Haiti: Child Recruitment by Armed Gangs Triples in One Year

The situation of children in Haiti has reached a critical point. A new report released by UNICEF on the occasion of the International Day Against the Use of Child Soldiers reveals that the number of children recruited by armed gangs tripled in 2025.

Humanitarian organizations warn that minors are increasingly being used as lookouts, messengers, and in some cases directly involved in armed operations. Widespread school closures, forced displacement, and deepening poverty have created fertile ground for recruitment, leaving thousands of children exposed to exploitation.

Aid workers describe a vicious cycle: escalating insecurity fuels school dropouts, which in turn increases vulnerability to gang recruitment. The growing presence of armed groups in several urban areas has further weakened already fragile child protection systems.

UNICEF is calling for urgent action, including safer access to education, stronger community support programs, and accountability measures against those responsible.

Observers stress that beyond the statistics, an entire generation now faces a future overshadowed by violence.