Port-au-Prince, August 1, 2025

During the second quarter of 2025, the human rights situation in Haiti remained extremely worrying. Criminal groups expanded and intensified their attacks outside of Port-au-Prince, particularly in the Centre department and Bas Artibonite. There was some slowdown in their advance into the capital, although the situation in some communes, such as Kenscoff, remained highly volatile. 

“Gang attacks in the Artibonite and Centre departments, and in the capital, continue to cause serious human rights violations and exacerbate an already dire humanitarian crisis, leading to massive population displacement with dramatic consequences for women and children in particular,” said Ulrika Richardson, Acting Head of BINUH and United Nations Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator.

In total, between April 1 and June 30, 2025, at least 1,520 people were killed and 609 injured in armed violence, primarily in the Port-au-Prince metropolitan area, followed by Artibonite and Centre. In addition, there were at least 185 kidnappings and 628 victims of sexual violence.

Abuses by criminal groups caused more than 24 percent of those killed or injured during the quarter. Gang members continued to resort to murders, gang rapes, and kidnappings to maintain their control over populations living in areas under their influence. Cases of sexual slavery, sexual exploitation, and child trafficking and exploitation were also documented.

During the same period, 64 percent of those killed or injured were killed during security force operations against criminal groups, more than a third of them during strikes using explosive drones. It is noteworthy that at least 15 percent of the victims were people not associated with gangs, killed or injured while on the street or in their homes. Furthermore, at least four members of the security forces also lost their lives during these operations. In addition, some police officers and the government commissioner of Miragoâne were also reportedly involved in 73 summary executions. 

Finally, 12 percent of those killed or injured were killed in violence attributable to self-defense groups and members of the population linked to the "Bwa Kalé" movement against alleged gang members and those suspected of collaborating with them.

This armed violence once again caused significant population movements and exacerbated the humanitarian crisis. As of June 30, more than 1,300,000 people were displaced throughout the country.

Faced with these abuses and human rights violations, and despite the persistent dysfunction of the judicial system, the United Nations continued to support the authorities in combating impunity and corruption and strengthening accountability for human rights violations.

In April, the government issued a decree creating two specialized judicial units to address mass crimes, including sexual violence and financial crimes. Judicial authorities also organized criminal trials in several jurisdictions across the country, while the police strengthened the capacity of their specialized units to combat sexual violence.

The report calls on the Haitian government, with the support of the international community, to strengthen the fight against gangs, while strictly respecting human rights and standards on the use of force. It calls for accelerating the establishment of specialized judicial units, continuing vetting of the national police, and protecting the population. The international community is also urged to support the full deployment of the Multinational Security Support Mission and to intensify the fight against arms trafficking.

Contact: 

Mathias Gillmann

BINUH Spokesperson

gillmann@un.org