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2mo ago

Haiti's Children Face Grave Abuses as Gang Violence Escalates

A new Amnesty International report reveals widespread recruitment, sexual violence, and killings of children in gang-controlled areas, with over one million children affected.

People line up to receive food at a shelter for families displaced by gang violence in the Kenscoff neighborhood of Port-au-Prince, Haiti, Monday, Feb. 3, 2025. (AP Photo/Odelyn Joseph)
PORT-AU-PRINCE, HAITI - DECEMBER 10: People walk past a car set on fire by armed gangs in the Poste Marchand area, The Poste Marchand neighborhood is one of the hardest hit areas. Long prey to gang attacks. Following this tragic event, many families fled the area, joining thousands of displaced people seeking refuge in other parts of the capital. Over the end of the year, more than 20,000 people were forced to flee gang violence in the metropolitan area of the capital, Port-au-Prince. Gang violence has plunged Port-au-Prince into chaos, with residents trapped in bloody clashes. This Tuesday, December 10, 2024 marks a few weeks since the uninterrupted violence, exacerbated since the announcement of the dismissal of Garry Conille as Prime Minister and the appointment of Alix Didier Fils-Aim to replace him. The security situation is deteriorating rapidly, with many neighborhoods under constant threat of gunfire from armed groups. Port-au-prince, Haiti, Tuesday December 10, 2024. (Photo by Guerinault Louis/Anadolu via Getty Images)
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Overview

  • Amnesty International's report documents severe human rights abuses against children in Haiti, including forced gang recruitment, sexual violence, and killings.
  • Over one million children live in areas controlled by gangs, with many coerced into criminal activities out of fear or hunger.
  • Girls face widespread sexual violence, including abductions and collective rape, often leading to pregnancies in a country with limited healthcare and criminalized abortion.
  • Children with disabilities face heightened risks, including inaccessible displacement sites and attacks on facilities meant to support them.
  • Amnesty calls for urgent international and governmental action, including child protection programs, healthcare access, and efforts to combat gang impunity.