PORT- AU- PRINCE, Haiti (CMC) – The United Nations Integrated office in Haiti (BINUH) says the human rights situation in the French-speaking Caribbean Community (Caricom) country remained extremely worrying during the second quarter of 2025.
It said criminal groups expanded and intensified their attacks outside of the capital, Port-au-Prince, particularly in the Centre department and Bas Artibonite. There was some slowdown in their advance into the capital, although the situation in some communes, such as Kenscoff, remained highly volatile.
“Gang attacks in the Artibonite and Centre departments, and in the capital, continue to cause serious human rights violations and exacerbate an already dire humanitarian crisis, leading to massive population displacement with dramatic consequences for women and children in particular,” said Ulrika Richardson, the acting head of BINUH and the UN resident and humanitarian coordinator.
BINUH said that in total, between April 1 and June 30, 2025, at least 1,520 people were killed and 609 injured in armed violence, primarily in the Port-au-Prince metropolitan area, followed by Artibonite and Centre. In addition, there were at least 185 kidnappings and 628 victims of sexual violence.
Abuses by criminal groups caused more than 24 per cent of those killed or injured during the quarter.
The UN said that gang members continued to resort to murders, gang rapes, and kidnappings to maintain their control over populations living in areas under their influence. Cases of sexual slavery, sexual exploitation, and child trafficking and exploitation were also documented.
During the same period, 64 per cent of those killed or injured
were during security force operations against criminal groups, more than a third of them during strikes using explosive drones.
“It is noteworthy that at least 15 percent of the victims were people not associated with gangs, killed or injured while on the street or in their homes. Furthermore, at least four members of the security forces also lost their lives during these operations. In addition, some police officers and the government commissioner of Miragoâne were also reportedly involved in 73 summary executions,” BINH said.
It said 12 per cent of those killed or injured were involved in violence attributable to self-defence groups and members of the population linked to the “Bwa Kalé” movement against alleged gang members and those suspected of collaborating with them.
