Dear Prime Minister,
I am writing to share Amnesty International’s new report, “I’m a child, why did this happen to me?” Gangs’ assault on childhood in Haiti, which documents the devastating impact of gang violence on children in Haiti. This report highlights the urgent need for coordinated action to protect children and ensure justice. The findings underscore the critical responsibility of the Haitian government in addressing these issues and prioritizing children’s rights.
As you are fully aware, Haiti is experiencing a severe humanitarian and human rights crisis, with children bearing the brunt of its impact. Gangs have gained control of large areas of Port-au-Prince and its surrounding environs, resulting in killings, recruitment of children, sexual violence, and other human rights abuses against children. The lack of protective measures has left children at risk of serious harm.
Key findings from the report include:
Killings and Injuries: Children are directly affected by gang violence, sometimes losing their lives or sustaining serious injuries during attacks. At times, children have been deliberately targeted by gang members.
Recruitment and Use of children: Many children are coerced into joining gangs and taking on dangerous roles such as carrying weapons, spying, and assisting in criminal activities. Boys and girls alike are trapped in a cycle of exploitation, with limited access to rehabilitation and alternatives.
Detention of Children: Some children associated with gangs are detained with adults in overcrowded conditions in the Centre for the Re-education of Minors in Conflict with the Law (CERMICOL)without due process, treated as criminals instead of primarily as victims.
Sexual Violence: Girls are subjected to pervasive sexual violence by gangs, including rape and exploitation, with limited access to justice and healthcare services.
Children with Disabilities: Children with disabilities face heightened barriers to fleeing violence and accessing humanitarian assistance; many end up in inaccessible displacement sites.
In light of these findings, Amnesty International calls on the Haitian Government to:
Develop and Implement a Comprehensive Child Protection Plan:
Address gaps in protecting children by creating and implementing a roadmap that prioritizes preventing recruitment and use by gangs, provides access to education and healthcare, and ensures justice for survivors. Actively seek technical and financial assistance from donors for the creation and implementation of this plan and for the provision of crucial services;
Expand access to psycho-social services and create safe spaces for children, especially those affected by violence and displacement;
Allocate and increase funds to child protection entities, including the Institute of Social Welfare and Research, or IBESR, and the Haitian National Police’s Brigade for Protection of Minors (BPM) to ensure that their mandates are effectively implemented and strengthened;
On justice and accountability:
Ensure that gang members, especially leaders, as well as members of the police and “self-defence” groups suspected of serious human rights abuses and violations, including those against or affecting children, are investigated, prosecuted, and held accountable;
Prioritize the creation of specialized judicial chambers for the prosecution of grave human rights abuses and violations;
On survivors of sexual violence
Design an integrated, survivor-centred protection approach for survivors of sexual violence, including the provision of legal and comprehensive health support on an equal basis.
On disability rights
Ensure that the rights of children with disabilities are respected, protected and fulfilled and that they are not an afterthought in the humanitarian and development responses.
Improve Conditions for Children in Detention:
Review cases of children detained in CERMICOL, ensuring their immediate release to civilian child protection actors for reintegration, where appropriate. Ensure that any remaining children in CERMICOL are charged within six months of their initial date of detention; Improve the conditions of detention in CERMICOL and ensure that operations there are in line with international human rights norms and standards;
Collaborate with Haitian Civil Society Organizations:
Partner with local civil society organizations to design and implement child protection strategies, ensuring the voices of affected communities are central to solutions;
Recognize the vital role of Haitian NGOs in protecting children and provide them with adequate support and resources.
Additional recommendations are further detailed in our report. The Haitian government has a critical opportunity to demonstrate its commitment to protecting the rights of the nation’s children. Immediate actions to address the root causes of this crisis and to safeguard the future of Haiti’s children are urgently needed. By implementing these measures, your government can pave the way toward a safer, more just society.
Amnesty International would welcome the opportunity to discuss this further and explore ways to ensure the protection of the rights of children in Haiti.
Thank you for your attention to this urgent matter.