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Edited News | OHCHR , UNOG
UN Human Rights Chief Volker Türk oral update on the human rights situation in Haiti
“My heart goes out to the people of Haiti – often trapped between gang violence and heavy-handed responses.Despite some success in containing their activity in parts of the capital, Port-au-Prince, gangs continue to adapt and expand, re-emerging in new areas and constantly rearming,” said the High Commissioner.
Recent attacks in Kenscoff and Gressier, and the growing gang presence in the Sud-Est department, point to a strategy of seizing new territory and key transport routes, threatening stability across and beyond Haiti – and leaving destruction in its wake.
The first operations by the Gang Suppression Force, mandated by the UN Security Council, marked a long-awaited step towards greater security. But the Force remains far below the strength needed. He commented that this week’s renewal of its mandate needs to be followed by full, accelerated deployment – with firm human rights safeguards embedded.
“During the reporting period, from 1 January to 11 September, my Office documented at least 5,700 people killed or injured by gangs or during operations against them. Gangs have also kidnapped more than 230 people and raped over 1,000 women and girls. The real figures are likely much higher,” he said.
Adding “law-enforcement operations continue to raise serious concerns about the unnecessary and disproportionate use of force. Since the beginning of the year, more than half of all casualties occurred in the context of security operations, with hundreds of people struck by stray bullets and explosive drones.”
The number of summary executions carried out by specialized police units has fallen significantly – by almost half compared with 2025. However, people allegedly associated with gangs continue to be summarily executed.
“In some areas, so-called self-defence groups killed or injured some 280 people so far this year,” Türk said.
“La violence incessante a détourné l’attention et les ressources destinées à la protection des droits fondamentaux. L’extorsion, le pillage et la destruction de biens paralysent l’activité économique. Le danger permanent empêche les populations d’accéder aux écoles, aux hôpitaux et aux services essentiels. (Relentless violence has crowded out attention and resources for the protection of basic rights. Extortion, looting, and destruction of property are crippling economic activity. Constant danger prevents people from reaching schools, hospitals, and essential services),” he stated in French .
More than half of Haitians face acute food insecurity, and forty percent lack access to basic healthcare. Close to 1.5 million people are forcibly displaced, with many more living with their bags permanently packed.
“Entre 30 et 50 pour cent des membres de gangs sont des enfants. En 2025, le recrutement et l’utilisation d’enfants par les gangs ont presque triplé.Pour de nombreux enfants en Haïti, rejoindre un gang peut être le seul moyen de survivre. Mais aucun enfant ne devrait être contraint de choisir entre sa propre vie et la sécurité de ses voisins (Some 30 to 50 percent of gang members are children. In 2025, the recruitment and use of children by gangs nearly tripled.For many children in Haiti, joining a gang can be the only way to survive. But no child should be forced to choose between their own life and the safety of their neighbours),” he said in French
Children are exploited, trafficked, and abused – while mechanisms to prevent this and reintegrate them into society remain woefully inadequate.
“Les prisons sont surpeuplées à l’extrême, dans des conditions inhumaines et dégradantes. Dans tout Haïti, les prisons fonctionnent, en moyenne, à plus de trois fois leur capacité officielle. Au moins 125 personnes sont mortes en détention rien que cette année (Prisons are packed to bursting, with inhuman, degrading conditions. Across Haiti, prisons are, on average, operating at more than three times their official capacity. At least 125 people died in detention this year alone),” Türk said in French.
“Des élections libres et équitables constituent le seul moyen légitime de rétablir l’ordre constitutionnel. Cependant, compte tenu de tout ce que je viens de décrire, il est difficile d’imaginer que les conditions nécessaires à la tenue d’élections crédibles dans le courant de l’année soient réunies. Les responsables de violations graves et d’abus des droits humains ne doivent pas être autorisés à se présenter aux élections(Free and fair elections are the only legitimate way to restore constitutional order. However, given all I have just described, it is difficult to conceive that the conditions for credible elections later this year are in place. Those responsible for serious human rights violations and abuses must not be allowed to enter the race),” the High Commissioner said in French.
