OHCHR: Addressing insecurity in Haiti must be a 'top priority'

Insecurity in Port-au-Prince has been on the rise since the assassination of the President of Haiti

At least 3,661 people have died as a result of gang violence in Haiti since January, a figure that reflects the same level of violence as in 2023. UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Türk stressed the need for stronger measures to protect the lives of the Haitian people and prevent more innocent lives from being lost to senseless crimes.

According to the report, gang violence in Haiti is not limited to the capital, Port-au-Prince, but has spread to other regions. In addition, gangs continue to use sexual violence as a means of punishment to spread fear and silence the population, and the number of victims of sexual violence, including rape, increased in the first half of the year. As of June this year, at least 860 people, including at least 36 children, had been killed during police operations and patrols in Port-au-Prince.

In Haiti's agricultural town of Artibonite, more than 3,000 hectares of land have been abandoned due to increasing gang violence and extortion, further threatening Haiti's food production. Currently, about 1.6 million people in Haiti face acute acute food insecurity.

Take action to curb gang violence

Currently, some 430 MNSS personnel have been deployed in Haiti. OHCHR is supporting the Multinational Security Support Mission to establish and implement compliance mechanisms to ensure that the Mission's operational framework and practices are consistent with international human rights standards and to effectively address any potential violations in accordance with UNSCR 2699.

High Commissioner Türk urged the international community to fully implement the UN Security Council's arms embargo, travel ban and assets freeze to curb gang violence in Haiti.

On the ground, the High Commissioner urges the Haitian authorities to take strong measures to strengthen State institutions, such as the police and the judiciary, which have been paralyzed by long-standing corruption, to restore the rule of law and to hold those responsible for violations accountable. At the same time, he called on the authorities to protect children from gangs and to redouble their efforts to address gender and sexual violence and protect internally displaced persons.

Turk welcomed the recent positive measures, such as the establishment of the Transitional Presidential Council, the formation of a new Transitional Government and the deployment of the first contingents of the Multinational Security Support Mission. At the same time, however, he noted that in order to effectively and sustainably combat criminal gangs and stop them from spreading further and destroying people's lives, the Mission also needed adequate and adequate equipment and human resources.