New York / Port-au-Prince, May 17, 2026 – Vanessa Frazier, Deputy Secretary-General and Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict, concluded a visit to Haiti as the country’s children face unprecedented levels of violence by armed gangs.
The recruitment and use of children nearly tripled in 2025 compared to 2024, with children estimated to make up between 30 and 50% of gang members. Cases of children killed and mutilated almost doubled during the same period, as children are increasingly used by gangs and face endemic sexual violence as a tactic to terrorize communities.
“The situation of children in Haiti is unique in many ways, and the challenges they face are extraordinarily complex, multiple, and multidimensional. I have met young children and adolescents already in vulnerable situations within their homes who have experienced an unbroken cycle of violence. It is hard to fathom that children can live such experiences. Yet, for many, it is a reality. Growing up means struggling every day to survive, living in constant fear, and being subjected to intimidation, displacement, violence, and trauma, as gangs exploit their vulnerability,” said Vanessa Frazier.
During her mission, the Special Representative met with Carlos Ruiz Massieu, Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Haiti and Head of the United Nations Integrated Office in Haiti (BINUH), as well as UNICEF Representative Geeta Narayan. She also met with the Minister of Foreign Affairs, representatives from the Ministry of Justice and Public Security, the Institute of Social Welfare and Research, the National Commission for Disarmament, Demobilization, and Reintegration, the Special Representative of the Gang Suppression Force (GSF), as well as representatives from the UN system, the diplomatic community, donors, civil society organizations, and children affected by violence.
Deputy Secretary-General Frazier commended the fact that children’s protection is at the heart of the Haitian Government’s agenda and its partners. She praised the Government’s efforts to take concrete steps to protect children, including through the implementation of the transfer protocol signed with the United Nations in 2024.
She emphasized that children under 18 encountered during security operations must be treated primarily as victims and promptly handed over to child protection services for care, protection, and reintegration, in accordance with the existing transfer protocol. Regarding children who may have committed serious crimes in association with gangs, she reiterated that juvenile justice standards apply, with detention as a last resort, in accordance with Haiti’s obligations under the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child and adherence to the Paris Principles endorsed by the country.
“There is an opportunity now to do what is right as the GSF deploys. Child security and protection cannot be separated. Without protecting these children and supporting all children affected by violence, sustainable stability in Haiti will not be possible,” added Ms. Frazier. She commended GSF’s efforts to establish child protection systems and train its contingents in child protection.
She also acknowledged that the reintegration of children from gangs poses a major multidimensional challenge for all parties involved, including the government and its partners. In this regard, the Special Representative visited transit centers supported by the Haitian Government with UNICEF’s assistance, facilitating the reintegration of children released from armed gangs in Port-au-Prince and beyond the capital, and directly interacted with the children.
“All the children I spoke with said one thing: they want to go to school, play, learn, and, above all, just be children,” she added, highlighting the importance of education and learning as fundamental elements of reintegration. Proactive awareness campaigns, conducted through all available means like community radios, social networks, and religious leaders, must continue to prepare these children’s return to their families and communities. Much is being done in this regard, but efforts and determination must be further strengthened.
Deputy Secretary-General Frazier reiterated the UN’s commitment to support Haiti in all efforts to strengthen children’s protection.
