Resolution on escalating trafficking and exploitation by criminal groups in Haiti

The European Parliament adopted by 511 votes to 21, with 42 abstentions, a resolution on escalating trafficking and exploitation by criminal groups in Haiti.

The text adopted in plenary was tabled by the EPP, S&D, ECR, Renew and Greens/EFA groups.

Haiti faces a collapse of state authority, with gangs controlling large areas of territory and committing extortion, kidnappings and killings, and drive hunger, displacement and widespread violence. Most gangs are involved in child trafficking and child recruitment reportedly tripled in 2025. Children reportedly account for up to 50 % of gang members. Gangs use sexual violence to intimidate and control, disproportionately affecting women and girls.

The humanitarian situation has reached unprecedented levels, with 1.45 million people displaced and over half the population facing acute food insecurity and a severely underfunded response.

Parliament strongly condemns the escalating violence, the trafficking, recruitment and exploitation, including sexual exploitation, of children, and the forced displacement of civilians. It called for a disarmament, dismantlement and reintegration policy, also for children. Moreover, children must not be criminalised for acts committed as a direct consequence of their exploitation but recognised and assisted as victims.

The Haitian authorities are called on to:

- prevent child trafficking by strengthening social protection, ensuring medical care, safe education, expanding psychosocial care and developing reintegration programmes and ensuring legal protection for survivors of sexual violence and exploitation;

- prioritise justice, ensure redress, fight impunity, investigate all crimes committed by criminal groups in fair and credible proceedings, and operationalise specialised judicial capacity accordingly;

- ensure independent investigations into alleged extrajudicial killings.

While noting the reductions in USAID and UN funding, Parliament called on the EU its Member States and international partners to strengthen support for child protection, rehabilitation and reintegration, survivor services, judicial and prosecutorial capacity, and Haitian civil society.

The EU and its Member States should:

- increase humanitarian support, including protection and healthcare for victims of trafficking and sexual exploitation it. Host countries are urged to halt deportations to Haiti;

- provide sustained support for the UN-mandated Gang Suppression Force, ensuring robust human rights and accountability safeguards;

- fully implement the UN arms embargo and intensify efforts to curb illicit arms and financial flows to Haiti, including through judicial cooperation and border monitoring, and continue imposing targeted sanctions.