"UN Expert Warns of Unpunished Sexual Violence and Catastrophic Gang Violence in Haiti"

The UN human rights office released a report describing Haiti's sexual violence as severely underreported and largely unpunished, with over 1,500 people killed by gang violence so far this year. The country is facing corruption, impunity, and poor governance, leading to a collapse of state institutions and internal displacement of approximately 313,900 people. Gangs continue to recruit children, traffic weapons, and cause extensive damage to property, while the criminal justice system remains dysfunctional and journalists face threats and self-censorship. UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk called for urgent action to address the pervasive impunity and restore public trust in the rule of law and state institutions.