Rival gangs in the Caribbean country of Haiti use sexual violence as a weapon. Gang members raped women, children and, on rare occasions, men to instill fear.
This is according to a report by the United Nations Office for Haiti and the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, published Friday. “The number of cases is increasing day by day as the humanitarian human rights crisis in Haiti worsens,” said Nada Al-Nashif. She is Commissioner for Human Rights at the UN. Children as young as ten and older women were raped for hours by various perpetrators in front of their relatives.
oppression and fear
Occasionally men are also victims of the gang members. According to the report, the perpetrators want to punish, oppress and instill fear in the population. Witnesses’ testimonies of the atrocities make it clear that urgent action is needed, Al-Nashif said. She spoke out on Friday for addressing those responsible and supporting the victims.
The background to the sexual violence is the gangs’ struggle for parts of the capital. In July 2021, President Jovenel Moise was assassinated under still unclear circumstances. As the security, health and supply situation is serious, the UN has requested assistance from an international force. Haiti has about eleven million inhabitants. It is considered the poorest country in the Americas.
Source: Krone
I’m Wayne Wickman, a professional journalist and author for Today Times Live. My specialty is covering global news and current events, offering readers a unique perspective on the world’s most pressing issues. I’m passionate about storytelling and helping people stay informed on the goings-on of our planet.
