‘Over 5 000 killed by gang violence’ in Haiti last year

GENEVA – The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk, Tuesday reiterated a call for countries not to repatriate Haitians to their homeland as the UN Human Rights Office reported that at least 5 601 people were killed in Haiti last year.

The killings were as a result of gang violence, an increase of over 1 000 on the total killings for 2023, according to figures verified by the UN Human Rights Office. It said a  further 2 212 people were injured and 1 494 kidnapped.

“These figures alone cannot capture the absolute horrors being perpetrated in Haiti but they show the unremitting violence to which people are being subjected,” said  Türk.

The UN Human Rights Office documented 315 lynchings of gang members and people allegedly associated with gangs, on some occasions reportedly facilitated by Haitian police officers, in 2024. In addition, there were 281 cases of alleged summary executions involving specialised police units between January 1 and  December 31, 2024.

“It has long been clear that impunity for human rights violations and abuses, as well as corruption, remain prevalent in Haiti, constituting some of the main drivers of the multi-dimensional crisis the country faces, along with entrenched economic and social inequalities,” said Türk.

“Additional efforts from the authorities, with the support of the international community, are needed to address these root causes,” he said, adding “restoring the rule of law must be a priority.

“To this end, the Multinational Security Support (MSS) mission in Haiti needs the logistical and financial support it requires to successfully implement its mandate,” Türk said.

Over the  last weekend, a second group of soldiers from Guatemala arrived in Haiti, bringing to 150, the total number of the contingent in the country supporting the Kenyan-led MSS police support mission that has been sanctioned by the United Nations Security Council.

With the arrival of the Guatemalans, the MSS workforce has increased and now has 590 police/military personnel, including 400 Kenyans, 150 Guatemalans, eight Salvadorans, six Bahamians, 24 Jamaicans and two Belizeans.

Türk said that the National Haitian Police, with the support of the international community, should also strengthen its oversight mechanism to hold accountable police officers reportedly involved in human rights violations.

The High Commissioner restated his call for the full implementation of the Security Council’s sanctions regime as well as the arms embargo, crucial to preventing the supply of firearms and ammunition to the country.

“Weapons flowing into Haiti often end up in the hands of the criminal gangs, with tragic results: thousands killed, hundreds of thousands displaced, essential infrastructure and services, such as schools and hospitals, disrupted and destroyed,” Türk said.

“The acute insecurity and resulting human rights crisis in the country simply do not allow for the safe, dignified and sustainable return of Haitians. And yet, deportations are continuing.”

“I reiterate my call to all States not to forcibly return anyone to Haiti,” he added. (CMC)

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