Port-au-Prince, Haiti — Growing Threat of Sexual Abuse in Violence-Torn Nation
Haiti is facing an escalating crisis of sexual violence and abuse as armed gang influence intensifies across the country, humanitarian agencies report. Clinics treating survivors have seen cases multiply in recent years, exposing a widening gap in protection, medical care, and safety for vulnerable civilians.
Triple-Digit Increase in Assault Cases as Gangs Expand Territory
Healthcare providers in Haiti’s capital report a dramatic rise in survivors seeking treatment for sexual and gender-based violence. Over the past four years, the number of patients treated at a key support clinic has tripled, with thousands of cases documented in the last decade. Attacks often involve multiple perpetrators, many linked to rival armed groups asserting control over neighborhoods.
Officials say that gangs now control an estimated 90% of Port-au-Prince, using sexual violence as a tool to intimidate communities, assert power, and influence access to limited humanitarian aid. The demographics of survivors are also shifting, with a notable increase in older adults and male victims compared with previous years.
Displacement and Service Gaps Leave Survivors at Risk
Mass displacement is compounding Haiti’s humanitarian emergency. Roughly 1.4 million people have been forced from their homes, often into makeshift shelters where women, children, and men face heightened danger of attack. Many survivors are unable to reach care quickly — crucial treatments to prevent HIV infection or unwanted pregnancy are missed because people arrive at clinics too late.
Healthcare facilities and shelters frequently lack the capacity to absorb the influx of survivors, leaving many without adequate medical or psychological support. Social stigma and fear of retaliation from armed groups also discourage reporting of abuse and seeking timely assistance.
Calls for Expanded Support and Protection Measures
Local advocacy groups are urging both national authorities and international partners to address gaps in services for survivors. Suggested measures include establishing confidential helplines, increasing safe housing options, and ensuring free access to comprehensive healthcare. Without these interventions, humanitarian actors warn that survivors remain trapped in cycles of violence with little prospect for recovery.
