UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk Tuesday issued an urgent call for international action in Haiti to confront escalating gang violence, including a “time-bound specialized support force.” Haiti is currently experiencing a crisis of instability and gang violence which “continues to spiral out of control.”
Türk has previously expressed concerns about violence in Haiti but said the need for international support is now “more urgent than ever.” The specialized force he envisions would work with Haitian authorities to counter gang violence and reestablish the rule of law in line with international human rights laws. Türk’s emphasis on international human rights standards is likely a recognition of previous UN missions to Haiti, which resulted in sexual abuse and legal action. International intervention is unpopular with Haitians due to such history, according to Brian Concannon from the Institute for Justice and Democracy in Haiti. Still, Türk believes the crescendo of violence is enough to warrant international action.
“To break the cycle of violence, corruption and impunity,” Türk said, “All those responsible, including those providing support and finance to the gangs, must be prosecuted and tried according to the rule of law. The rights to truth, justice and reparations of all victims must be fulfilled.”
As of March 15, a total of 531 people have been killed, 300 injured and 277 kidnapped in gang-related incidents this year. Most of these incidents took place in the capital city of Port-au-Prince, but gangs have started to expand into other regions as they look to consolidate their power against rivals. According to the UN, many deaths resulted from snipers shooting randomly. Sexual violence is also rampant and is often used by gangs to pressure families into paying a ransom. Some schools have closed to avoid stray bullets, and children have subsequently been forcibly recruited by gangs. As violence and a coinciding food crisis continue to heighten, at least 160,000 people have been displaced.
Haiti’s current crisis began when President Michel Martelly made unconstitutional appointees, allowed positions to remain empty, used the national police to target rivals, gave government contracts to his political allies and refused to hold elections. President Jovenel Moïse continued these practices until his assassination in July 2021, which left Haiti in an escalating rule of law crisis. Türk’s call for international action comes as groups like the Haitian Response coalition criticize other international actors like the Organization of American States (OAS) for their failure to address the crisis in Haiti.
As the international community debates the proper way to address Haiti’s concurrent crises, gang violence and instability will continue to impact the residents of the island.
