Enfants victimes de la traite par les gangs en Haïti : Repenser les réponses

OHCHR BINUH CHILDREN TRAFFICKED BY GANGS IN HAITI : FEBRUARY 2026 RETHINKING THE RESPONSES © 2026 United Nations This work is available open access by complying with the Creative Commons license created for inter-governmental organizations, available at: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc- nd/3.0/igo/ Publishers must delete the UN emblem from their edition and create a new cover design. Publishers should email the file of their edition to publications@un.org. Photocopies and reproductions of excerpts are allowed with proper credits. Cover photo: © Learning Space at Institute of Social Welfare and Research (ISWR), Port-au-Prince, 2025 TABLE OF CONTENT EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ........................................................................................................................................ PART I ............................................................................................................................................................... II. CHILDREN VICTIMS OF TRAFFICKING BY GANGS: SCOPE AND HUMAN RIGHTS CONSIDERATIONS.......................... 2.1. Definition of trafficking in persons ...................................................................................................... 2.2. Extent of child trafficking by gangs ..................................................................................................... 2.3. Perpetrators of child trafficking .......................................................................................................... 3.1. Use of threats and violence against children and their families............................................................. I. CONTEXT: IMPACT OF GANG VIOLENCE ON CHILDREN...................................................................................... III. TACTICS USED BY GANGS TO TRAFFIC CHILDREN........................................................................................... 3.2. Transactional relationships: from in-kind benefits to financial incentives.............................................. 3.3. Perceived social status and protection through affiliation with gangs................................................... 4.2. Recruitment for the purpose of exploitation in criminal activities.......................................................... 5.1. Social protection programmes for families.......................................................................................... 5.3.1. Initiatives to keep children in school in gang-controlled areas.................................................................. 5.4.1. Programs implemented by civil society and faith-based organizations .................................................... IV. FORMS OF CHILD EXPLOITATION BY GANGS .................................................................................................. 5.4. Child-friendly spaces outside the school setting .................................................................................. 5.5. Mental health care services ................................................................................................................ 5.4.2. Programs implemented by the State ...................................................................................................... 5.6. Strengthening vocational training and employment opportunities to combat social discrimination......... 4.1. Recruitment for the purpose of exploitation in “minor” tasks or services............................................... 3.2.1. Meeting basic needs ............................................................................................................................ 3.2.2. Distribution of money, sought-after items and drugs .............................................................................. 4.2.1. “Initiation rites”..................................................................................................................................... 4.3. Girls exploited by gangs: from recruitment to sexual exploitation and sexual slavery.............................. PART II .............................................................................................................................................................. V. ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL RESPONSES............................................................................................................. 5.2. Access to financial services................................................................................................................ 5.3. Schools as protective spaces.............................................................................................................. 5.3.2. Civic education initiatives ...................................................................................................................... V 10 11 12 12 13 13 15 15 16 16 16 17 19 19 19 19 21 22 23 23 25 25 25 25 28 28 28 29 29 4.2.2. Types of exploitation in criminal acts...................................................................................................... 20 6.1. Law enforcement operations aimed at weakening gang capabilities.......................................................... VI. LAW ENFORCEMENT OPERATIONS AND JUSTICE MEASURES................................................................................ 6.1.1. Law enforcement’s conduct toward children trafficked by gangs during security operations........................... 6.2.1. Protocol on the Transfer, Reception, and Care of Children Associated with Armed Gangs Encountered during Security Operations on National Territory............................................................................................................. 6.2.4. Limited reintegration and rehabilitation programs ........................................................................................ ANNEX 1- METHODOLOGY......................................................................................................................... 