Thousands of Haitian grieve during a funeral Mass for Monsignor Joseph Serge Miot, Archbishop of Port-au-Prince, who was killed in the earlier earthquake, January 23, 2010, in Port-au-Prince, Haiti. (Photo: VCG)

More than one thousand Haitians took to the streets of the capital Port-au-Prince on Sunday to protest against sexual violence in the country after two students were gang-raped this week.

Marchers dressed in white walked to the city center from the university where one of the recent victims studied, passing the scene of the attack while screaming loudly to imitate the cries of rape victims.

"Rape is becoming a form of repression against women in working-class neighborhoods and in universities across the country," said Pascale Solages, a feminist activist.

The slogan of the march “#PaFeSilans” means "do not be silent" in Creole.

“Victims keep silent because they feel shame and fear. But everyone must end this silence: witnesses in the communities, families, no matter where the rape is committed, silence must not be kept,” Solages added.

Refugees from Port-au-Prince walk around the Grande Anse river valley at Pwat, Haiti, January 29, 2010. (Photo: VCG)

There has been little study of sexual assault in Haiti, but in 2017, the Ministry of Health released a survey saying that one in eight women report experiencing sexual violence at some point in their lives.

A patriarchal culture dominates Haiti and following this week's attacks, several commentators publicly questioned whether the women were responsible for their rapes because of what they were wearing.

"Absolutely nothing can justify rape. Girls are free to walk outside at any time they want, and they can dress as they want," said Wilkenson Saint-Fleur, a student who joined the march.

"We're not living in a jungle. The authorities must now uphold their responsibilities to the public they've sworn to protect, otherwise people will take justice into their own hands, and we'll fall into chaos," he added.

Jacky Lumarque, as the rector of Quisqueya University, where one of the victims studied, walked alongside his students and encouraged them to demand justice.

"Violence is becoming a cultural phenomenon and society is beginning to tolerate violence against women," said Lumarque."We must say no."