The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Trk, Thursday warned that the human rights situation in Haiti has reached a boiling point and that violence and human rights violations and abuses have escalated and intensified since his last visit to the French-speaking Caribbean Community (CARICOM) country.
In an address to the Human Rights Council on the situation in Haiti, Trk, said he welcomed the decision of the United Nations Security Council to strengthen the Kenya-led Multinational Security Support (MSS) mission by transitioning to the Gang Suppression Force (GSF) saying ‘this is a strong signal of international support for the Haitian people.
United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Trk
‘International commitment and backing for this are urgent. Without them, the worst may be yet to come for Haiti and the broader region. More than 16,000 people have been killed and some 7,000 people injured in armed violence since 1 January 2022, when we began our monitoring on gang related violence,’ Trk told the Council.
He said, currently, gangs are spreading fear beyond the capital, Port-au-Prince, into nearby regions, including in the Lower Artibonite and in the Centre department and that this violence is fertile ground for further cross-border arms, drugs, and human trafficking, which threaten to destabilize the wider sub-region.
He said an estimated 270,000 to 500,000 firearms are circulating illegally in Haiti, with most weapons in the hands of gangs.
‘Gangs are killing and kidnapping people, extorting them at illegal checkpoints, hijacking trucks transporting food and other supplies, and burning and destroying homes, hospitals, schools, and public buildings.
‘They are committing widespread sexual violence to assert dominance and territorial influence, and displace people. The gangs kidnap women and girls, and subject them to extreme brutality, including killing and sexual exploitation,’ Trk added.
The UN human rights Commissioner said that his office is working with the authorities to step up investigations and prosecutions, including through Specialized Judicial Units and is urging the Council’s ‘strong support for programmes to protect survivors of sexual violence.
‘The humanitarian toll is staggering. Half of Haiti’s population – six million people, including 3.3 million children – need humanitarian aid. Some 1.3 million people, half of them children, have fled their homes. Haiti is now among the five global food insecurity hotspots of highest concern.’
Trk said he remains deeply worried about the fate of children in Haiti, noting that UNICEF estimates that one in seven children is out of school, and almost one million more are at risk of dropping out.
‘More children are being subjected to trafficking, exploitation and forced recruitment by the gangs. They are used as couriers, lookouts, or weapons carriers, and are sometimes coerced into combat roles against rival gangs, security forces and so-called self-defense groups.
‘We can only imagine the long-term impact, for the children of Haiti, and for society as a whole. In a glimmer of hope, in July, the authorities opened the first Transit and Orientation Centre in Port-au-Prince, to provide temporary shelter and reintegration support for children formerly associated with armed gangs. We need more such measures.’
Trk said that he is also concerned that State law enforcement have used ‘unnecessary and disproportionate lethal force’ in their operations against the gangs.
‘For example, operations by law enforcement account for more than half of killings and injuries so far this year – a steep increase compared to 2024. Almost one third of people killed or injured were hit by stray bullets,’ Trk sid, noting that specialized police units have summarily executed 174 people this year, for alleged affiliation with gangs.
He said that since March, the government has stepped up its use of explosive drones in its anti-gang operations in Port-au-Prince.
‘As of mid-September, drone strikes have killed at least 559 people, including 11 children. Most of these drone strikes are likely unlawful under international human rights law,’ Trk said, adding that ‘the use of force by police and security personnel needs to respect the principles of legality, necessity, proportionality, non-discrimination, precaution, and accountability.
‘I urge the authorities to investigate all allegations of unnecessary and disproportionate use of force, and ensure perpetrators, regardless of affiliation, are brought to justice. It is deeply worrying that so-called self-defence groups and spontaneous crowds of people have killed more than 500 alleged gang members this year – with the alleged support of police officers.’
Trk said that a spiral of violence between gang members, the population, and the security forces will only add to people’s feelings of insecurity.
‘Efforts to restore security need to be rooted in human rights and go hand in hand with rebuilding the rule of law and justice in the country.The authorities, with the support of the international community, urgently need to root out impunity and corruption, including within state institutions.
‘It is also crucial to take meaningful steps to bring perpetrators to account for the grave human rights violations and abuses that have been committed,’ Trk added.
He said in addition, work needs to begin to address the country’s pervasive inequalities and poverty.
‘The people of Haiti need the unwavering attention and support of the international community. All States need to implement the Security Council’s arms embargo in full, to prevent the illicit trafficking of firearms and ammunition into Haiti. Enforcement at borders is absolutely crucial.
‘I urge States to support the Gang Suppression Force with sufficient funding and personnel. It is vital to ensure that robust human rights safeguards underpin its work. My Office is ready to continue providing advice on the conduct of operations in line with international human rights law. We can – and must – turn this situation around for the people of Haiti,’ Trk said.
Meanwhile, the World Food Programme (WFP) warned Thursday that rising violence by gangs in Haiti’s capital is restricting humanitarian access and pushing families deeper into hunger as extreme funding shortfalls force WFP to slash rations and suspend programmes.
WFP said that more farmers are cut off from markets, further straining already fragile food systems and pushing food prices even higher.
Funding shortfalls have also forced WFP to suspend hot meals for newly displaced families and to slash food rations in half. And for the first time, the lack of resources has prevented WFP from prepositioning food stocks to respond to a natural disaster during the Atlantic hurricane season.
Despite restricted access and extreme insecurity, WFP said it has reached more than two million people with assistance since January.
Efforts to support longer term food security and reduce dependence on aid are also continuing as WFP works with the government to provide school meals for 600,000 Haitian students. Alongside this, WFP has also been able to launch targeted community infrastructure projects, including in areas controlled by gangs, to restore irrigation systems and boost local food production.’
UN Deputy spokesman, Farhan Haq, said Haiti is the only country in the Americas, and one of only five countries globally, with people facing catastrophic (IPC5) levels of hunger, which is equivalent to famine-like conditions. It is also one of the world’s most severe food crises with 5.7 million people facing acute food insecurity.
He said the WFP requires US$139 million for the next 12 months to reach the country’s most vulnerable families.