"Hundreds, if not thousands, of children in Haiti, driven by hunger and poverty, have in recent months joined criminal groups, where they are forced into illegal activities and face abuse," Human Rights Watch (HRW) said.

"With limited options for survival, many children in Haiti are drawn into criminal groups, where they become involved in illegal activities and face serious risks," said Nathalye Cotrino, crisis and conflict researcher at HRW.

Several young minors associated with criminal groups told HRW during its mission to Haiti that hunger was the main factor forcing them to join these groups or that prompted their families to allow them to join. These groups are often their only source of food, income, and shelter.

A 16-year-old boy from Port-au-Prince said he joined the Village de Dieu gang when he was 14. "Before I joined the group, I lived with my mother... It was really hard to get food and clothes," he said. "At home, there wasn’t any food. But when I was with the group, I could eat.”

"To stem the violence, the transitional government should focus on improving children’s lives by providing protection, access to essential goods and services including education and legal opportunities for their rehabilitation and reintegration," says Nathalye Cotrino

"Although official figures are not available, humanitarian and human rights organizations and government officials estimate that at least 30 percent of criminal group members are children. Children are involved in criminal activities ranging from extortion and looting to serious acts of violence, such as murders and kidnappings," HRW said.

Minors who refuse to obey gang orders face corporal punishment and even death threats.

HL/ S/ HaitiLibre