6.3.1. Limited impact of the national legal framework and judicial jurisdiction ....................................................... 6.2.3. Overcrowding at the Rehabilitation Center for Minors in Conflict with the Law .............................................. 6.2.2. Specialized children’s court: from dysfunction to limited implementation of the non-punishment principle...... 6.1.2. Measures to combat the illicit trafficking of firearms and ammunition......................................................... 6.2. Children in conflict with the law: Implementation of child rights–respectful justice.................................... 6.3. Accountability for the crime of child trafficking......................................................................................... 6.3.2. Improving the domestic approach............................................................................................................... VII. CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS.............................................................................................. ANNEX 2- INTERNATIONAL LEGAL FRAMEWORK.......................................................................................... 30 30 31 31 32 32 35 35 36 37 37 37 38 41 42 In Haiti, at least 26 gangs operate in the metropolitan area of Port-au-Prince, as well as in several communes in the Artibonite and Centre departments. The majority of them are involved in child trafficking . 1 2 Based on quantitative and qualitative data, this report — published jointly by the Human Rights Service (HRS) of the United Nations Integrated Office in Haiti (BINUH) and the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) — shows that both structural and contextual factors contribute to creating an environment in which children are increasingly exposed to the risk of trafficking by gangs. This risk is particularly acute for children from extremely poor and marginalized families, as well as for those living on the streets or in displacement sites. The report also documents the various tactics used by gangs to recruit children, particularly in the metropolitan area of Port-au-Prince, including the use of violence and threats against those who resist or attempt to leave. Gangs also lure children by offering in-kind benefits, regular pay, or drugs. They specifically target children at risk, seeking a sense of belonging, support, social recognition, and protection. In addition, the report describes in detail the different forms of exploitation faced by children. For example, boys are often used to carry out various tasks, including running errands, delivering messages, monitoring security forces and people’s movements, and collecting extortion payments. Over time, after being subjected to violent “initiation rites,” they may be forced to take part in more serious crimes, including targeted killings, kidnappings, sexual violence, and the destruction of property. Some are also involved in clashes with law enforcement. Girls, for their part, are frequently victims of rape, including collective rape, sexual exploitation and sexual slavery; they are forced to perform domestic work and, in some cases, are also compelled to engage in criminal activities. Child trafficking by gangs seriously undermines the full range of children’s rights, exposing them to violence and exploitation and depriving them of essential opportunities such as access to education and decent living conditions. The long-term consequences are devastating, threatening not only the well- being of today’s children, but also the prospects of future generations. While some initiatives by State authorities, as well as international and national organizations, seek to address the harm suffered by children involved with gangs, insufficient attention is paid upstream to the prevention of child trafficking. In the absence of urgent measures to protect children from such abuses, Haiti’s very future is at risk. In this context, the HRS of BINUH and OHCHR recommend rethinking the response by the various actors to child trafficking by gangs, by adopting a human rights-based approach that considers these children first and foremost as victims, in accordance with international law and standards . 3 The report proposes a comprehensive and integrated response by State authorities, supported by Haitian civil society organizations and the international community, structured around seven pillars. These pillars address the root causes — economic, social and educational — that expose children and their families to the risk of trafficking, while ensuring accountability for the perpetrators of this crime as a means of preventing future violations. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY V [1] See page 14 for a list of these gangs. [2] Child trafficking is defined as the recruitment, transportation, transfer, harbouring, or receipt of any person under 18 years of age, irrespective of the means used, for the purpose of exploitation including forced criminality and sexual exploitation. For more information, see the UN Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons, Especially Women and Children, supplementing the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime (also known as the “Palermo Protocol”). [3] For more details on the international legal framework, see Annex II. Schools play a crucial deterrent role by offering both learning opportunities and protection from gang influence. However, corruption, chronic underfunding, reliance on private education, and gang violence seriously undermine the enjoyment of the right to education . In areas under gang control, schools are only allowed to operate if they pay “taxes” to gang leaders. In some cases, school fees are covered by these same gangs in exchange for children’s involvement in their activities. Despite these challenges, public authorities and international partners, including United Nations agencies, continue to support children’s school attendance through the establishment of school canteens, the rehabilitation of schools, the creation of temporary learning spaces, cash transfers to families, and the distribution of school supplies. 