Key facts
- Children in Haiti have reported being jailed for years without appearing before a judge.
- Some children have been detained for up to eight years without trial.
- Detained minors are often held in overcrowded cells alongside adult prisoners.
- The UN confirmed 2,088 grave violations against children in Haiti last year, including killings, abductions, and recruitment by gangs.
- The US plans to crack down on social media platforms used by gangs for recruitment and monetization.
Children in Haiti are reportedly being held in jail for years without ever appearing before a judge, according to Vanessa Frazier, the United Nations Secretary-General's Special Representative for Children and Armed Conflict. Speaking at a Security Council meeting, Frazier stated that some children reported being jailed for as long as eight years without judicial review. Many of these minors are housed in overcrowded prison cells intended for children but predominantly holding adult detainees.
Frazier described the situation as "not acceptable" and among the most alarming globally. She called for children associated with armed gangs to be treated primarily as victims and urged a review to release detained children, along with practical reintegration measures. Last year, the UN documented 2,088 grave violations against children in Haiti, including killings, maiming, abductions, recruitment by gangs, and sexual violence. The UN attributed child deaths and injuries to armed gangs, Haitian police, crossfire, and drone strikes.
U.S. Representative to the UN Mike Waltz announced that the U.S. would work to disrupt gang monetization of social media platforms like TikTok, Facebook, and Instagram, which he said are used for recruiting children. Waltz also urged countries to assist with airlifts to expedite the deployment of the UN-backed security force in Haiti. Monica Juma, executive director of the UN Office on Drugs and Crime, noted that Haitian gangs are now aiming to capture governance systems and economic lifelines, not just territory.