A/HRC/17/42 19. Some mayors, encouraged by local inhabitants, are trying to solve the problem of squatting on municipal land by paying the families concerned to leave. Those who accept are, however, often quickly replaced by other families, creating a vicious cycle that is difficult to break. 20. High expectations have been raised by the prospect of reconstruction, and rumours of the free allocation of land or shelters run wild. Some individuals take advantage of the situation by selling plots of land in the camps that they do not own. The resale of those plots with false title deeds is fuelling a wave of real estate speculation with nothing to support it. As a result, several families find themselves in possession of false title deeds to the same plot of land, which actually belongs to the municipality or private owners. 21. The Independent Expert wishes to draw the attention of the Government of Haiti and the international community to the worrying lack of any visible strategy to deal with displaced persons. The great variety of rumours in circulation illustrates well just how little information is available on the mid- and long-term future awaiting people in the camps. B. Women and gender-based violence 22. Since the humanitarian crisis began, the issue of violence inflicted on women and girls has been at the heart of the international community’s concerns. Numerous reports by the United Nations and national and international human rights organizations detail the phenomenon of domestic and inter-family violence, the role of gangs operating inside and around the camps and the impunity with which the perpetrators of violence against women act. 23. These same organizations have made a growing number of recommendations to the Government of Haiti and the international organizations working in the country. The Independent Expert has, in previous reports, provided many examples and made numerous recommendations. He has been unwavering in his calls for greater attention to be paid to the problems encountered, and these calls have been heeded. 24. Many of his recommendations have been implemented and specific programmes have been developed to prevent or contain the phenomenon. The National Police of Haiti and the United Nations police have increased the number of security patrols in official and unofficial camps for displaced persons. The patrols are at times doubtless too routine or predictable to serve as a genuine deterrent. Measures have nevertheless been taken, although more creativity in efforts to clamp down on gangs would be welcome. It has regularly been pointed out that improved lighting, particularly in sanitary facilities, is one way of boosting camp security. During his visits to the camps, the Independent Expert has seen that such measures, which would be effective, are not applied systematically. In several camps he inspected, in particular unofficial camps, there is either no lighting at night or, if there is any, it does not work or is faulty. 25. An issue of particular concern, although admittedly a problem for everyone, is how to measure the extent of violence against women and trends over time, as well as how incidents of violence are documented. One can only combat what one knows and the effectiveness of measures taken can only be assessed over time. At present, no one can say exactly how widespread the phenomenon is. The Independent Expert has the impression that many people talk about it without being in possession of objective information that provides a true picture of the situation. 6 GE.11-12426