This chaos has deep he added has intertwined roots, fed by greed and impunity – both within Haiti and beyond. The only way to cut those roots is through a comprehensive approach that looks beyond security.
“A handful of powerful individuals are exploiting and perpetuating people’s grievances and the weakness of State institutions to pursue their own interests.These forces are strategic and well resourced.Many gang leaders are subject to international sanctions. Those sanctions also need to cover all those pulling the strings behind criminal networks and benefiting from them. And they need to be matched by accountability on the ground to strengthen their practical impact,” he said.
To save lives and restore order, the continuous illicit flow of weapons and ammunition into Haiti must end.
“It is essential that the arms embargo imposed by the Security Council be fully respected and effectively implemented. States need to act urgently and decisively to crack down on arms trafficking and choke off these flows at their source.”
Nearly five billion US dollars in remittances flowed into Haiti last year – around one sixth of its GDP. These transfers are a lifeline for the country’s economy and its people.
In 2026, more than 220,000 people, including nearly 20,000 children, have been forcibly returned to Haiti from several countries in the region. Many of these people fled for their lives or those of their families. Sending them back puts those lives at risk once again, in violation of the principle of non-refoulement, ” he added.
He urged all States to support the rapid, full deployment of the Gang Suppression Force, with the equipment it needs and in full compliance with human rights.
The Government needs to ensure that all security operations – by State or private actors – are firmly grounded in international human rights law.
His Office has provided human rights training to members of specialized police units and the Gang Suppression Force, and we are ready to do more.
Two specialized judicial units, supported by his Office and the UN Office on Drugs and Crime, are intended to help investigate mass atrocities, sexual violence, and complex financial crimes. I urge the authorities to make them fully operational, and all States – to extend their support.
“Those who profit from the current state of disorder are determined to see Haiti fail. They seek to fray its social fabric and destroy the prospects of a stronger State. We cannot allow that to happen. We need all eyes on Haiti.”
ENDS
For more information and media requests, please contact:
In Geneva
Shabia Mantoo - shabia.mantoo@un.org
Marta Hurtado - marta.hurtadogomez@un.org
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STORY: UN Human Rights Chief Volker Türk oral update on the human rights situation in Haiti at the 63 HRC
TRT: 06:06
SOURCE: OHCHR
RESTRICTIONS: NONE
LANGUAGE: English/French /NATS
ASPECT RATIO: 16:9
DATELINE: 2 October – GENEVA, SWITZERLAND
SHOTLIST
- Various exteriors: Palais des Nations,
- Interior: Assembly Hall A - Human Rights Council
- SOUNDBITE (English) — Volker Türk, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights: “My heart goes out to the people of Haiti – often trapped between gang violence and heavy-handed responses. Despite some success in containing their activity in parts of the capital, Port-au-Prince, gangs continue to adapt and expand, re-emerging in new areas and constantly rearming.”
- Cut away: Assembly Hall A
- SOUNDBITE (English) — Volker Türk, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights: “The first operations by the Gang Suppression Force, mandated by the UN Security Council, marked a long-awaited step towards greater security. But the Force remains far below the strength needed. This week’s renewal of its mandate must be followed by full, accelerated deployment – with firm human rights safeguards embeded.”
- Cut away: Assembly Hall A
- SOUNDBITE (English) — Volker Türk, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights: “During the reporting period, from 1 January to 11 September, my Office documented at least 5,700 people killed or injured by gangs or during operations against them. Gangs have also kidnapped more than 230 people and raped over 1,000 women and girls. The real figures are likely much higher.”
- Cut away: Assembly Hall A
- SOUNDBITE (English) — Volker Türk, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights: “Law-enforcement operations continue to raise serious concerns about the unnecessary and disproportionate use of force. Since the beginning of the year, more than half of all casualties occurred in the context of security operations, with hundreds of people struck by stray bullets and explosive drones.”