4 Schools can also foster a protective environment for children through civic education initiatives, such as those carried out by the Community Education Police (EDUPOL) and Peace and Integrity Clubs, which are designed to strengthen resilience to gang influence, promote social cohesion and cultivate a culture of peace. Strengthening the capacity and status of teachers is equally essential, so that they are equipped with the skills needed to identify and address potential cases of human trafficking within the school and the wider community. Although these interventions are not immune to gang interference, they are extremely complex to implement and entail security risks for both public and private actors. Nevertheless, the State, with the support of the international community and civil society organizations, must continue and strengthen these efforts in order to guarantee access to education and maintain schools as safe spaces, with a view to reducing gang influence over children. Pillar I - Strengthening social protection programmes and access to financial services for families from marginalized neighbourhoods Families constitute the first line of protection against the recruitment of children by gangs. The report calls for strengthening and adapting social protection programmes to urban dynamics in order to improve families’ social and economic conditions and to address the main risk factors for trafficking, such as limited access to education or families’ lack of financial resources — obstacles that reduce children’s employment prospects when they reach working age. Existing social protection programmes remain underfunded and heavily dependent on donor assistance. Their geographical coverage is limited, notably excluding large urban areas under gang control. They also face operational challenges, such as errors in beneficiary targeting and constraints that hinder the conversion of digital cash transfers into usable cash. In addition, institutional mechanisms for monitoring and evaluation, as well as accountability mechanisms to improve their efficiency and effectiveness, are lacking. This is compounded by serious difficulties in accessing financial services supported by public banks or community initiatives, which are nevertheless essential to achieve medium- and long-term impact, in complement to social programmes. Ultimately, this situation leaves families — particularly female-headed households — with insufficient support to prevent the recruitment of children or to help them disengage from gang activities. Pillar II - Supporting schools as protective spaces EXECUTIVE SUMMARY VI [4] In 2025, 1,606 schools were closed across Haiti, affecting 243,000 students, according to UNICEF (July 31, 2025). “Haiti Humanitarian Situation Report No. 6,” available at https://reliefweb.int/attachments/d64cc276-e61d-4e51- 98c5-b9911c608a05/UNICEF%20Haiti%20Humanitarian%20Situation%20Report%20No.%206%20-%20Mid- Year%202025.pdf Pillar III - Developing child-friendly spaces outside of school As schools struggle to operate in areas under gang control, child-friendly spaces outside the formal education system have become essential to reducing child trafficking by gangs. Although these structures — limited in number and often run by community-based and faith-based organizations — provide services such as food distributions, medical care, psychosocial support, recreational and sports activities, and support to parents, they are severely hindered by insecurity. They also face difficulties in securing donor funding, in particular because of fears of negative publicity or a perception of complicity. Specialized mental health services provided by these organizations are also scarce and costly, leaving the majority of children without access to specialized care. As part of government efforts, an ad hoc Presidential Commission was established in June 2025 to launch a national network of reception centres and rehabilitation homes, providing safe spaces and psychosocial support to children who are victims of trafficking by gangs. During the same period, a programme known as PREJEUNES was set up by the public authorities, with the support of UNICEF, to provide community-based assistance through “Youth Centres” established in the capital. Poverty in Haiti pushes many people, including children, to seek sources of income from a very young age, often through illegal activities carried out by gangs, in order to meet their own needs or those of their families. In this context, non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and local service providers have implemented small-scale vocational training initiatives, offering short-term income and skills development. However, the impact of these initiatives remains limited, due to the scale of the employment crisis and the reluctance of many businesses to hire people from marginalized areas, who are stigmatized as posing risks to companies’ operations or reputation. It is therefore essential to design and implement vocational training programmes that are closely tailored to the specific needs and realities of local economies, in order to expand young people’s prospects for decent employment when they enter the labor market and thereby reduce their vulnerability to exclusion and exploitation. Pillar IV - Strengthening vocational training initiatives and young people’s future employment opportunities to combat poverty and marginalization EXECUTIVE SUMMARY VII Pillar V - Reducing gangs’ capacity through strengthened law enforcement measures As of 31 January 2026, operations conducted by the security forces have slowed the territorial expansion of gangs in the capital but have not succeeded in regaining control of areas under their control or dismantling their criminal governance. Support for these operations therefore remains a priority, while ensuring compliance with international human rights law and standards, in particular with regard to the treatment of children who are victims of trafficking by gangs. In this respect, operations must be conducted in accordance with the “Protocol on the Transfer, Reception, and Care of Children Associated with Armed Gangs Encountered during Security Operations on National Territory”, signed in 2023 between the Government and the United Nations . 