The UN’s recent report on the human rights situation in Haiti paints a grim picture, revealing a staggering increase in gang violence that has left at least 5,626 people dead and over 2,213 injured over the past year. The ongoing brutality is fueled by armed gangs that have seized control across the capital and throughout the nation. This represents a sharp rise of more than 1,000 fatalities compared to the previous year, showcasing a disturbing trend of violence that has spiraled out of control.
Harrowing events unfolded in late 2024, with BINUH reporting at least 1,732 deaths and 411 injuries in the final quarter alone. The report details horrific massacres, including one in Port-au-Prince’s Wharf Jérémie neighborhood where a gang, led by Monel Felix, executed over 207 individuals accused of voodoo practices, with bodies burned or dismembered to erase evidence. Law enforcement remained silent during these days of terror, while subsequent retaliations by self-defense groups further exacerbated the violence.
Evidence from the report implicates Haiti’s security forces in serious human rights abuses, noting over 250 executions by police, including two young victims. Many people were killed after detainment, with instances of summary executions for trivial reasons. Additionally, the report highlights a lack of accountability within law enforcement, as investigations into these abuses languish, reflecting a persistent absence of oversight since mid-2023.
The terror extends to the plight of children, with a shocking 150% rise in kidnappings, particularly targeting minors. The report also signals a surge in sexual violence, with 94 documented instances in just the past quarter, leaving women and girls particularly vulnerable in gang-dominated areas. UNICEF warns of a 70% increase in child soldier recruitment, with boys as young as 12 coerced into violence, extortion, and kidnapping activities.
Haiti’s already strained judicial system finds itself in paralysis amid the crisis. Despite efforts to appoint officials to key judicial roles, investigations into high-profile gang-related massacres have stalled, with no arrests made by year’s end. Prime Minister Alix Didier Fils-Aimé called for inquiries into the violence, yet no significant judicial actions have been reported, further contributing to the sense of lawlessness.
Human Rights High Commissioner Volker Türk has stressed the urgent need for re-establishing law and order in Haiti. He urged the international community to deploy the Multinational Security Support mission and reinforce guidelines on arms shipments to the nation. As over a million people face displacement amid a humanitarian disaster, there is a vital call for immediate international intervention to restore stability in Haiti.
The UN report reveals that the human rights situation in Haiti is deteriorating alarmingly due to rampant gang violence, resulting in over 5,600 deaths and widespread human rights abuses, including state-sanctioned executions and a significant rise in child exploitation. The judicial system remains crippled, with investigations stalled and no accountability for security forces. Urgent international intervention is crucial to mitigate the escalating humanitarian crisis.
The ongoing human rights crisis in Haiti, marked by rampant gang violence, state-sanctioned executions, and a failing judiciary, illustrates a dire need for urgent international action. The UN report highlights increasing fatalities and grave human rights violations against vulnerable populations, including children. Without intervention and restoration of the rule of law, the humanitarian situation will likely continue to deteriorate, posing an extensive challenge to the nation’s future stability.
Original Source: news.un.org
