On Tuesday, March 24, 2026, Volker Türk, the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, released a new report detailing the human rights consequences of gang expansion in Haiti.

Over the past twelve months, gangs have extended their influence beyond the capital, Port-au-Prince, establishing themselves in its outskirts and advancing northward into the Artibonite and Central departments, the report states. They have been able to "strengthen strategic routes and maintain their control over key maritime and land routes, thereby ensuring their funding and operational capacity."

The gangs have terrorized the population by committing murders and kidnappings, engaging in child trafficking, carrying out robberies at illegal checkpoints, extorting money from businesses, and destroying and looting public and private property. They targeted individuals perceived as collaborating with the police or defying their authority. Some victims were executed, their bodies often doused with gasoline and burned. Others were subjected to gang-sponsored “trials,” arbitrarily detained, and sometimes forced to pay fines for their release.

Since March 2025, a private military company, apparently hired by the Haitian government, has been participating in security operations, including kamikaze drone strikes and helicopter attacks. Some, if not most, of these drone and helicopter strikes could be classified as targeted killings, given the seemingly predetermined, intentional, and deliberate use of lethal force against individuals specifically identified in advance.

According to data verified by the Office of the High Commissioner :

Deadly toll :

At least 5,519 people were killed and 2,608 injured between 1 March 2025 and 15 January 2026, including at least 1,424 deaths resulting from gang violence.

Gang violence :

1,424 deaths and 790 injuries directly linked to gang activity.

Security operations :

Operations conducted by security forces against gangs resulted in at least 3,497 deaths and 1,742 injuries, including suspected summary executions (196 cases and 51 injuries).

"Popular Justice" :

Armed with stones, machetes, and increasingly with high-caliber firearms, self-defense groups have killed at least 598 people and injured 76 others suspected of belonging to a gang.

Sexual Violence :

1,571 women and girls were victims of sexual violence, including gang rape.

Download the full report (PDF in English, 14 pages) : https://www.haitilibre.com/docs/a-hrc-61-74-auv.pdf

HL/ HaitiLibre