5 In some circumstances, children accused of association with gangs have been victims of extreme violence, including summary executions carried out by law enforcement and killings perpetrated by so-called self-defence groups. Respect for human rights by law enforcement is both a legal obligation of the State and a key factor in strengthening community trust. The deployment of the recently established Gang Suppression Force (GSF), tasked with conducting anti-gang operations, must also ensure that the rights of the child are fully respected and protected in the planning and conduct of its operations, in accordance with international human rights law and United Nations Security Council resolution 2793 (2025). To the extent that access to and possession of firearms and ammunition strengthen the control exercised by gangs over the population, including children , the authorities’ efforts to combat illicit arms flows must continue, notably through strengthening the capacities of customs services and specialized police units, and by pursuing accountability for high-level individuals involved in trafficking networks. In addition, the national authorities should advance the National Strategy on Disarmament, Demobilization, Reintegration and Community Violence Reduction (DDR-CVR), adopted in 2021, in particular its provisions on voluntary disarmament. At the same time, the international community should ensure the strict implementation of the United Nations arms embargo on Haiti. 6 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY VIII [5] For more details, see the Protocol between the Government of the Republic of Haiti (under the leadership of the Ministry of Social Affairs and Labour) on the Transfer, Reception, and Care of Children Associated with Armed Gangs Encountered during Security Operations on National Territory. [6] See United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (March 28, 2025), “Human Rights Situation in Haiti,” A/HRC/58/76, available at https://docs.un.org/en/A/HRC/55/76 The “Protocol on the Transfer, Reception, and Care of Children Associated with Armed Gangs Encountered during Security Operations on National Territory”, in line with international human rights law standards, considers children associated with gangs first and foremost as victims. It prioritizes family- or community-based solutions, accompanied by rehabilitation and reintegration measures, rather than detention. Despite this, the Haitian judicial authorities appear to place greater emphasis on the principle of the criminal responsibility of minors than on the principle of non-punishment applicable to victims of trafficking. In addition, cases involving children associated with gangs are often handled by a dysfunctional juvenile justice system . In Port-au-Prince, these children are detained alongside other children in conflict with the law and adults at the Centre for the Reintegration of Children in Conflict with the Law (CERMICOL), the only operational detention facility in the capital . Many children remain there in prolonged pretrial detention under inhuman conditions and have little or no access to educational or rehabilitation services . 7 8 9 In the face of these challenges, the HRS supports the judicial authorities in ensuring fair and effective judicial proceedings for children formerly associated with gangs, while advocating for human rights-based responses. This includes promoting rehabilitation and reintegration measures in place of criminal prosecution, as well as calling for the release of children who are arbitrarily and unlawfully detained. Pillar VI - Prioritizing rehabilitation and reintegration measures for children over punitive measures Despite the existence of a legal and institutional framework to combat child trafficking, in line with applicable international norms and standards, accountability in practice remains extremely weak due to limited investigative and prosecutorial capacities. In light, among others, of these structural shortcomings, as well as other deficiencies that seriously affect the functioning of the justice system, the Haitian Government approved by decree, in April 2025, the creation of two specialized judicial units, developed with the support of the HRS and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC). One of these units is responsible for investigating serious human rights violations - including child trafficking - and prosecuting those responsible, while the other focuses on complex financial crimes. Alongside the development of specialized capacities within the police and the strengthening of cooperation with foreign jurisdictions, including through the use of extraterritorial jurisdiction, these units will play a decisive role in ensuring criminal accountability for the crime of child trafficking. Pillar VII - Strengthening the fight against impunity for the crime of child trafficking and access to effective remedies EXECUTIVE SUMMARY IX [7] See United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (28 March 2024). “Situation of human rights in Haiti”, A/HRC/55/76, available at https://docs.un.org/en/A/HRC/55/76 . [8] Ibidem [9] Ibidem PART I Context: impact of armed gang violence on children Children victims of trafficking by gangs: scope and human rights considerations Tactics used by gangs to traffic children Forms of child exploitation by gangs UNITED NATIONS HUMAN RIGHTS OFFICE OF THE HIGH COMMISSIONER I. II . III. IV . In recent years, Haiti has experienced an escalation in gang-related violence, both in terms of intensity and territorial reach. Since the beginning of 2023, violence that was previously concentrated in the metropolitan area of Port-au-Prince has gradually spread to the rural areas surrounding the capital, as well as to the Artibonite and Centre departments . 