On Wednesday, June 4th, 2025, Ms. Pramila Patten, the Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary-General on Conflict-Related Sexual Violence, expressed her deep concern about the escalation of violence against women and girls, amid worsening gang violence in Haiti.

The situation has reached a breaking point. Since the beginning of the year, reports of sexual violence, including rape and gang rape, have increased at an alarming rate. "These heinous crimes are overwhelmingly concentrated in areas under gang control, where State presence is virtually nonexistent. In many instances, sexual violence is being used deliberately and systematically to assert dominance and punish communities," the Special Representative said.

Women and girls are increasingly becoming victims of this violence, as well as other serious crimes, including kidnappings and murders during gang attacks. Victims are often attacked in their homes or in public spaces. Alarmingly, the past eight months have seen a dramatic increase in documented cases of sexual slavery, once again illustrating the brutal oppression of women and girls.

"I echo the Secretary-General and Security Council’s condemnation of the widespread atrocities perpetrated by armed gangs, including conflict-related sexual violence and trafficking for the purposes of sexual exploitation. Concrete and immediate measures are essential to enhance the protection of Haitians, prioritizing those most at risk," urged Special Representative Patten.

The full deployment of the Multinational Security Support Mission (MMSS) to bolster Haitian national security forces, alongside the implementation of UN Security Council sanctions aimed at crippling gang operations, particularly the illicit arms trafficking that fuels these crimes, has never been more urgent. Widespread insecurity and the broader humanitarian crisis are disrupting the social fabric, displacing thousands of people and pushing many into overcrowded and unsafe shelters. Access to essential services, including medical and psychological support for victims, remains extremely limited. The closure of essential health facilities due to insecurity has strained an already fragile system, while impunity for these crimes emboldens the perpetrators.

Urgent and decisive action is required. The recent adoption of a decree creating two specialized judicial units, supported by the United Nations, including one focused on mass crimes such as sexual violence, and the reopening of the Port-au-Prince Court of First Instance, mark essential progress toward accountability and the restoration of the rule of law.

"I urge the Government of Haiti to accelerate the operationalization of these Units and call upon the international community to support these national efforts. Securing adequate funding is essential to allow service providers in meeting the health, psychological, and reintegration needs of survivors. Ending impunity is a fundamental step in breaking the cycle of violence and restoring dignity and safety to Haiti’s women and girls," Patten concluded.

HL/ HaitiLibre