Anjali Sharma
GG News Bureau
UNITED NATIONS, 2nd Feb. UN Human rights report released on Thursday cited that the last quarter of 2023 saw rise in violence across Haiti, with reports of 2,327 victims of murder, wounding and kidnapping, marked 8% increase compared to the previous three months.
UN integrated office in Haiti BINUH reported that’s according to the latest quarterly update.
It stated that the total number of recorded victims for the year was more than 8,400. Much of the rise is due to violence at the hands of organized crime gangs, particularly in the Artibonite and the southern outskirts of the capital, with an upsurge in sexual violence recorded in several areas.
UN Special Representative and Head of BINUH, Maria Isabel Salvador, stressed that this violence is fuelling chronic insecurity and undermining social stability.
The report revealed the serious impact on children, with at least 53 child victims of violence or other crimes. It also highlights the threat to humanitarian aid on the roads due to gang control of highways.
The judicial system has also been impacted although there are some signs of improvement, including a reduction in pre-trial detention, it said.
BINUH said that during the quarter, 400 cases were processed resulting in the release of more than 258 people. However, there has been a rise in police casualties, highlighting persistent insecurity.
The report called on the international community to keep Haiti high on its agenda and support the implementation of the planned Multinational Security Support Mission for Haiti.