10 Children have not been spared by this violence. According to the HRS, between January 2022 and December 2025, of the 26,188 people killed or injured, at least 806 were children (536 boys and 270 girls) . 11 These victims (killed and injured) result from three dynamics: attacks carried out by gangs (72 per cent of child victims), security operations against gangs, including summary executions (25 per cent), and acts of “popular justice” perpetrated by so-called self-defence groups, as well as by members of the population (three per cent). These data are, however, far from exhaustive . For example, according to local sources, children associated with gangs who are killed during clashes between rival groups or in the course of police operations often remain unidentified . 12 13 During this period, at least 220 children were also kidnapped for ransom by gangs . The victims were abducted from their homes, on their way to or from school, while walking, or while going about other daily activities. 14 I. CONTEXT: IMPACT OF ARMED GANG VIOLENCE ON CHILDREN 11 During security operations against gangs and summary executions By acts of “popular justice" By gang attacks Total 806 72% 25% 3% Breakdown of child victims (killings and injuries) by perpetrator and/or context 2022–2025 In addition, numerous girls and, to a lesser extent, boys have been victims of rape, often committed by multiple perpetrators, during gang attacks in neighbourhoods controlled by rival groups or in other areas targeted for expansion. Sexual violence has also been perpetrated against girls while travelling on public transport, during captivity following kidnappings, and in makeshift sites hosting displaced persons. Gang violence has also severely undermined children’s ability to enjoy their economic, social and cultural rights. Violations include, in particular, restricted access to education and health care following the closure of facilities, as well as deteriorating access to drinking water, sanitation, nutrition, and food security, notably as a result of forced displacement and loss of livelihoods. In 2025, 1,606 schools were closed across Haiti, affecting 243,000 students , while only 5 per cent of the 93 health facilities assessed in the metropolitan area of Port-au-Prince were fully operational . 15 16 [10] OHCHR and BINUH (July 2025), “Intensification of criminal violence in Lower Artibonite, the Centre Department and areas east of the metropolitan area of Port-au-Prince”, available at https://www.ohchr.org/sites/default/files/2025-07/2025-july-artibonite-and- mirebalais-EN.pdf [11] According to the HRS, 18,187 people were killed (15,511 men, 2,163 women, 345 boys and 168 girls), and 8,001 were injured (6,151 men, 1,557 women, 191 boys and 102 girls). [12] For other violations, see United Nations Security Council (17 June 2025), “Children and Armed Conflict: Report of the Secretary- General”, available at https://digitallibrary.un.org/record/4084012?ln=fr&v=pdf [13] Their bodies are often mutilated or disfigured by the power of the firearms used, or burned either by the police or by gangs in order to prevent their identification, or for so-called “mystical” purposes linked to alleged religious practices. [14] Of the 5,454 documented kidnappings, 3,472 victims were men, 1,762 were women, 116 were boys and 104 were girls. [15] Sixty per cent of these schools are located in the West department. For further details, see UNICEF (31 July 2025), “Haiti Humanitarian Situation Report No. 6”, available at https://www.unicef.org/media/172991/file/Haiti%20Humanitarian-SitRep-Mid-Year- 2025.pdf [16] United Nations Security Council (27 June 2025), “S/2025/418”, available at https://docs.un.org/en/S/2025/418 12 II. CHILDREN AS VICTIMS OF TRAFFICKING BY GANGS: SCOPE AND HUMAN RIGHTS CONSIDERATIONS Among the various violations committed against children in Haiti in recent years, recruitment by gangs has been frequently reported by national and international organizations and the media . Nevertheless, this phenomenon has not been sufficiently addressed through the lens of trafficking, which requires the implementation of specific prevention and protection measures. 17 2.1. Definition of trafficking in persons Under its international commitments, Haiti has legal obligations to protect children from violence – including abuse and exploitation by criminal gangs – and to ensure their rehabilitation and reintegration. These obligations apply regardless of whether a child has been formally identified as a victim of trafficking . 18 19 The main international instrument establishing both the definition of trafficking and the obligations of States is the Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons, Especially Women and Children, supplementing the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime. In accordance with this Protocol, children cannot legally consent to their own exploitation; any involvement is therefore presumed to be coercive, regardless of any apparent consent. It should further be noted that the victim’s consent in no way affects the criminal liability of the perpetrator of the offence . 20 However, analysing the facts surrounding trafficking can provide valuable insights into its root causes and help inform the design of targeted interventions. The act : recruiting, transporting, transferring, harbouring, or receiving the person. 1 The means : using threat, force, other forms of coercion, a position of vulnerability, or the giving or receiving of payments or benefits to facilitate the act. Unlike in the case of adults, there is no legal requirement to show “means” in the case of children. 2 The purpose of exploitation : forced criminality, the prostitution of others or other forms of sexual exploitation, forced labour or services, slavery or practices similar to slavery, servitude or the removal of organs. 