Children in Haiti are increasingly bearing the brunt of the country’s worsening gang crisis, with armed groups recruiting minors at alarming rates while killings, injuries and sexual violence against children continue to rise, according to United Nations officials.
The warning came Monday from United Nations representatives, who said the recruitment and use of children by gangs nearly tripled in 2025 compared to the previous year.
UN officials now estimate that children make up between 30 and 50 percent of gang members operating in Haiti, where heavily armed criminal groups continue to control large sections of the country, particularly in and around the capital, Port-au-Prince.
The UN also reported that killings and injuries involving children nearly doubled over the same period, while sexual violence against minors remains widespread and is increasingly being used to terrorize communities.
During a visit to Haiti, Vanessa Frazier described children as living in “constant fear” amid widespread displacement, intimidation and trauma caused by gang violence.
“Without protecting these children and supporting all children affected by violence, lasting stability in Haiti will not be possible,” Frazier said.
UN officials stressed that children encountered during security operations should be treated primarily as victims rather than perpetrators and should instead be referred to child protection services.
The organization also called for greater investment in reintegration and recovery efforts, including expanded access to education, mental health support and community-based programs aimed at helping children leave armed groups and safely return to civilian life.
According to the UN, many Haitian children affected by violence continue to express a desire to return to school and live in safer communities despite the ongoing instability.
