GENEVA – A UN report published on Friday details the brutal and widespread trafficking of children by Haitian gangs, warning their actions threaten not only the wellbeing of today’s children but also of future generations.
The report, issued jointly by the UN Integrated Office in Haiti (BINUH) and the UN Human Rights Office (OHCHR), states that most of the 26 gangs currently operating in Haiti are involved in child trafficking.
It describes the different forms of exploitation to which children are subjected, ranging from running errands, monitoring security forces, or collecting extortion payments, to more violent acts like destruction of property, kidnappings, targeted killings and sexual violence.
“Children in Haiti are being robbed of their childhoods and their futures. The impact and long-term consequences of child trafficking are devastating for the victims and their families, as well as for the stability of the country,” said UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk.
There is no comprehensive data on the number of children trafficked by gangs. However, in 2024, the UN estimated that more than 500,000 children were living in areas under gang control. As per the latest estimates, gang violence has forced more than 1.4 million people to flee their homes. More than half of them are children.
The report emphasizes that both structural factors, such as poverty, weak institutions and social exclusion, and situational factors like armed violence, contribute to an environment where children are increasingly at risk of being trafficked by gangs. They are either enticed by what they perceive as power, social status or protection, or lured through violence, threats, food or drugs.
“This risk is particularly acute for children from extremely poor and marginalized families, as well as those living on the streets or in displaced persons’ sites,” says the report.
While acknowledging ongoing efforts by State authorities, civil society, and the international community, the report underscores that current responses are insufficient, fragmented and largely under-resourced.
The report also says that despite some initiatives, insufficient attention is given to preventing child trafficking before it occurs, including by addressing the economic, social, and educational root causes that place children at risk of trafficking, while also ensuring accountability for traffickers to prevent future violations.
It highlights that law enforcement officials often view children trafficked by gangs as perpetrators rather than victims. In some circumstances, some children accused of gang association have been summarily executed by police officers or killed by so-called self-defence groups, stresses the report.
“For the immediate and long-term future of Haiti, it is crucial that national authorities and their international partners work hand-in-hand to build stronger communities and social protection mechanisms. Children must be at the center of our response to the security crisis in Haiti,” said Carlos Ruiz Massieu, Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General in Haiti and Chief of BINUH.
To achieve this, BINUH and the UN Human Rights Office call for a comprehensive, human rights-centered strategy built around seven pillars: expanding social protection programs for vulnerable families in the capital, reinforcing schools as protective spaces, developing child-friendly spaces outside schools, increasing youth vocational and employment opportunities, strengthening rights-compliant law enforcement, prioritizing rehabilitation over punishment, and improving accountability for child traffickers.
Türk added that it is essential that the newly-created Gang Suppression Force ensures that children’s rights are fully respected during the planning and conduct of operations against gangs, in accordance with international human rights law.
“It is equally crucial that national and international authorities focus on curbing the illicit flow of arms pouring into Haiti,” he said. “The UN arms embargo must be enforced without delay if we want to stop the never-ending cycle of violence.”
OHCHR/BINUH Children trafficked by gangs: Rethinking the responses
Summary
In Haiti, at least 26 gangs operate in the metropolitan area of Port-au-Prince, as well as in several municipalities in the Artibonite and Centre departments. The majority of them are involved in child trafficking . Based on quantitative and qualitative data, this report — published jointly by the Human Rights Service (HRS) of the United Nations Integrated Office in Haiti (BINUH) and the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) — shows that both structural and contextual factors contribute to creating an environment in which children are increasingly exposed to the risk of trafficking by gangs. This risk is particularly acute for children from extremely poor and marginalized families, as well as for those living on the streets or in displacement sites. The report also documents the various tactics used by gangs to recruit children, particularly in the metropolitan area of Port-au-Prince, including the use of violence and threats against those who resist or attempt to leave. Gangs also lure children by offering in-kind benefits, regular pay, or drugs. They specifically target children at risk, seeking a sense of belonging, support, social recognition, and protection. In addition, the report describes in detail the different forms of exploitation faced by children. For example, boys are often used to carry out various tasks, including running errands, delivering messages, monitoring security forces and people’s movements, and collecting extortion payments. Over time, after being subjected to violent “initiation rites,” they may be forced to take part in more serious crimes, including targeted killings, kidnappings, sexual violence, and the destruction of property. Some are also involved in clashes with law enforcement. Girls, for their part, are frequently victims of rape, including gang rape, sexual exploitation and sexual slavery; they are forced to perform domestic work and, in some cases, are also compelled to engage in criminal activities. Child trafficking by gangs seriously undermines the full range of children’s rights, exposing them to violence and exploitation and depriving them of essential opportunities such as access to education and decent living conditions. The long-term consequences are devastating, threatening not only the well-being of today’s children, but also the prospects of future generations. While some initiatives by State authorities, as well as international and national organizations, seek to address the harm suffered by children involved with gangs, insufficient attention is paid upstream to the prevention of child trafficking. In the absence of urgent measures to protect children from such abuses, Haiti’s very future is at risk. In this context, the HRS of BINUH and OHCHR recommend rethinking the overall response by the various actors to child trafficking by gangs, by adopting a human rights-based approach that considers these children first and foremost as victims, in accordance with international law and standards . The report proposes a comprehensive and integrated response by State authorities, supported by Haitian civil society organizations and the international community, structured around seven pillars. These pillars address the root causes — economic, social and educational — that expose children and their families to the risk of trafficking, while ensuring accountability for the perpetrators of this crime as a means of preventing future violations.