3 Source: UN Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons, Especially Women and Children, supplementing the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime (also known as the “Palermo Protocol”) The crime of trafficking comprises three essential and interrelated elements: [17] See, for example, Le Nouvelliste (5 September 2023), “Street children, fertile ground for recruitment by armed gangs”, available at https://lenouvelliste.com/article/244288/les-enfants-des-rues-un-terrain-fertile-de-recrutement-pour-les-gangs-armes ; Ayibopost (18 June 2024), “My life as a child member of 5 Segonn in Village de Dieu”, available at https://ayibopost.com/my-life-as-a-child-member-of-5- segonn-in-village-de-dieu/ ; and Amnesty International (12 February 2025), “Gangs’ assault on childhood in Haiti”, available at https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/news/2025/02/haiti-children-suffering-gang-recruitment-attacks-sexual-violence/ [18] See United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (1 September 2025), “The rights of the child and human rights violations against children in armed conflicts”, A/HRC/60/51, para. 60: “In areas where organized criminal gangs or paramilitary groups operate, children are exposed to extreme violence, including killings, mutilations, exploitation and abuse. States have an obligation to adopt comprehensive strategies based on the rights of the child in order to prevent and respond to such violations” (arts. 19 and 34–38), available at https://docs.un.org/en/A/HRC/60/51 [19] Convention on the Rights of the Child, articles 19 and 34 to 39 [20] OHCHR (2014). “Fact Sheet No. 36: Human Rights and Human Trafficking”, available at https://www.ohchr.org/en/publications/fact- sheets/fact-sheet-no-36-human-rights-and-human-trafficking , page 35 13 2.2. Scale of child trafficking by gangs In 2024, more than 500,000 children were living in areas under gang control . By December 2025, gang violence had forced over 1,400,000 people to seek refuge in overcrowded makeshift sites or with host families . More than 53 percent of these people were children . 21 22 23 All of these circumstances expose children to an increased risk of human rights violations, including trafficking . 24 Nevertheless, there are currently no comprehensive data on the number of children who are victims of trafficking by gangs. The limited information available relates only to the number of children recruited by gangs, which represents only a fraction of the children who are actually victims of trafficking. By way of example, according to the annual report of the United Nations Secretary-General on children and armed conflict, at least 302 children (256 boys and 46 girls) were recruited and exploited by gangs . 25 Despite this lack of quantitative data, qualitative information collected from victims’ families, State authorities, local service providers, United Nations agencies and other international organizations confirms an alarming increase in the number of children who are victims of trafficking by gangs . 26 [21] OHCHR (June 2024), “Haiti: A growing number of displaced persons are in desperate need of protection and priority assistance, UN experts urge,” available at https://www.ohchr.org/fr/press-releases/2024/06/haiti-soaring-number-displaced-desperately-need- protection-and-aid-priority [22] International Organization for Migration (IOM) (September 2025), “Haiti – Report on the displacement situation in Haiti – Round 11”, available at https://dtm.iom.int/fr/node/57236 [23] Ibidem [24] United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) (25 September 2023), “Situation of human rights in Haiti”, available at https://docs.un.org/en/A/HRC/54/79 [25] Report of the Secretary-General (17 June 2025), “Children and armed conflict”, A/79/878–S/2025/247, available at https://docs.un.org/en/s/2025/247 [26] These findings are supported by several elements, including reports from local service providers interviewed by the HRS, who indicated that in recent months there has been an increase in the number of families seeking assistance to help their children disengage from gangs. In addition, during recent human rights awareness sessions organized by the HRS, police officers involved in anti-gang operations reported an alarming increase in the presence of children manning illegal checkpoints in the streets of the capital. [27] The HRS collected and corroborated information, including digital evidence, that established a link between these gangs and child trafficking. [28] This resolution was subsequently renewed by resolutions 2700 (2023), 2752 (2024) and 2794 (2025). [29] These seven individuals are Jimmy Chérizier, leader of the Delmas 6 gang; Jonhson André, leader of the Village de Dieu gang; Renel Destina, leader of the Grand Ravine gang; Wilson Joseph, leader of the 400 Mawozo gang; Vitelhomme Innocent, leader of the Kraze Baryè gang; Luckson Élan, leader of the Gran Grif gang; and Kempes Sanon, leader of the Bel Air gang. [30] United Nations sanctions targeting Luckson Élan, Wilson Joseph and Innocent Vitelhomme: https://main.un.org/securitycouncil/en/content/luckson-elan ; https://main.un.org/securitycouncil/en/content/wilson-joseph ; and https://main.un.org/securitycouncil/en/content/vitelhomme-innocent [31] United Nations Security Council (June 2025), “Children and armed conflict, Report of the Secretary-General”, A/79/878–S/2025/247, available at https://docs.un.org/en/s/2025/247 2.3. Perpetrators of child trafficking On the basis of testimonies, videos of gang attacks and propaganda content disseminated by gang members on social media, the HRS established that the 26 gangs operating in the metropolitan area of Port-au- Prince, as well as in significant areas of the Artibonite and Centre departments, are involved, to varying degrees, in child trafficking, in particular for the purposes of recruitment and exploitation in criminal activities. 27 Seven gang leaders are subject to sanctions imposed by the United Nations Security Council under resolution 2653 (2022) , for acts constituting a threat to the peace and security of the country, including their involvement in criminal activities and human rights abuses . Three of these individuals — Luckson Élan, Wilson Joseph and Innocent Vitelhomme, the respective leaders of the Gran Grif, 400 Mawozo and Kraze Baryè gangs — are listed for the recruitment of children . The Viv Ansanm coalition is also listed for the recruitment and use of children in the 2024 annual report of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict for the year 2024 . 