UN Report Exposes Haiti's Worsening Human Rights Crisis
A newly released UN report on Tuesday reveals a dramatic escalation in violence across Haiti, where at least 5,626 people were killed and over 2,213 injured in the past year due to widespread gang violence. These numbers represent a significant increase of more than 1,000 deaths compared to 2023, underscoring the country’s deteriorating security situation.
During a press briefing in New York, UN Spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric highlighted the report’s findings, emphasizing Haiti’s alarming security crisis.
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Surge in Mass Killings
The UN Integrated Office in Haiti (BINUH) documented a sharp rise in deadly attacks in late 2024, with at least 1,732 people killed and 411 injured in gang-related violence, armed confrontations, and law enforcement operations.
Three particularly devastating massacres left over 300 people dead, with the most horrific attack occurring in Wharf Jérémie, Port-au-Prince.
Between December 6 and 11, armed gang leader Monel Felix, also known as “Micanor,” ordered the killing of at least 207 people, accusing victims—mostly elderly residents—of practicing voodoo and being responsible for his child’s death. The gang raided homes and a local worship center, executing civilians before burning or mutilating their bodies to destroy evidence. No law enforcement intervention took place during these atrocities.
Additional massacres in Pont Sondé and Petite Rivière de l’Artibonite resulted in at least 170 more deaths in early December, triggering retaliatory violence by self-defense groups.
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Extrajudicial Killings by Security Forces
Haiti’s security forces have also been accused of grave human rights violations, with the report identifying over 250 extrajudicial executions carried out by police in 2024. Among the victims were two children.
Some individuals were executed while in custody, while others—including street vendors and motorcycle taxi drivers—were shot for failing to provide identification.
Additionally, the Public Prosecutor of Miragoâne was implicated in six extrajudicial executions, bringing the total number of prosecutor-related killings to 42 for the year.
Despite calls for accountability, investigations into police misconduct remain stalled, and no officers have undergone vetting since June 2023, highlighting a crisis in law enforcement oversight.
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Child Exploitation on the Rise
The report also highlights a 150% increase in kidnappings, with children increasingly being targeted by gang operations.
Sexual violence remains rampant, with at least 94 cases of rape and exploitation reported in the last quarter of 2024. Women and girls, particularly in gang-controlled areas, continue to suffer systematic abuse.
Additionally, child trafficking and forced recruitment by gangs are escalating. UNICEF warns of a 70% rise in child soldier recruitment, with boys as young as 12 years old coerced into kidnappings, extortion, and armed conflicts.
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Judicial Failures and Lack of Accountability
Haiti’s judicial system remains largely dysfunctional despite efforts to improve it.
While new judicial appointments were made in late 2024, progress on major massacres and corruption cases remains stalled.
Prime Minister Alix Didier Fils-Aimé ordered investigations into the Pont Sondé and Wharf Jérémie massacres, yet no arrests or prosecutions had taken place by the end of the year.
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International Response and Urgent Calls for Action
UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk has stressed the urgent need to restore the rule of law and called on the international community to ensure the full deployment of the Multinational Security Support (MSS) mission.
The UN Security Council has urged regional governments to tighten inspections on arms shipments destined for Haiti, in an effort to curb the flow of illegal weapons fueling gang violence.
With over one million people displaced and the country facing a deepening humanitarian crisis, international intervention is increasingly seen as essential to stabilizing Haiti.
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