Haiti's Lost Innocence: Child Recruitment by Armed Gangs

Human Rights Watch reports increasing recruitment of children by armed gangs in Haiti. Boys are often used in combat roles, while girls face sexual abuse. Many children join gangs for basic necessities like food and shelter, exacerbated by Haiti's socio-political instability.

Human Rights Watch has sounded the alarm on the growing exploitation of children by armed gangs in Haiti, highlighting a grim trend driven by dire economic conditions. Boys are swept into violent roles, while girls endure sexual abuse and enforced domestic servitude.

As state resources dwindle and political crises paralyze government institutions, gangs have proliferated, now presiding over territories housing 2.7 million people. The United Nations estimates that a third of gang members are children, utilized in atrocious acts from killing to checkpoint oversight.

Efforts to curb this silent crisis include a partially-deployed U.N. security intervention, with urgent calls for increased resources, child rehabilitation programs, and bolstered education and nutrition assistance for vulnerable youngsters.

(With inputs from agencies.)