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STORY: OHCHR / HAITI GANG VIOLENCE - FRENCH
TRT: 02:12
SOURCE: OHCHR
RESTRICTIONS: NONE
LANGUAGE: FRENCH / NATS
DATELINE: 24 MARCH 2026, GENEVA, SWITZERLAND / FILE
FILE - GENEVA, SWITZERLAND
1. Various shots, exterior, Palais des Nations
24 MARCH 2026, GENEVA, SWITZERLAND
2. SOUNDBITE (French) Marta Hurtado, Spokesperson, Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR):
“Selon les données vérifiées par le Bureau des droits de l’Homme en Haiti, au moins 5 519 personnes ont été tuées en Haïti et 2 608 blessées entre le 1er mars 2025 et le 15 janvier 2026. Les gangs ont terrorisé la population en tuant et kidnappant des personnes, en se livrant à la traite d’enfants, en commettant des vols aux postes de contrôle illégaux, en extorquant de l’argent aux entreprises, et en détruisant et pillant des biens publics et privés. Les gangs ont continué à utiliser la violence sexuelle pour semer la peur, la soumettre et la punir . Depuis mars 2025, une entreprise militaire privée, apparemment engagée par le gouvernement haïtien, a participé à des opérations de sécurité, notamment l'utilisation de frappes de drones et de tirs d'hélicoptère. Certaines, voire la plupart, de ces frappes de drones et opérations d'hélicoptères pourraient être qualifiées d'assassinats ciblés, compte tenu de l'utilisation apparemment prédéterminée, intentionnelle et délibérée de la force létale contre des individus spécifiquement identifiés à l'avance. Le rapport détaille également les violences perpétrées par des groupes d’autodéfense et des foules se livrant à ce qu’on appelle la « justice populaire ». Armés de pierres, de machettes et, de plus en plus, d’armes à feu de gros calibre, ces groupes ont lynché des personnes soupçonnées d’appartenir à des gangs, ainsi que d’autres jugées coupables d’avoir commis des crimes. Nous soulignons qu’il est crucial que les autorités assurent la sécurité tout en respectant pleinement les droits humains.”
English Translation:
“According to data verified by the Office, at least 5,519 people were killed in Haiti, and 2,608 were injured between 1 March 2025 and 15 January 2026. Gangs have terrorized the population by killing and kidnapping people, trafficking children, stealing at illegal checkpoints, extorting money from businesses, and destroying and ransacking public and private properties. Gangs continued using sexual violence to spread fear among, subjugate, and punish the population. Since March 2025, a private military company, reportedly hired by the Haitian Government, has taken part in security operations, including using drone strikes and helicopter gunfire. Some, or even most, of these drone strikes and helicopter operations could be described as targeted killings, given the apparent predetermined, intentional, and deliberate use of lethal force against individuals specifically identified in advance. The report also details violence perpetrated by self-defence groups and mobs engaging in so-called "popular justice". Armed with stones, machetes, and, increasingly, high-calibre firearms, these groups have lynched individuals suspected of gang affiliation, as well as others deemed to have committed crimes. We stress that it is crucial that the authorities ensure security while fully respecting human rights."
FILE - GENEVA, SWITZERLAND
3. Various shots, exterior, Palais des Nations
According to new UN Human Rights report published today (24 Mar) on the human rights impacts of the expanding reach of gangs in Haiti, at least 5,519 people were killed in Haiti, and 2,608 were injured between 1 March 2025 and 15 January 2026.
Spokesperson Marta Hurtado said the report indicates that “gangs have terrorized the population by killing and kidnapping people, trafficking children, stealing at illegal checkpoints, extorting money from businesses, and destroying and ransacking public and private properties,” and have “continued using sexual violence to spread fear among, subjugate, and punish the population.”
According to the report, Hurtado said, “since March 2025, a private military company, reportedly hired by the Haitian Government, has taken part in security operations, including using drone strikes and helicopter gunfire” and have engaged in operations that “could be described as targeted killings, given the apparent predetermined, intentional, and deliberate use of lethal force against individuals specifically identified in advance.”
The report “also details violence perpetrated by self-defence groups and mobs engaging in so-called "popular justice," as “armed with stones, machetes, and, increasingly, high-calibre firearms, these groups have lynched individuals suspected of gang affiliation, as well as others deemed to have committed crimes.”
The Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) stressed that “it is crucial that the authorities ensure security while fully respecting human rights."
