Quarterly Report on the Human Rights Situation in Haiti
- Killings and injuries decreased by 45%, and kidnappings by 2%, compared to the previous quarter, but 1,379 people were still killed/injured and 428 kidnapped.
- Sexual violence, including rape, significantly increased in gang-controlled areas and IDP sites, with some service providers reporting 40 victims daily.
- The justice system remains largely paralyzed due to repeated strikes by magistrates and judicial staff, with courts operational for only ten days since October 2023.
- 78 inmates died in Haitian prisons in the second quarter, mostly from illnesses caused by malnutrition, highlighting a severe humanitarian crisis.
- Significant progress was made in anti-corruption investigations by the Anti-Corruption Unit (ULCC) against senior government officials.
The quarterly report on the human rights situation in Haiti for April-June 2024 indicates a 45% drop in killings and gunshot wounds and a 2% drop in kidnappings compared to the previous quarter, though 1,379 people were still killed or injured and 428 kidnapped. Despite this overall decrease, there was a worrying increase in rape and gender-based violence, with service providers reporting up to 40 rape victims daily in some capital areas. Children remain highly vulnerable, being killed, injured, and recruited by gangs. The justice system is largely paralyzed by repeated strikes, with courts operational for only ten days since October 2023. Prison conditions are dire, leading to 78 inmate deaths from malnutrition-related illnesses in this quarter alone.
The report also notes progress in anti-corruption investigations against senior government officials by the ULCC. Recommendations include accelerating the deployment of the Multinational Security Support mission, updating sanctions lists, strengthening inspections of shipments to Haiti, and establishing specialized judicial units for mass crimes and sexual violence. The document also details gang activities, their impact on economic, social, and cultural rights, and the challenges faced by human rights defenders and journalists.
How to cite
United Nations Integrated Office in Haiti (BINUH); Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), 2024, Quarterly Report on the Human Rights Situation in Haiti, https://binuh.unmissions.org/en/document-library