Haitian children are being forced into a life of extreme brutality by armed gangs, with some as young as eight years old being kidnapped and compelled to commit violent acts. The crisis has escalated significantly since the assassination of President Jovenel Moïse in 2021, which led to a power vacuum and the expansion of gang control across large parts of the country.
One harrowing account describes Davensky, who was eight when he was abducted from school, blindfolded, and taken to an unknown location. He was then given a gun and ordered to kill another child as a "test," with threats of severe mutilation if he refused. For two years, Davensky was forced to participate in robberies, kidnappings, and even the murder of an infant, stating he had no choice.
The United Nations has issued a stark warning this year about an "alarming increase" in child recruitment by these armed groups, estimating that children now constitute approximately half of all gang members. Experts from the International Crisis Group note that gangs are actively replacing slain fighters with children as they expand into rural areas, with thousands reportedly killed in ongoing operations.
Recruitment tactics vary, from direct coercion to exploiting the severe socio-economic conditions. Many children have lost parents in massacres, been displaced from their homes, or forced out of school due to the pervasive violence. Haitian human rights organisations highlight how gangs capitalise on this vulnerability, offering meals, clothing, and shelter in abandoned buildings, effectively creating alternative welfare systems in the absence of state support.
Children often begin with relatively minor tasks, such as acting as lookouts or monitoring police movements, receiving small payments and food. However, their involvement gradually intensifies, leading to more dangerous responsibilities including guarding kidnap victims, collecting extortion payments, carrying weapons, and participating in armed assaults. Payments for these roles can range from hundreds of US dollars, with higher amounts for more significant violent acts, further entrenching children in the cycle of gang activity.