Situation of human rights in Haiti: Report of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights
- Widespread use of firearms by gangs has dramatically worsened Haiti's security, human rights, and humanitarian crises.
- Gangs have become more united and coordinated, often outpowering national security forces and expanding territorial control.
- Human rights violations, including killings, kidnappings, sexual violence, and destruction of property, remain alarmingly high.
- Ineffective law enforcement, corruption, and weak firearms control mechanisms hinder efforts to combat gang violence and illicit trafficking.
- Despite international arms embargoes, the trafficking of weapons and ammunition into Haiti persists, primarily from the United States and the Dominican Republic.
The present report, submitted pursuant to Human Rights Council resolution 55/24, highlights the alarming human rights situation in Haiti, primarily driven by the widespread use of firearms and ammunition by criminal gangs. These gangs have grown in power and coordination, often surpassing national security forces, leading to a dramatic escalation of security, human rights, and humanitarian crises. The report documents numerous human rights violations and abuses between July 2024 and February 2025, including targeted killings, kidnappings for ransom, rape and sexual exploitation, destruction of property, and severe restrictions on access to essential services like healthcare and education.
The report also addresses obstacles to effective law enforcement and firearms control, noting severe underfunding, understaffing, corruption within the police and justice systems, and the persistent illicit trafficking of weapons into Haiti despite international embargoes. It emphasizes the need for a comprehensive strategy combining prevention, regulation, enforcement, and socio-economic reforms to address the root causes of violence and reduce firearm-related deaths and injuries.
How to cite
Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), 2025, Situation of human rights in Haiti: Report of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, https://docs.un.org/en/A/HRC/58/76