Source: Amnesty International –
- Multiple gangs responsible for human rights abuses against children
- Extreme violence and intimidation rife in Port-au-Prince and surrounding areas
- “The lives of far too many children in Haiti are being wrecked” – Agnès Callamard
The relentless gang violence in Port-au-Prince and surrounding areas has resulted in a brutal attack on childhood in Haiti, Amnesty International said in a new report.
“I’m a child, why did this happen to me?”: Gangs’ assault on childhood in Haiti, documents how children are being subjected to a litany of human rights abuses including recruitment into gangs, rape and other forms of sexual violence, abductions, killings and injuries. The disproportionate impact on children with disabilities is also documented.
Since the assassination of President Jovenel Moïse in July 2021, violence by armed gangs has escalated significantly in Haiti, claiming an estimated 5,600 lives last year. Gangs control the majority of the capital Port-au-Prince, while more than 5.5 million people require urgent humanitarian assistance.
Gangs have caused widespread distress in Haiti… Haiti needs urgent assistance to protect children and to prevent further cycles of violence.
Agnès Callamard, Amnesty International’s Secretary General
“Gangs have caused widespread distress in Haiti. They threaten, beat, rape and kill children. They have committed multiple abuses of children’s rights, including the rights to life, to education, and to freedom of movement,” said Agnès Callamard, Amnesty International’s Secretary General.
“The lives of far too many children in Haiti are being wrecked, and they have nowhere to go for protection or justice. They are chased and at times killed by self-defence groups, while the authorities arbitrarily detain them. Childhood is being stolen.
“It is time for Haitian authorities and the international community, including donors, to step up their efforts. Empty expressions of concern are not enough. Children’s bodies, minds and hearts are violated every day. Haiti needs urgent assistance to protect children and to prevent further cycles of violence.”
More than 1 million children are estimated to be living in areas controlled by or under the influence of gangs. Researchers interviewed 112 people and visited Port-au-Prince in September 2024. Interviewees included children, government officials, Haitian and international aid workers and UN staff members. The research covered violations and abuses in eight communes of the West Department.
In December 2024, Amnesty International wrote to the office of Prime Minister Alix Didier Fils-Aimé, presenting a summary of the findings. At the time of publication, no response had been received.