According to a report from Human Rights Watch (HRW), Haitian armed gangs are enlisting starving children to strengthen their ranks in preparation for a prolonged and violent clash with international security forces.

The rights organization stated that the armed groups, which dominate much of Haiti, are luring hundreds, if not thousands, of impoverished children to join their ranks with promises of food and shelter.

HRW reports that as many as 30% of Haitian gang members are now children who have been coerced into illegal activities, serving as armed soldiers, spies, or being exploited for sexual purposes.

The report’s author, Nathalye Cotrino, told The Guardian, “All the sources we consulted, including children associated with criminal groups, told us that more children are joining the gangs and that it is in preparation to have more personnel available to fight against the international security forces and the Haitian police."

“Eventually, they plan to use children as ‘human shields’ if operations against criminal groups begin in their controlled areas.”

Haiti has descended into increasing chaos and desperation since the assassination of President Jovenel Moïse in July 2021. Currently, 5.4 million people face regular hunger, while 2.7 million— including half a million children—live under the control of violent armed groups.

'Poverty encourages children to be armed'

A report in August stated that Haiti's pervasive and severe poverty makes it easy for armed groups to persuade children to take up arms or work as informants, according to civil society groups. With one in two children regularly going hungry and schools frequently closed, the promise of consistent food can be enough to entice them.

“There’s a lot of young boys, and a lot of girls too, that are joining the gangs for security, but also because they don’t have any opportunities,” said Emmline Toussaint, from the Bureau de Nutrition et Développement (BND).

Civil society groups believe children are easily persuaded to take up guns or operate as spies in Haiti due to the country's extreme and pervasive poverty. 

In an effort to keep kids in school and off the streets, where they are more likely to be recruited to take up arms, BND provides school lunches.

“We still have serious concerns about the integration of child protection measures by the Multinational Security Support Mission. With armed groups in Haiti actively recruiting children, their safety cannot be an afterthought,” Imbeault noted.