at Saint-Pierre High School in Plaine-du-Nord, where young women and girls were reportedly groped under the guise of T-shirt painting.

Videos circulating on social media show men touching attendees inappropriately while applying paint to their T-shirts, sparking outrage and calls for accountability.

“The Northern Departmental Directorate of the Ministry of Women’s Conditions and Rights expresses its deep indignation over acts of sexual assault and harassment committed against young girls during a festival,” Philoria Mompoint, the ministry’s northern director, said in a statement as quoted by Haitan Times. “These acts constitute serious violations of women’s dignity and their physical and psychological integrity.”

Plaine-du-Nord, about seven miles southwest of Cap-Haïtien, hosted the event, which drew large numbers of young people, including students. A T-shirt-painting activity—common at Festi-Color gatherings—appears to have escalated into abuse, with participants touched in ways that exceeded any prior consent.

“Young girls in a school setting, a space that should be synonymous with safety and personal growth, were subjected to degrading behavior,” former Cap-Haïtien Mayor Yvrose Pierre said.

While some participants initially agreed to have their T-shirts painted, several men reportedly went further, squeezing breasts longer and more forcefully than necessary. Some girls appeared shocked or angry, while others laughed or smiled. In one video, a man is heard saying in Haitian Creole, “Tiye nap tiye moun la wi,” which translates to “We’re killing people here.”

In another clip, a teenage girl refused to let a man touch her breast. “I dare you to touch my breast,” she said, walking away. “I will find someone else to put the paint on my T-shirt, or I won’t do it.” The man reportedly insisted she comply, using sexual abuse as a ticket to access the event.

The organizer, a local figure and aspiring media personality known as “Mr. Judson,” issued an apology on April 5 without clarifying whether his staff would face consequences. “We would like to apologize to all students for the bad example set and to the school for the disrespect caused,” the statement read. “We deeply regret what happened and commit to ensuring it does not happen again.”

Those implicated in the assaults have not been publicly identified, though some individuals in the videos appear to be minors. Footage reviewed shows groping of breasts and buttocks, with some participants encouraging the behavior.

Festi-Color events—where attendees wear white clothing and are covered in colored powder or paint—have grown in popularity across Haiti. Critics say certain practices, particularly body painting, can create opportunities for abuse and should be strictly regulated or banned in school settings.

The Ministry of Women’s Conditions and Rights has pledged legal action and urged victims to file complaints while calling on witnesses to cooperate. “The ministry will take all necessary measures, in collaboration with relevant authorities, to identify and prosecute those responsible, in accordance with the law,” Mompoint said.

Public figures and advocates also pushed for stronger safeguards. Former Cap-Haïtien Mayor Pierre said, “I call upon schools to strengthen student protection mechanisms. Young girls in a school setting, a space that should be synonymous with safety and personal growth, were subjected to degrading behavior.”

Journalist Aljany Narcius warned against normalizing such conduct: “Let’s be clear: this is not animation. When we accept, tolerate, or minimize such acts in public spaces, especially in activities that attract minors, we send a dangerous message: young women’s bodies are worthless, boundaries don’t matter, and anyone can be violated without consequences.”

Women’s health physician Lyne Vanessa Alexandre criticized Haiti’s education system and government negligence. “If some of these young girls accept this as a ticket to get into a recreational event, it’s because they don’t understand the value and function of their bodies,” she wrote. “It’s not their fault; it’s our educational system’s fault. If they had proper sex education in school, they would understand that this gesture is aggression in disguise.” She called on society to provide proper guidance and protection for youth.

Festi-Color events are scheduled across northern Haiti this month, including one in Cap-Haïtien on April 11. Organizers now face heightened scrutiny regarding participant safety and legal accountability.