Haiti Grapples with Rising Sexual Violence

Haiti is facing an unprecedented surge in sexual violence, with recent data showing more than 6,200 incidents reported in the first seven months of 2025 alone. The majority of these attacks are attributed to armed gangs that now control large swathes of the country, exploiting the collapse of law enforcement and the judicial system. According to the United Nations and independent humanitarian monitors, women and girls are overwhelmingly the primary victims, but boys and men have also been targeted.

The United Nations Integrated Office in Haiti (BINUH) verified 708 cases of sexual violence in 2024, including 523 girls, 142 women, and 43 boys, while humanitarian service providers documented 3,598 cases of gender-based violence in the same period. However, experts warn that these figures represent only a fraction of the true scale, as sexual violence in Haiti remains chronically underreported due to stigma, fear of reprisals, and a lack of trust in authorities. UN spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric noted that “one in seven survivors is a child, a girl under 18,” and that more than half of reported incidents involve internally displaced people.

Gangs Exploit Lawlessness and Displacement

Armed groups have weaponized sexual violence as a tool of terror and control, particularly in areas where state authority has collapsed. According to data gathered by the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), 62 percent of rapes are perpetrated by these gangs. The violence is especially acute in informal displacement sites, where tens of thousands have fled their homes due to ongoing conflict. Humanitarian organizations report that only one in four rape survivors is able to access medical care within the critical 72-hour window, largely due to insecurity, lack of health facilities, and weak referral systems.

International observers have criticized the Haitian government’s response as inadequate, citing a lack of resources, political instability, and widespread corruption. The UN Secretary-General has called for increased international support to strengthen protection, enable humanitarian access, and deliver justice for survivors. Despite these appeals, funding remains insufficient: only 18 percent of the $19 million required for gender-based violence prevention and response has been received so far in 2025.

Barriers to Justice and Support

Efforts to address the crisis are hampered by deep-seated social stigma and a justice system that is largely nonfunctional. Survivors often face ostracism and retaliation, discouraging them from seeking help or reporting crimes. Services for survivors, including medical care, psychological support, and legal aid, are concentrated in Port-au-Prince and a few other urban centers, leaving rural and remote regions with little to no assistance. Humanitarian agencies have provided support to nearly 20,000 people this year, but the scale of need far outstrips available resources.

International organizations have urged the Haitian authorities and the international community to prioritize the protection of women and children, strengthen oversight of security operations, and ensure that any multinational security mission adheres to strict human rights standards. Some official statements from Haitian authorities and allied states have downplayed the scale of the crisis or blamed external actors, a tactic often seen in state-driven narratives seeking to deflect responsibility. Independent reporting, however, consistently highlights the central role of domestic gangs and the state’s inability to protect its citizens.

As the crisis deepens, survivors and advocates continue to call for urgent action to restore security, expand support services, and hold perpetrators accountable. Without a coordinated response, experts warn, sexual violence will remain a devastating and pervasive weapon in Haiti’s ongoing humanitarian emergency.