A new UN Human Rights report delivered in Geneva has laid bare the scale of devastation unfolding in Haiti, where unchecked gang violence has turned Port-au-Prince into what one expert described as a “large open-air prison.” With civil servants gone and hospitals shuttered, even public buildings bear the scars of a nation in collapse.
The report, presented at the 58th session of the Human Rights Council, documents a staggering wave of violence and displacement. In just eight months, over 4,200 people were killed and more than 1,300 injured—most by gunfire. Over a million Haitians have fled their homes in fear.
“Human rights violations and abuses have reached a scale and intensity that I have never seen before in Haiti,” said William O’Neill, the High Commissioner’s Designated Expert on Haiti. “The fear is palpable in people’s eyes and in their voices. The capital is almost entirely controlled and surrounded by gangs.”
Gangs, particularly the Viv Ansanm (Living Together) coalition, have extended their control from marginalized neighborhoods to the city’s downtown and middle-class areas, launching assaults on institutions and civilians alike. One of the deadliest attacks occurred in Cité Soleil, where 207 people were executed over just five days.
These groups are armed with increasingly powerful weapons—many trafficked into Haiti via U.S. ports hidden in containers of frozen goods or electronics. UN Human Rights Chief Volker Türk stressed the urgent need to cut off this arms flow: “These weapons, which are increasingly sophisticated, are not manufactured in Haiti, but consistently flow in from elsewhere.”
The report calls for strict enforcement of the UN arms embargo, including tighter port and border controls, dismantling trafficking networks, and implementing buy-back schemes. It also highlights the role of private security firms in the arms trade, calling for more oversight and regulation.
Security forces in Haiti remain under-resourced and outmatched. The report urges urgent support for the Haitian National Police, paired with accountability for officers who commit human rights abuses. It also backs the full deployment of the Multinational Security Support (MSS) Mission to help reclaim gang-held territories.
Sexual violence and children in conflict in Haiti
Sexual violence is rampant, with gangs abducting and assaulting women and girls, often publicly and with impunity. Many victims are killed, while others are held in coercive, abusive conditions. Most cases go unreported due to fear, stigma, and a breakdown in institutional trust.
Children, too, are among the worst affected. Thousands are out of school, many have witnessed brutal violence, and some are exploited and armed by gangs.
“Millions of them have witnessed violence that no child should ever have to see,” said O’Neill. “Young girls who have survived sexual violence have told us of the horrors they suffered at the hands of gangs. However, like many Haitians, they have not been broken.”
The UN report calls for the creation of comprehensive victim support systems—offering everything from medical care and psychological support to legal aid and social reintegration. Two new government task forces, created with UN backing, are expected to fast-track investigations into mass killings and sexual violence.
Haiti’s crisis is also a humanitarian emergency. Gangs have seized control of vital roads, crippling aid delivery and commerce. Attacks on hospitals and schools have pushed the country deeper into turmoil.
“More than 1 million people have been displaced in Haiti, many multiple times, 40,000 of whom have been forced to move in the past few weeks alone,” said Türk. “One in every two Haitians – 5.5 million people – face acute food insecurity. Two million people face emergency levels of hunger. Nearly 6,000 displaced people are living in famine-like conditions.”
To address the crisis, the UN is urging the relocation of internally displaced persons to secure areas where basic rights like food, healthcare, and education can be protected—even in gang-controlled zones. Humanitarian workers, frequently targeted in attacks, also need immediate protection and assistance.
