Human Rights Crisis in Haiti

Introduction to the Crisis

GENEVA, CMC—The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk, said Friday that the human rights situation in Haiti has reached yet another crisis point and called on regional and international stakeholders, including the media, “ to put the spotlight on this crisis so that the intolerable suffering and destruction can end.

“The Haitian people cannot be forgotten,” Türk told the 58th session of the Human Rights Council, noting that when he last visited the French-speaking Caribbean Community (CARICOM) country, he heard communities calling out for help, exhausted and frightened from years of violence, insecurity, and unbearable precarity.

The Situation on the Ground

Türk said that the situation has dramatically worsened in the two years since then, telling the Council, “Their plea must be heard.

“Gangs are spreading into what were once gang-free areas in Port au Prince and its outskirts and are capturing key territory and infrastructure. Gangs have united to launch coordinated attacks, armed with powerful weapons and, in some cases, outnumbering and outpowering national security forces.

“Gangs are killing ordinary people, brutally punishing those who defy their rules or are suspected of collaborating with the police or self-defense groups,” he said, pausing for a minute. “Because I am not sure the usual description of gang violence captures the amount of unbearable suffering that has been inflicted on the Haitian people.”

He told the Council members that the report before them details how the use of trafficked firearms and different forms of ammunition are fueling a destructive cycle of violence, leading to severe human rights violations and abuses.

Gang Violence and Human Rights Abuses

Türk said that reports estimate that between 270,000 and 500,000 firearms are circulating illegally in Haiti, with most weapons in the hands of gangs. He noted that these increasingly sophisticated weapons are not manufactured in Haiti but consistently flow in from elsewhere.

The UN human rights official said that the full implementation of the United Nations Security Council’s arms embargo, as well as its targeted asset freeze and travel ban, “is critical,” noting that between July 1, 2024 and February 28 this year, 4,239 people were killed and 1,356 injured.

“Our Office estimates that 92 percent of the casualties resulted from the use of firearms. Several mass killings were documented. For example, during five days in early December, at least 207 people were killed by gangs controlling the Wharf Jérémie neighborhood of Cité Soleil.”

Türk said that the Viv Ansanm gang coalition and others had destroyed public institutions, including schools, orphanages, healthcare centers, and courts, attacked media outlets and humanitarian actors, and ransacked businesses.

Sexual Violence and Exploitation

“The ubiquitous presence of guns is central to their use of violence,” he said, adding that sexual violence, including collective rape and sexual exploitation, is increasingly used by gangs as a tool to coerce communities and assert their dominance.

“Under the threat of arms, many victims were attacked in their homes, while others were abducted, raped in public spaces, or seized while traveling on public transport. Several victims were shot dead after being raped. Services for survivors remain extremely scarce.”

Türk said that his office has also documented the forced recruitment, exploitation, and trafficking of children by gangs and that it has documented more than 700 kidnappings.

Response to the Crisis

“People with guns carried all out. Those who attempted to resist abduction were often shot dead.”

Türk told the Council that gangs are implementing their form of governance in the areas under their control. Despite significant efforts by the Haitian National Police, gang attacks are challenging the state’s control over the remaining territory and its ability to regain territories from the gangs.

He said during the reporting period, more than 2000 people were killed or injured in law enforcement operations against gangs, a 60 percent increase compared to the previous six-month period.

Türk said almost one-third of those killed were hit when they were not involved in acts of violence, often struck by stray bullets while in the streets or at home.

International Response

“My Office has documented at least 219 cases of summary executions by specialized police units during the reporting period, a substantial increase from 33 in 2023.”

The UN official said that lynching of gang members by self-defense groups and spontaneous angry mobs, sometimes facilitated or witnessed by Haitian police officers, have increased over the past few months, as the Haitian National Police and the Kenya-led Multinational Security Support (MSS) Mission are overwhelmed and lack resources.

“I urge States to advance the deployment of this mission quickly. OHCHR is advising the mission about developing and implementing the human rights compliance mechanism requested by the Security Council.”

Humanitarian Situation

Türk said corruption continues to be widespread in state institutions, including the judiciary and the police, which impedes their efficiency and the delivery of crucial services.

“Impunity for human rights violations deeply erodes public trust,” Türk said, adding, “The catastrophic humanitarian situation is deepening.”

He said more than one million people have been displaced in Haiti, many multiple times, 40,000 of whom have been forced to move in the past few weeks alone.

“One in every two Haitians – 5.5 million people – face acute food insecurity. Two million people face emergency levels of hunger. Nearly 6,000 displaced people are living in famine-like conditions.

“The impact on children is particularly devastating. Over half a million children are displaced, 50 percent more than in September 2024. Nearly one in four children in Haiti suffers from stunting due to malnutrition, which will impact them for life,” Türk said, telling the Council that only half of the health facilities are fully operational in the Port au Prince metropolitan area, with 31 percent forced to close due to insecurity over the years.

Conclusion

“Amidst all of this, the political transition, which held so much hope, is hanging by a thread,” he said, reiterating that the most crucial first step here is to stop the illicit flow of arms into the country.

“And without sustained action on the factors perpetuating this chaos, any gains in security or stability will be temporary,” Türk warned.

FAQs

Q: What is the current human rights situation in Haiti?

A: The human rights situation in Haiti has reached a crisis point, with widespread violence, insecurity, and human rights abuses.

Q: What is the main cause of the crisis?

A: The main cause of the crisis is the presence of gangs and the illicit flow of arms into the country.

Q: What is the international community doing to respond to the crisis?

A: The international community, including the United Nations, is working to provide humanitarian assistance and support to the Haitian government to address the crisis.

Q: What can be done to stop the crisis?

A: The most crucial first step is to stop the illicit flow of arms into the country, and to address the underlying causes of the crisis, including corruption and impunity.