Thu Feb 13 05:14:26 UTC 2025: ## Haiti’s Children Caught in Gang Violence Crossfire: Amnesty International Report
**Port-au-Prince, Haiti –** A harrowing Amnesty International report reveals the devastating impact of gang violence on Haitian children, forcing them into roles ranging from armed combatants to spies and errand runners. The report, based on interviews with 112 individuals, including 51 children, paints a grim picture of a nation where children are not only victims but active participants in the violence, often out of desperation and fear.
The report highlights that an estimated 30% to 50% of gang members are children, many driven by hunger or fear for their lives and their families’ lives. Children who refuse to comply face death threats against themselves or their loved ones. The pervasive control of gangs, particularly in Port-au-Prince where 85% of the capital is under their rule, leaves children with little to no escape.
Girls and young women face particularly horrific abuses, including mass rape by gang members resulting in pregnancies and sexually transmitted infections. The lack of healthcare exacerbates their suffering. Several girls recounted their harrowing experiences, including one who attempted suicide after being raped and abandoned.
The violence extends beyond gang members, with children also facing threats from vigilantes and police. The report documents injuries and deaths from stray bullets and the abandonment of essential aids like crutches and wheelchairs during attacks. Amnesty International cites the case of a 14-year-old girl shot in the lip and her 17-year-old brother killed by a stray bullet three months prior.
The report calls on the Haitian government to increase support for children, reinstate education, provide mental health services, and resume court proceedings for children unjustly detained. Furthermore, it urges the international community to provide sustained financial and technical assistance to address this crisis and prevent another generation from being lost to violence.
The U.N. reported 128 child killings in 2023, and while 2024 figures are unavailable, over 5,600 deaths were recorded that year. The underfunded and understaffed Haitian National Police are working with a U.N.-backed Kenyan police mission, but the mission itself requires increased funding and personnel. The U.S. and other nations are pushing for its transformation into a U.N. peacekeeping mission. The situation underscores the urgent need for international intervention to protect Haiti’s children and break the cycle of violence.
First Piper 