At least 1.4 million people, mostly in the capital Port-au-Prince, have been forced to flee their homes due to escalating gang violence, creating what the UN’s Designated Expert on human rights in Haiti, William O’Neill, describes as an “unprecedented level of internal displacement.” Speaking from UN Headquarters in New York after a 10-day mission to Haiti, O’Neill emphasized that the ongoing human rights crisis is causing massive suffering, particularly for the country’s most vulnerable populations.
Port-au-Prince and surrounding areas are largely controlled by at least 26 gangs, with some controlling up to 90 percent of the capital. Alarmingly, about half of all gang members are children under the age of 18. These gangs engage in violent extortion, rape, murder, and kidnappings for ransom, all while clashing with Haitian security forces over territorial control. Thousands of residents remain trapped in gang-held zones or along constantly shifting frontlines, navigating what O’Neill calls “invisible borders.” Young women and girls face heightened risks, encountering discrimination based on gender, poverty, and residence in gang-controlled neighborhoods, with many expressing a simple desire to live safely in their own country.
Haiti’s crisis is compounded by natural disasters, including floods, droughts, and earthquakes, alongside political instability following the assassination of former President Jovenel Moïse in 2021. While there is hope for upcoming elections later this year, the country continues to struggle with insecurity, corruption, and weak accountability mechanisms.
As the UN Designated Expert, O’Neill’s role is to monitor human rights developments and advise the Haitian government, national institutions, and civil society, including women’s rights groups, to promote the protection of human rights. He acknowledged the challenges but described the current moment as “difficult yet promising,” emphasizing that addressing insecurity, combating corruption, and strengthening human rights protections could pave the way for broader prosperity in Haiti.
