Human Rights Watch (HRW) has raised urgent concerns over the increasing recruitment of children by armed gangs in Haiti. In a new report, HRW highlights how boys are being drawn into violent gang activities, while girls face sexual exploitation and forced domestic servitude as the country’s political instability and near-famine conditions continue to worsen.
The report, based on interviews with children recently involved in gangs, reveals that many have joined because of extreme poverty and hunger. Boys are trained to use weapons and are sent to clash with police, while girls are often raped and forced into domestic tasks. HRW cited the case of an orphan boy recruited at age 8 and given a loaded weapon to serve gang members.
Haiti’s gangs now control territories home to 2.7 million people, including half a million children. HRW estimates that about a third of the gang members are children, many of whom are forced into violent activities. The United Nations has also expressed concern over the growing child recruitment, with some children being used in killings and attacks.
The report urges Haiti’s government and the international community to strengthen resources for security forces, ensure children have access to food and education, and offer rehabilitation services for those affected by gang recruitment.
