Criminal violence and hunger are leaving children trapped, says HRW – Eurasia Review

Hundreds, if not thousands, of children in Haiti, driven by hunger and poverty, have joined criminal groups where they are forced into illegal activities and subjected to abuse, Human Rights Watch said today.

According to local and international humanitarian and human rights organizations, criminal groups have increased the recruitment of children in response to law enforcement operations by the Multinational Security Support (MSS) mission and the Haitian National Police.

“With limited options for survival, many children in Haiti are drawn into criminal groups where they become involved in illegal activities and face serious risks,” said Nathalye Cotrino, crisis and conflict researcher at Human Rights Watch. “To curb the violence, the interim government should focus on improving the lives of children by providing protection, access to essential goods and services, including education, and legal options for their rehabilitation and reintegration.”

During a visit to Port-au-Prince in July 2024, Human Rights Watch interviewed 58 people, including children, associated with criminal groups; human rights and humanitarian workers; diplomats; and representatives of Haitian civil society and United Nations organizations. The researchers also met with officials of the interim government, including the prime minister, the justice and foreign ministers, the president of the interim presidential council, the police director and the commander of the multinational security assistance mission. Human Rights Watch interviewed another 20 people remotely and reviewed data and reports from the United Nations, civil society and local organizations.

Criminal groups control nearly 80 percent of the Haitian capital Port-au-Prince and its metropolitan area and are expanding into other areas. According to the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), around 2.7 million people, including half a million children, live under their control. Although official figures are not available, human rights and humanitarian organizations and government officials estimate that at least 30 percent of criminal group members are children, and Haitian government officials have estimated that several thousand criminal group members operate in the country. Children engage in criminal activities ranging from extortion and pillaging to serious acts of violence, including killing and kidnapping.

Children associated with criminal groups told Human Rights Watch that hunger is the main factor that either compels them to join these groups or causes their families to allow it. The groups are often their only source of food, shelter and income.

A 16-year-old from Port-au-Prince said he joined the Village de Dieu group when he was 14. “Previously [joining]“I lived with my mother…It was really hard to get food and clothes,” he said. “[A]When I was home there was no food. But when I was with [the group]I could eat.”

Girls who are forced to join criminal groups are particularly at risk of sexual violence. “Gabriel, the Brooklyn gang leader [in Cité Soleil]He asks his henchmen to bring him a virgin girl every month. If the boss does this, there is no way to stop others from doing the same,” said a humanitarian worker. A 16-year-old boy and member of the group said about the girls of the Tibwa gang: “They rape them, not just the boss, anyone who wants can rape them.” They are in the group to give them sex, cooking and to offer laundry.”

Children in the groups are abused if they refuse to participate in criminal activities, usually with beatings and death threats. “One time they told me to blindfold someone we were trying to kidnap,” said a 14-year-old Tibwa gang member. “When I refused, they hit me on the head with a baseball bat and said if I didn’t they would kill me.”

These children also face violence from police and rival groups, as well as so-called self-defense groups. The United Nations Integrated Office in Haiti documented cases of summary executions and lynchings of children between January and June.

All children interviewed by Human Rights Watch said they wanted to leave the criminal groups. “I want to get off the streets and no longer be in criminal groups,” said a 17-year-old Carrefour resident. “I want to continue going to school and return to my family.” But families and neighbors often reject and stigmatize returning children, human rights advocates said.

The first components of the United Nations-authorized MSS mission led by Kenya arrived in late June to assist the Haitian National Police in restoring security. Humanitarian workers and children associated with criminal groups told Human Rights Watch they hoped the government’s security plan would address the unique needs of children through a protection-focused approach.

UN agencies, local organizations and government bodies such as the Institute for Social Welfare and Research have launched some initiatives to support children previously associated with criminal groups. However, the government lacks a comprehensive strategy and needs more resources to ensure that all children receive protection, including through access to education, legal routes out of groups and access to justice. The interim government is committed to tackling this challenge, the prime minister and other government officials said, but more international support is urgently needed.

As the school year continues, the interim government should prioritize an education-focused strategy that protects children, ensures security measures do not violate their rights, addresses their urgent needs, enables them to legally exit criminal groups, and holds those responsible for abuse accountable pulled. Financial support from the international community is essential.

“In its security response, the interim government should prioritize the protection of children associated with criminal groups by implementing specific disarmament, demobilization and reintegration programs, as well as a broader approach with increased financial support to ensure their access to education and others ensure essential services. said Cotrino. “Meeting the urgent needs of children in protective environments such as schools can help provide psychosocial support, promote social integration and prevent recruitment.”