A 16-year-old Haitian boy, identified only as Joseph, was struck with a firearm by a gang leader after attempting to leave the group, according to a new report released by the UN in Haiti. The incident underscores the escalating recruitment of children into gangs amidst a deepening crisis of violence, humanitarian require, and governance failures in the Caribbean nation.
Joseph recounted to UN investigators how he was initially drawn to a gang in his impoverished neighborhood, where armed groups exert control and offer a semblance of opportunity. “Some were well-dressed, had nice cars, and were surrounded by women. They were the ones who made the rules in our neighbourhood,” he said, describing the allure of gang life. He was recruited in August 2024, initially tasked with monitoring police movements, and then armed himself.
The turning point came when Joseph was ordered to participate in a confrontation with law enforcement. Fearing for his life, he attempted to withdraw from the gang. “I told the gang leader that I wanted to travel home. He became very angry and struck me with the weapon,” Joseph explained. “He hit me repeatedly until he broke my hand. He told me that if I tried to leave, he would kill me.” He managed to escape shortly after, seeking help from a local organization in September 2024.
Joseph’s experience is not isolated. The UN report highlights a growing trend of child recruitment by gangs in Haiti, where an estimated 30 to 50 percent of gang members are themselves children. This cycle of violence is fueled by poverty and a lack of opportunities, as Joseph described, with gangs offering material benefits and a sense of belonging to vulnerable youth.
The situation comes as Haiti grapples with a severe security crisis. As of June 2025, approximately 1.3 million people had been displaced by gang violence, with over half of those displaced being children – around 700,000, according to Dr. Roland Joseph, who addressed the UN Human Rights Council in October 2025. Gangs control nearly 90% of the capital, blocking critical roads and terrorizing the population. Recent reports indicate at least 40 people, including women, children, and the elderly, were massacred in the commune of Cabaret.
The UN Security Council has criticized Haitian authorities for a lack of progress in achieving a political transition and has called for urgent security sector reforms. However, the Presidential Council established to oversee the transition has reportedly “failed in its mission,” according to recent reports. The international community is being urged to support nonkilling principles, including peace education programs, to address the root causes of the violence, as advocated by Dr. Joseph at the UN Human Rights Council.
The UN report emphasizes the need for more robust protection measures for children in gang-affected communities. As of February 21, 2026, no further action has been announced regarding the implementation of these measures or a revised strategy for addressing the escalating recruitment of children by gangs in Haiti.
