Haiti: Children Trapped by Criminal Violence and Hunger

In Haiti, hundreds, if not thousands, of children driven by rising hunger and severe poverty have joined criminal groups, where they are forced into illegal activities and face abuse, Human Rights Watch said today. A recent increase in criminal groups’ recruitment of children appears to be in response to the operations of the Multinational Security Support (MSS) mission and the Haitian National Police. As the school year begins, the new transitional government should prioritize an education-focused strategy that protects children, ensures that security measures do not violate their rights, addresses their urgent needs, provides them a legal exit from criminal groups, and holds perpetrators accountable.