28 29 30 31 14 [32] United Nations Security Council concerning Luckson Élan: https://main.un.org/securitycouncil/en/content/luckson-elan , and United Nations Security Council (30 September 2024), “Letter dated 30 September 2024 from the Panel of Experts established pursuant to Security Council resolution 2653 (2022) addressed to the President of the Security Council”, S/2024/704, para. 128, available at https://digitallibrary.un.org/record/4064700?ln=en&v=pdf [33] These individuals are Christ-Roi Chéry, Luckson Élan, Wilson Joseph, Jeff Larosse and Innocent Vitelhomme. Prophane Victor, a former Haitian parliamentarian, and Dimitri Hérard, former head of the General Security Unit of the National Palace (GSUNP) under the presidency of Jovenel Moïse, are also on the United Nations sanctions list. Prophane Victor is suspected of involvement in arms trafficking and of having resorted to violence, including through the creation and support of the Gran Grif gang. Dimitri Hérard is suspected of having played a central role in supporting criminal networks and gangs in Haiti, in particular by helping the Ti Bwa gang strengthen its operational capacities. The gangs 400 Mawozo, Belekou, Brooklyn, Gran Grif, Grand Ravine and its 103 Zombies cell, Ti Bwa, and Village de Dieu are highly involved in child trafficking . 32 Beyond the United Nations framework, unilateral sanctions have also been imposed by Canada, the European Union (EU), the United Kingdom and the United States against these individuals, as well as against 37 other actors involved in activities undermining peace and security in Haiti, including gang violence, corruption and other serious crimes. Some of these sanctions regimes explicitly cite the recruitment of children among the grounds for listing five gang leaders . 33 Chen Mechan Croix-des-Bouquets (West dept.) Delmas Delmas (West dept.) Délugé Montrouis (Artibonite dept.) Descahos Gonaïves (Artibonite dept.) Gran Grif Petite Rivière de l’Artibonite (Artibonite dept.) Grand Ravine Port-au-Princee (West dept.) Kokorat Sans Ras L’Estère (Artibonite dept.) Les Argentins Port-au-Prince (West dept.) La Saline Port-au-Prince ( West dept.) Pierre VI Cité Soleil (West dept.) Raboteau Gonaïves (Artibonite dept.) Simon Pelé Cité Soleil (West dept.) Terre Noire Cité Soleil (West dept.) Ti Bwa Port-au-Prince (West dept.) and Carrefour (West dept.) Tokyo Delmas (West dept.) Village de Dieu Port-au-Prince (West dept.) Wharf Jérémie Port-au-Prince (West dept.) Krache Difè Port-au-Prince (West dept.) Kraze Baryè Pétion Ville (West dept.) and Tabarre (West dept.) Name of gangs Areas controlled by gangs 103 Zombies Gressier (West dept.) 400 Mawozo Croix-des-Bouquets and Ganthier (West dept.) and Mirebalais (Centre dept.) Base Pilate Port-au-Prince (West dept.) Belekou Cité Soleil (West dept.) Boston Cité Soleil (West dept.) Brooklyn Cité Soleil (West dept.) Canaan Croix-des-Bouquets (West dept.) and Saut d’Eau (Centre dept.) 15 to increased surveillance and, in some cases, direct threats aimed at forcing the children to rejoin the gang. Out of fear of reprisals and in the absence of relocation options outside areas under gang control, families rarely report such incidents to the police or to service providers. III. TACTICS USED BY GANGS TO TRAFFIC CHILDREN In marginalized areas under gang control, where State authoriti es and public services have either withdrawn because of insecurity or were never effectively present, large segments of the population, including children, are threatened or coerced into accepting gangs as “social regulators”. These gangs establish and enforce illegal rules governing behaviour, movement and economic activities, and often control access to services, using violence to ensure compliance with those rules. The has HRS documented various tactics used by gangs in child trafficking: (i) the use of violence and threats against children and their families; (ii) the provision of in-kind benefits or cash payments, as well as drugs; and (iii) the creation of a sense of belonging and the granting of “social status”. The recruitment of children by gangs has evolved in line with their operational needs. According to information collected by the HRS, recruitment appears to increase immediately following periods marked by clashes between rival gangs or between gangs and security forces. These violent confrontations result in significant losses among gang members . In response, gangs resort to violence, threats and coercion in order to rapidly replenish their ranks and maintain their operational capacities. For example, in some neighbourhoods, gangs have destroyed the homes of families who refused to allow their children to be recruited. 34 Gangs also resort to violence against children and their families who attempt to disengage from them. Some children have been severely beaten or shot in the hands or feet, while others have been killed in public places. The fear of such retaliation often keeps children trapped within the gang. Service providers have also observed that, when children manage to leave a gang, their families are often subjected 3.1. Use of threats and violence against children and their families *Interview of a former gang element, Joseph, 16 years old “I grew up in a poor neighbourhood where gangs controlled everything. I saw armed men in the streets all the time. Some were well-dressed, had nice cars, and were surrounded by women. They were the ones who made the rules in our neighbourhood. For us children, it was normal. We didn’t have many opportunities to play sports or have fun, and there really wasn’t any hope for the future. One day, towards the end of August 2024, I was hanging out with a friend and he told me that he was part of a gang. He talked to me about all the positive things the gang gave him, like money and the feeling of being important. He told me I should join them too. I hesitated because I knew it was dangerous, but I