UN warns of widespread child trafficking by gangs in Haiti

A new UN report released Friday details the brutal exploitation of children by Haitian gangs, warning that their actions endanger not only today’s youth but also 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. Children are forced into a range of activities, from running errands and collecting extortion payments to violent acts, including kidnappings, property destruction, targeted killings, and sexual abuse.

“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 Volker Türk.

While precise numbers are unavailable, the UN estimates that over 500,000 children lived in gang-controlled areas in 2024, and more than 1.4 million people—including over half children—have been displaced by gang violence. The report identifies structural factors, such as poverty and weak institutions, as well as situational factors, including armed violence, as drivers of the crisis. Children may be enticed by perceived power, social status, or protection, or coerced through threats, violence, food, or drugs.

The report criticizes fragmented and under-resourced responses from authorities, civil society, and international partners. It notes that trafficked children are often treated as perpetrators rather than victims, with some facing summary execution or vigilante violence.

“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.

The UN recommends a seven-pillar, human rights-centered strategy, including expanding social protection for vulnerable families, reinforcing schools as protective spaces, creating child-friendly spaces outside schools, increasing youth employment opportunities, ensuring rights-compliant law enforcement, prioritizing rehabilitation over punishment, and improving accountability for traffickers.

Türk added that the newly-created Gang Suppression Force must respect children’s rights in all operations and called for strict enforcement of the UN arms embargo to stem the flow of weapons fueling the cycle of violence.