Since the assassination of Haitian President Jovenel Moïse in July 2021, violence by armed gangs steadily escalated, reaching unprecedented levels in 2024. Gangs have come to control the majority of the capital causing a far-reaching humanitarian crisis and prompting the UN Security Council to authorize an international security support force.
The escalating violence since 2021 across the Port-au-Prince metropolitan area and its surrounding environs has been nothing short of an attack on childhood.
It has caused widespread distress and undermined a myriad of children’s human rights, including the rights to education; to physical and mental development; to protection from violence, exploitation, and abuse; and to freedom of movement. It has robbed children of their right to play. Absent a firm commitment by Haitian authorities to protect the human rights of children in line with international and domestic legal obligations, including under the Convention on the Rights of the Child, and sustained support by international partners, the fabric of communities will be in peril for decades to come.
Based on 112 interviews – including with 51 children – Amnesty International examined the impact of gang violence on children in Haiti. Abuses and violations documented in eight communes of the West Department included: recruitment and use of children, rape and other forms of sexual violence, and killings and injuries. The impact of the violence on children with disabilities was also documented.
The report shows how gangs exploit children in desperate conditions including to run deliveries, gather information, and do domestic chores.
Girls as young as 14 spoke of how multiple gang members raped them during attacks on neighborhoods or after abductions. Researchers documented cases of children who lost limbs and sustained other catastrophic injuries due to stray bullets or from being targeted. Child protection actors said they need significantly more resources to address the situation.
The Haitian government must immediately step up efforts to address this assault on childhood, including through mobilizing international assistance.
Donors and the humanitarian community must ensure that funding and technical expertise are made available to support Haitian authorities, including in developing a comprehensive child protection plan.
Community-based initiatives are needed to start an effective reintegration process for children associated with the gangs. Crucial services such as education and psycho-social support are at the heart of ensuring rehabilitation for the victims.