First Person: Bodies of children in Haiti have turned into ‘battlegrounds’
February 7, 2025
PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti — The bodies of children in Haiti have turned into “battlegrounds” as gangs fight for control of territory, a local human rights group said Tuesday.
The National Human Rights Defense Network (RNDDH) said in a report that it had documented 15 cases of children being killed in gang-related violence since the beginning of the year. The group said the children were shot, stabbed, or burned alive.
“The bodies of these children are being used as battlegrounds,” said Pierre Espérance, the RNDDH’s executive director. “The gangs are using them to send a message to their rivals.”
The violence has forced many families to flee their homes, and thousands of children are now living in displacement camps. The RNDDH said the children are at risk of malnutrition, disease, and sexual abuse.
“The situation in Haiti is a humanitarian crisis,” Espérance said. “The children of Haiti are the most vulnerable victims of this violence, and they need our help.”
The Haitian government has been criticized for its failure to protect children from gang violence. The United Nations has called on the government to take immediate action to address the crisis.
“The government of Haiti has a responsibility to protect its citizens, including its children,” said Jean-Martin Bauer, the UN’s special representative for children and armed conflict. “The violence against children in Haiti is a violation of international law, and the government must take action to stop it.”
The Haitian government has said it is committed to protecting children from gang violence. The government has announced a number of measures to address the crisis, including increasing police patrols in gang-controlled areas and providing support to families who have been displaced by violence.
However, the RNDDH said that the government’s efforts are not enough. The group called on the international community to provide more support to Haiti in its efforts to protect children from gang violence.
“The international community has a moral obligation to help the children of Haiti,” Espérance said. “We need more support to provide these children with the protection and assistance they need.”
First Person: Bodies of children in Haiti have turned into ‘battlegrounds’
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