GENEVA (20 February 2026) – A UN report
published on Friday details the brutal and widespread
trafficking of children by Haitian gangs, warning their
actions threaten not only the wellbeing of today’s
children but also of 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.
It describes the different forms of
exploitation to which children are subjected, ranging from
running errands, monitoring security forces, or collecting
extortion payments, to more violent acts like destruction of
property, kidnappings, targeted killings and sexual
violence.
“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 UN High Commissioner for Human Rights
Volker Türk.
There is no comprehensive data on the
number of children trafficked by gangs. However, in 2024,
the UN estimated that more than 500,000 children were living
in areas under gang control. As per the latest estimates,
gang violence has forced more than 1.4 million people to
flee their homes. More than half of them are
children.
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The report emphasizes that both structural
factors, such as poverty, weak institutions and social
exclusion, and situational factors like armed violence,
contribute to an environment where children are increasingly
at risk of being trafficked by gangs. They are either
enticed by what they perceive as power, social status or
protection, or lured through violence, threats, food or
drugs.
“This risk is particularly acute for children
from extremely poor and marginalized families, as well as
those living on the streets or in displaced persons’
sites,” says the report.
While acknowledging ongoing
efforts by State authorities, civil society, and the
international community, the report underscores that current
responses are insufficient, fragmented and largely
under-resourced.
The report also says that despite
some initiatives, insufficient attention is given to
preventing child trafficking before it occurs, including by
addressing the economic, social, and educational root causes
that place children at risk of trafficking, while also
ensuring accountability for traffickers to prevent future
violations.
It highlights that law enforcement
officials often view children trafficked by gangs as
perpetrators rather than victims. In some circumstances,
some children accused of gang association have been
summarily executed by police officers or killed by so-called
self-defence groups, stresses the report.
“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.
To
achieve this, BINUH and the UN Human Rights Office call for
a comprehensive, human rights-centered strategy built around
seven pillars: expanding social protection programs for
vulnerable families in the capital, reinforcing schools as
protective spaces, developing child-friendly spaces outside
schools, increasing youth vocational and employment
opportunities, strengthening rights-compliant law
enforcement, prioritizing rehabilitation over punishment,
and improving accountability for child
traffickers.
Türk added that it is essential that the
newly-created Gang Suppression Force ensures that
children’s rights are fully respected during the planning
and conduct of operations against gangs, in accordance with
international human rights law.
“It is equally
crucial that national and international authorities focus on
curbing the illicit flow of arms pouring into Haiti,” he
said. “The UN arms embargo must be enforced without delay
if we want to stop the never-ending cycle of
violence.”
