11 March 2025
Haiti is in freefall. Gangs are strengthening their hold on the capital, violence is expanding, and "suffering permeates all social strata" in a nation on the verge of collapse, according to William O'Neill, the UN human rights office's designated expert on the country.
Following his fourth visit to assess conditions in Haiti, Mr. O'Neill addressed journalists at the United Nations Headquarters in New York, painting a grim picture of a nation in turmoil.
"I hate to sound like a broken record," he stated, "but the situation is more dire each time I go."
Despite efforts by the Haitian National Police (PNH) and the Multinational Security Support (MSS) Mission, the threat of gangs seizing complete control of the capital has never been higher. Criminal groups are expanding beyond Port-au-Prince, spreading terror through killings, sexual violence, arson, and societal infiltration—all with impunity, and, as some sources claim, with the complicity of powerful actors.
The escalating violence has displaced nearly a million people, forcing thousands more to flee in recent weeks. "They have nowhere to go," O’Neill stated, emphasizing the desperation driving communities to turn against each other. He recounted an incident where children threw stones at internally displaced people (IDPs) seeking refuge at their school, describing it as "the desperate turning against the more desperate."
Conditions in makeshift camps remain dire, with widespread hunger and sexual abuse. O’Neill urged unity and solidarity in political action, stressing that fighting impunity and corruption must be central to any effort to dismantle gangs. He also emphasized that the response to gang violence must uphold international human rights standards, particularly the right to life.
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