Haiti is facing an unprecedented protection and humanitarian crisis, marked by widespread gang violence, mass displacement, and a sharp rise in grave violations against children. Against this backdrop, the UN Security Council’s decision to transition the Multinational Security Support (MSS) mission into a Gang Suppression Force (GSF), alongside the establishment of a UN Support Office in Haiti (UNSOH), raises urgent operational and protection questions.
Participants highlighted the blurred lines between combatants and civilians—particularly as children are estimated to comprise up to half of gang members. The conversation stressed the need for stronger child protection frameworks, clearer detention and referral mechanisms, and accountability for serious crimes, including sexual and gender-based violence and financial corruption. Participants also underscored the importance of considering targeted sanctions beyond gang leadership to include other actors involved in the conflict, strengthening enforcement of the arms embargo, and improving coordination among BINUH, UNSOH, national authorities, and the GSF.