decided to give it a try. Shortly after I joined, a gang member gave me a radio and asked me to monitor the police and inform the gang of their movements. Then the gang leader gave me a firearm. There were rumours of a major police operation, and I was told that I would have to fight the police. I was afraid, because I did not want to be killed. I told the gang leader that I wanted to go home. He became very angry and struck me with the weapon. He hit me repeatedly until he broke my hand. He told me that if I tried to leave, he would kill me. Even though I was very afraid of the gang, I managed to escape shortly afterwards. Someone in my community told me about an organization that could help me get medical care and support. I contacted them in September 2024 and, since then, they have been helping me through psychosocial counselling and support to cope with everything I went through”. Source: Service provider [34] Limited access on the ground and to relevant services, owing to security constraints, has in many cases hindered the HRS’s ability to determine the age of gang members killed during clashes with the police. This constraint makes it particularly difficult to distinguish between older adolescents and young adults, thereby affecting the accuracy of the related figures. 16 3.2. Transactional relationships: from in- kind benefits to financial incentives In marginalized areas, the absence of State services and viable or stable income opportunities leads some members of the population, including children, to join gangs in order to provide for their families . In these neighbourhoods, gangs often dominate the local economy and present themselves as the only available source of income, even though it is based on illegal activities. 36 However, the mere presence of gangs in a marginalized neighbourhood does not automatically lead children to show interest in joining them; this interest largely depends on the gang’s ability to provide material support and “protection.” While many gangs in Port-au-Prince have the resources to do so, others are significantly less wealthy and influential. In these latter contexts, despite the hardships families may face, parents often oppose their children joining them. The use of threats against girls is primarily aimed at forcing them into sexual relationships with gang members, rather than recruiting them to participate in criminal activities, as is more commonly the case for boys. As documented by the HRS, during these forced relationships — which in some cases can last for several months — girls are subjected to sexual violence. Refusal of these relationships often results in violent reprisals, including rape, homicide, and arson targeting the homes of the girls and their families. In order to protect their daughters from such practices, some families try to move them to safer areas of the capital or to other regions of the country. However, this requires economic resources, which many families do not have. It should be noted that, among families with no viable alternatives, some have encouraged their daughters to maintain “romantic relationships” with specific gang members, as a perceived protective strategy . 35 3.2.1. Meeting basic needs Beyond meeting immediate and basic needs, gangs with significant material resources are perceived by residents as genuine “social investors.” Local interlocutors explained to the HRS that these gangs are sometimes the only ones providing cash assistance and paid “jobs” in a context marked by the absence of social protection systems and limited economic opportunities. For example, the Grand Ravine and Village de Dieu gangs — considered two of the most powerful and well-resourced gangs in Haiti, according to local media and videos they themselves have posted on social media to display their material wealth — periodically distribute coveted goods that are out of reach for the majority of families living in 39 3.2.2 Distribution of money, coveted goods, and drugs [35] For more information, see Section IV – Forms of child exploitation by gangs – 4.3 Girls exploited by gangs: from recruitment to sexual exploitation and sexual slavery, page 21. [36] According to the World Bank, in 2024, 36 percent of Haitians were living in extreme poverty (with less than USD 2.15 per day), a situation which, combined with other economic indicators, makes Haiti the poorest country in Latin America and the Caribbean. World Bank (28 April 2025), “The World Bank in Haiti: Overview”, available at https://www.worldbank.org/ext/en/country/haiti [37] For more information, see Part II of this report. [38] See Section III – Tactics used by gangs in child trafficking – 3.3. Perceived social status and protection, page 17. [39] Ayibopost (15 April 2024), “Ongoing construction in Village de Dieu: Viv Ansanm destroys the lower part of the city”, available at https://ayibopost.com/chantier-en-cours-au-village-de-dieu-viv-ansanm-detruit-le-bas-de-la-ville/ As part of their tactic to exploit children and strengthen their capacities, some gangs, such as Grand Ravine, Ti Bois and Village de Dieu, have established well-organized systems that claim to “take care of” street children or those whose families are unable to meet their needs. According to information collected by the HRS, these gangs provide meals through canteens, operating alongside official school canteens . These distributions take place in community spaces and specifically target children, women, and the elderly. Some of the food distributed, as well as other goods such as household items, come from trucks hijacked while passing through or near neighbourhoods under gang control. 37 Children, particularly those living on the streets or without family networks, may also be housed by gangs, often in shared dwellings, usually abandoned by owners who fled their neighbourhoods to escape violence. In some cases, a child may be assigned individual accommodation. They also receive clothing and are encouraged to maintain a “neat and clean appearance.” Local sources interviewed indicated that for many children meeting their basic needs contributes to a sense