UN human rights expert William O’Neill called for the Haitian government to enact policies to better protect children from the ravages of gang violence in the country Tuesday during an official UN visit.

O’Neill warned that gang violence in Haiti not only blocks children’s access to basic services but youths were also recruited by gangs. O’Neill highlighted the conditions many Haitian citizens face including murders, kidnapping and sexual violence. He also claimed that at least 200,000 people are internally displaced in the country, living in makeshift camps. O’Neill also highlighted that over 500,000 youths have no access to education. He claimed that lack of opportunities and fear of reprisals force these youths to join gangs.

O’Neill also cited the paralysis of the juvenile court in Haiti as another concern, with the juvenile prison in Port-au-Prince having an occupancy rate of over 350%, of which 99% of have not been convicted. To address gang violence and its associated issues, O’Neill called for the Haitian government to assume responsibility for protecting its population, including the implementation of a transparent public control system to curb corruption and impunity.

O’Neill also called for the international community to take immediate action, including the setup of an intergovernmental commission to relieve overcrowding in the prisons and to enforce an arms embargo on Haiti. O’Neill also advised the Multinational Security Support Mission to take measures against the current surge in gang violence, to restore public confidence.