- Cut away: Assembly Hall A
- SOUNDBITE (English) — Volker Türk, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights: “In some areas, so-called self-defence groups killed or injured some 280 people so far this year.”
- Cut away: Assembly Hall A
- SOUNDBITE (French) — Volker Türk, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights: “La violence incessante a détourné l’attention et les ressources destinées à la protection des droits fondamentaux. L’extorsion, le pillage et la destruction de biens paralysent l’activité économique. Le danger permanent empêche les populations d’accéder aux écoles, aux hôpitaux et aux services essentiels. (Relentlessviolence has crowded out attention and resources for the protection of basic rights.
- Extortion, looting, and destruction of property are crippling economic activity. Constant danger prevents people from reaching schools, hospitals, and essential services).”
- Cut away: Assembly Hall A
- SOUNDBITE (French) — Volker Türk, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights: “ Entre 30 et 50 pour cent des membres de gangs sont des enfants. En 2025, le recrutement et l’utilisation d’enfants par les gangs ont presque triplé.Pour de nombreux enfants en Haïti, rejoindre un gang peut être le seul moyen de survivre. Mais aucun enfant ne devrait être contraint de choisir entre sa propre vie et la sécurité de ses voisins. (Some 30 to 50 percent of gang members are children. In 2025, the recruitment and use of children by gangs nearly tripled. For many children in Haiti, joining a gang can be the only way to survive. But no child should be forced to choose between their own life and the safety of their neighbours).”
- Cut away: Assembly Hall A
- SOUNDBITE (French) — Volker Türk, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights: “Les prisons sont surpeuplées à l’extrême, dans des conditions inhumaines et dégradantes. Dans tout Haïti, les prisons fonctionnent, en moyenne, à plus de trois fois leur capacité officielle. Au moins 125 personnes sont mortes en détention rien que cette année. (Prisons are packed to bursting, with inhuman, degrading conditions. Across Haiti, prisons are, on average, operating at more than three times their official capacity. At least 125 people died in detention this year alone).”
- Cut away: Assembly Hall A
- SOUNDBITE (French) — Volker Türk, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights: “Des élections libres et équitables constituent le seul moyen légitime de rétablir l’ordre constitutionnel. Cependant, compte tenu de tout ce que je viens de décrire, il est difficile d’imaginer que les conditions nécessaires à la tenue d’élections crédibles dans le courant de l’année soient réunies. Les responsables de violations graves et d’abus des droits humains ne doivent pas être autorisés à se présenter aux élections” “(Free and fair elections are the only legitimate way to restore constitutional order. However, given all I have just described, it is difficult to conceive that the conditions for credible elections later this year are in place. Those responsible for serious human rights violations and abuses must not be allowed to enter the race).”
- Cut away: Assembly Hall A
- SOUNDBITE (English) — Volker Türk, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights: “A handful of powerful individuals are exploiting and perpetuating people’s grievances and the weakness of State institutions to pursue their own interests. These forces are strategic and well resourced. Many gang leaders are subject to international sanctions. Those sanctions also need to cover all those pulling the strings behind criminal networks and benefiting from them. And they need to be matched by accountability on the ground to strengthen their practical impact.”
- Cut away: Assembly Hall A
- SOUNDBITE (English) — Volker Türk, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights: “It is essential that the arms embargo imposed by the Security Council be fully respected and effectively implemented. States need to act urgently and decisively to crack down on arms trafficking and choke off these flows at their source.”
- Cut away: Assembly Hall A
- SOUNDBITE (English) — Volker Türk, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights: “In 2026, more than 220,000 people, including nearly 20,000 children, have been forcibly returned to Haiti from several countries in the region. Many of these people fled for their lives or those of their families. Sending them back puts those lives at risk once again, in violation of the principle of non-refoulement.”
- Cut away: Assembly Hall A
- SOUNDBITE (English) — Volker Türk, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights: “Those who profit from the current state of disorder are determined to see Haiti fail. They seek to fray its social fabric and destroy the prospects of a stronger State. We cannot allow that to happen. We need all eyes on Haiti.”
ENDS
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