‘Alarming increase’ in child recruitment into gangs in Haiti
The big picture
The Caribbean country is in the grip of a deepening security, humanitarian and governance crisis.
Armed gangs control large parts of the capital Port-au-Prince and beyond, displacing families and limiting access to schools, health care and basic services.
Poverty among the most vulnerable families is worsening, and children are increasingly vulnerable to recruitment by gangs for money-making.
A roadblock is set up in a Port-au-Prince neighborhood in an effort to prevent gang kidnappings.
Services to protect children are overloaded or lacking, putting minors at risk in gang-controlled neighborhoods.
What’s happening: extortion and control
At least 26 gangs are active in Port-au-Prince and surrounding areas, with names such as 103 Zombies, Village de Dieu, Tokyo and Kraze Barye.
They control territory, violently extort communities, and battle beleaguered Haitian security forces for power.
The UN says there is an ‘alarming increase’ in the recruitment of children into gangs in Haiti.
As clashes intensify, the gangs rely on a steady stream of recruits, including children, to maintain control.
Children are seen as easier to manipulate and less likely to arouse suspicion.
Recruitment is no longer sporadic. This happens systematically in many areas.
The drivers: Poverty, coercion and survival.
About 45 percent of Haiti’s population is under the age of 18.
Many children are driven to join gangs by hunger, lack of education and economic desperation. Others are forcibly recruited or threatened.
In gang-controlled neighborhoods, it can seem as if the often armed members provide protection, connection, or income where the state does not.
Displacement and separation of families increase the likelihood that children will join gangs.
Within the gangs: Children fulfill multiple functions
They act as lookouts, messengers and informants, a role that takes advantage of their age and ability to remain inconspicuous. Many are also directly involved in armed confrontations, checkpoints and kidnappings for ransom. One child reported earning $1,000 a week in a country where many live below the poverty line.
Girls face increased risks, including sexual exploitation, rape and forced relationships with gang members.
The toll: severe and long-lasting
Recruited children face violence, trauma and abuse. Their education is disrupted and the long-term psychological damage can be significant.
Thousands of families continue to flee their homes in Port-au-Prince due to gang-related violence.
Stigma and fear of retaliation make their reintegration into normal life difficult. For girls in particular, sexual violence deepens their trauma and exclusion from society.
The cycle of violence can be self-perpetuating.
The answer: security alone is not enough
A new report released by the UN in Haiti calls for stronger child protection systems, restored access to education and initiatives that prevent recruitment into gang-affected communities.
It highlights that families are crucial in preventing recruitment and suggests an increase in resources for households, especially female-led ones, to protect children.
It is emphasized that schools play a crucial deterrent role by providing both learning opportunities and protection against gang influences. The UN continues to support children’s school attendance through the establishment of canteens, the rehabilitation of buildings, the creation of temporary learning spaces and cash transfers to families.
Support for local NGOs
Local organizations are supported by the UN to implement vocational training programs to provide youth with employment opportunities and an alternative to gang life.
Tackling the gangs to slow their territorial expansion and influence on local communities, especially youth, is also identified as a priority.
The UN-backed Gang Suppression Force, established in 2025 and with a mandate of 5,000, is expected to play a key role.
The UN is also working to strengthen the Haitian justice system to combat child trafficking.
