The number of children recruited into armed groups in Haiti has soared by 70% over the past year, according to the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF).
This unprecedented increase underscores the deteriorating state of child protection in the violence-stricken Caribbean nation.
UNICEF estimates that children now make up nearly half of all members in these groups, driven into recruitment by widespread poverty, lack of education, and the collapse of essential services.
“Children in Haiti are trapped in a vicious cycle—recruited into the very armed groups that fuel their desperation, and the numbers are growing,” said Catherine Russell, UNICEF’s Executive Director. “Chaos and horror have become part of daily life.”
Children at constant risk
The situation is particularly dire in the capital, Port-au-Prince, where 1.2 million children face constant threats from armed violence. Children account for an estimated 25% of the 703,000 people internally displaced in Haiti, many living in precarious conditions and exposed to extreme risks.
Reports indicate a staggering rise in sexual violence, with a tenfold increase in children subjected to such atrocities this year, according to the UN Special Representative for Children and Armed Conflict.
UNICEF has responded by providing psychosocial support and community awareness programs, reaching over 25,000 people affected by sexual and gender-based violence in 2024.
Protection and recovery efforts
To address the crisis, UNICEF has launched initiatives to protect children, including training for security forces and civil society organizations, as well as providing care and rehabilitation for former child soldiers. Psychosocial support, family reunification, and community reintegration are also key components of these efforts.
UNICEF has called for the immediate release of children recruited into armed groups and urged Haitian authorities and international stakeholders to prioritize child protection in all actions and agreements.
“Children in many parts of Haiti are subjected to atrocities no child should ever have to experience,” Ms. Russell said, warning that such trauma could leave lasting psychological and emotional scars.
Gender-based violence crisis
The crisis has also taken a disproportionate toll on women and girls. Marking the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) reported 5,400 cases of gender-based violence in Haiti between January and October, with actual figures believed to be much higher.
OCHA highlighted the severe underfunding of critical services for survivors of gender-based violence and reproductive health needs. The UN Population Fund (UNFPA) has received just 19% of the $28 million required to address these issues this year.
As Haiti’s security and humanitarian crises deepen, UNICEF and other UN agencies continue to advocate for immediate action to protect the country’s most vulnerable populations.
