News Americas, NEW YORK, NY, Mon. April 6, 2026: A newly released United Nations report has raised serious concerns over allegations of sexual abuse involving members of a foreign security mission operating in Haiti, including a case involving a 12-year-old child.
According to the report, published in February, four cases of sexual exploitation and abuse were substantiated following investigations conducted by the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR). Three of the alleged victims were minors, including the 12-year-old, while a fourth victim was 18 years old.
THE ALLEGATIONS
The allegations implicate personnel linked to the Multinational Security Support (MSS) mission, a Kenyan-led and U.S.-backed force deployed to assist Haiti in addressing escalating gang violence. The mission has since transitioned into the Gang Suppression Force (GSF), which now carries a broader mandate.
The case involving the 12-year-old child has drawn particular concern, underscoring ongoing vulnerabilities faced by children in Haiti amid a prolonged security and humanitarian crisis. While details remain limited, the report confirms the case was investigated internally by the MSS, while the OHCHR handled the broader review of all four allegations.
UN officials emphasized the seriousness of the findings. “Four cases is four too many,” said William O’Neill, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights’ designated expert on Haiti. He called for independent investigations, full transparency, and prosecution where evidence supports it.
“All victims deserve justice, and there must be no impunity,” O’Neill added.
THE REPORT
The report has been shared with the Gang Suppression Force for further action. However, UN spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric noted that the MSS and its successor are not under direct United Nations command, raising questions about oversight and accountability mechanisms.
The allegations add to growing scrutiny of international interventions in Haiti, particularly as the country continues to grapple with widespread violence and institutional instability. Since the 2021 assassination of President Jovenel Moïse, gangs have tightened their grip on large parts of the capital, Port-au-Prince, displacing more than 1.3 million people and contributing to thousands of deaths.
Healthcare providers and humanitarian groups have warned that the situation has left civilians, especially women and children, increasingly exposed to abuse. Réginald Fils-Aimé, a Haitian doctor with the nonprofit Zanmi Lasante, described conditions as unchanged despite international efforts.
“Nothing has changed,” he said, pointing to ongoing disruptions in access to medical care due to gang control of key supply routes.
The latest report also revives longstanding concerns about misconduct by foreign personnel in Haiti. Previous UN peacekeeping missions faced criticism after reports that peacekeepers fathered and abandoned children with Haitian women following the 2010 earthquake.
The Haitian newspaper Ayibo Post first reported the latest allegations, bringing renewed attention to the risks associated with international deployments in fragile environments.
As new troops, including Chadian forces, arrive under the GSF mandate, human rights advocates are urging stronger safeguards to protect civilians – particularly children – from abuse.
The UN report concludes with a call for accountability and systemic reforms to ensure that those sent to restore security do not contribute to further harm.
