Haiti gang violence and gender‑based abuse

In late July 2026 the United Nations reported more than 5,500 cases of gender‑based violence in Haiti during the first half of the year, most of them sexual assaults linked to armed gang groups. Over half of the victims were displaced, with roughly 1.5 million people forced from their homes. The UN warned that the surge reflected the country’s deepening insecurity and announced plans to help create a force to support local police.

A week later, a UN Integrated Office report covering March‑July 2026 documented a sharp rise in gang‑related killings in Port‑au‑Prince, with at least 613 deaths and 375 injuries. More than a third of the dead were civilians. The report also recorded over 176 women and girls subjected to sexual violence, including gang rapes, and noted that more than 18,000 residents were displaced as gangs controlled up to 90 % of the capital and surrounding areas. The UN called for stronger protection measures and humanitarian aid to address the escalating human‑rights violations and the disruption of essential services.