HRW report alleges gangs in Haiti recruit child soldiers

Report highlights grave risks facing both boys and girls who are often subjected to violence and exploitation

A new report from Human Rights Watch (HRW) has raised alarming concerns about the increasing recruitment of child soldiers by armed gangs in Haiti amid worsening humanitarian conditions.

As near-famine situations compel many children to join gangs, the report highlights the grave risks facing both boys and girls, who are often subjected to violence and exploitation.

The HRW report reveals that many children feel compelled to join gangs due to a lack of food, shelter, and economic opportunities.

Six children interviewed by HRW expressed a desire to leave the gangs but felt they had no other choice.

For example, a boy named Michel, who became an orphan at a young age, was recruited at just eight years old while living on the streets. He was given a loaded Kalashnikov and trained for armed conflict.

The recruitment practices of gangs are especially concerning. Boys are commonly utilized as informants and trained for combat, while girls face sexual abuse and are often forced into domestic servitude.

Tragically, many girls are discarded once they become pregnant, further highlighting the dire circumstances they face.

The influence of gangs in Haiti has been on the rise in recent years, coinciding with a significant weakening of state institutions due to political instability and lack of resources.

Currently, gangs control areas where around 2.7 million people reside, including an estimated half a million children.

According to the United Nations, approximately one-third of gang members are children, with reports of boys being coerced into violent acts and girls being forced into sexual exploitation.

The report also notes that gangs are utilizing social media platforms to recruit new members.

Notably, the leader of the Village de Dieu gang, a rapper, has produced professional music videos showcasing his gang members and even created a specialized unit for training children in weapon handling and checkpoint operations.

In response to the escalating violence, the United Nations approved a security mission to assist the Haitian police in combatting gang activity a year ago; however, the mission remains only partially deployed.

Human Rights Watch is calling on the Haitian government and international partners to bolster resources for security forces, ensure children have access to food and education, and provide rehabilitation for those who have been recruited into gangs.

Previously, armed members of the Gran Grif gang killed at least 70 people, including three infants, in a deadly attack on the town of Pont-Sonde in Haiti's Artibonite department, the UN Human Rights Office reported.

The attackers, armed with automatic rifles, also injured 16 others, including two gang members in a firefight with police, and set fire to dozens of homes and vehicles, forcing residents to flee.

Prime Minister Garry Conille condemned the assault, calling it an attack on the Haitian nation, and vowed to strengthen security efforts with international support.

Gang leader Luckson Elan, recently sanctioned by the UN, blamed the state and victims in an audio message.

The situation in Haiti remains critical, as armed gangs continue to exploit the vulnerabilities of children in a country facing profound socio-economic challenges.

Immediate action is needed to protect the rights and well-being of these young individuals, ensuring they are not drawn into a cycle of violence and exploitation.