Haiti: Sexual Violence Escalates as Gangs Tighten Their Grip on Civilians

Sexual violence in Haiti has reached alarming levels as armed gangs expand their control across the country, exposing civilians to extreme abuse with little protection. In Port-au-Prince, medical teams supported by Médecins Sans Frontières report a sharp rise in survivors seeking care over the past four years, alongside a troubling increase in the severity of attacks.

Health workers describe a growing pattern of gang-related assaults involving multiple perpetrators, targeting women, men, children, and the elderly alike.

These acts are no longer isolated crimes but appear increasingly systematic, reflecting the use of sexual violence as a tool of intimidation and territorial control.Beyond the immediate medical emergency, the surge highlights the collapse of civilian protection mechanisms.

Humanitarian organizations warn that without improved security, accountability, and sustained support for survivors, sexual violence risks becoming a normalized feature of Haiti’s protracted crisis.