In Haiti, the number of children and women kidnapped for ransom in the first eight months of 2021 has already exceeded last year's total, UNICEF warned.

"Nowhere is a safe place for children in Haiti," said Jean Gough, UNICEF Regional Director for Latin America and the Caribbean. "Whether it's on their way to school, at home or even at church, girls and boys are at risk of being kidnapped anywhere, at any time of the day or night. It's every parent's worst nightmare."

According to UNICEF estimates based on official sources, 71 women and 30 children have been kidnapped in the first eight months of this year, compared to 59 women and 37 children for the whole of 2020. Most kidnapping take place in the capital "Criminal gangs use children as bargaining chips and earn money from parents' love for their children […] It is odious," said Gough, stressing "These acts of violence have a lasting impact on kidnapped parents and children, captivity always causes trauma as they often witness or suffer humiliation, threats and in some cases violence."

To improve incident reporting and assistance to children in need, including kidnapped children, UNICEF supported the national child protection agency "Institut du Bien-être Social et de Recherches", in reactivating its free hotline to be used with a telephone hotline of the Brigade for the Protection of Minors.

UNICEF urges all relevant actors to refrain from targeting children and women and calls on the Government of Haiti to take action to combat gang violence against children.

HL/ HaitiLibre