October 26, 2026
The UN is sounding the alarm over the increase in child recruitment by gangs in Haiti. Addressing the Human Rights Council, High Commissioner Volker Türk highlighted the scale of a phenomenon that exposes minors even further to armed violence.
According to data cited by the UN, children are estimated to make up between 30% and 50% of the members of certain armed groups, while their recruitment and use have nearly tripled in 2025. In an environment marked by insecurity, some minors thus find themselves facing a dramatic choice between joining a gang and trying to survive.
Volker Türk also pointed to the weaknesses of the prevention, protection and reintegration mechanisms intended for children. The UN believes these mechanisms must be strengthened to respond to a situation that is taking on an increasingly worrying dimension.
