resolution motion, 27 April 2026
On escalating trafficking and exploitation by criminal groups in Haiti
Motion B-10-2026-0228 · (2026/2702(RSP))
on behalf of the PPE Group · Rapporteur: Sebastião Bugalho, Reinhold Lopatka, David McAllister, Željana Zovko, Isabel Wiseler-Lima, Tomas Tobé, Antonio López-Istúriz White, Andrey Kovatchev, Ingeborg Ter Laak, Miriam Lexmann, Francisco José Millán Mon, Davor Ivo Stier, Tomáš Zdechovský, Danuše Nerudová, Jessica Polfjärd, Michał Wawrykiewicz, Loránt Vincze, Liudas Mažylis, Inese Vaidere, Dariusz Joński, Luděk Niedermayer, Łukasz Kohut, Vangelis Meimarakis, Jan Farský
AI:In short
Parliament's resolution condemns escalating trafficking and exploitation by criminal groups in Haiti, including killings, kidnappings, sexual violence, child recruitment and forced displacement. It calls for humanitarian aid, justice for crimes, support for Haitian security with human rights safeguards, and EU action against arms trafficking and financial flows.
Key points
- Strongly condemns escalating trafficking and exploitation by criminal groups in Haiti, including killings, kidnappings, sexual violence, child recruitment and forced displacement.
- Expresses concern about child trafficking and exploitation; stresses that children recruited or used by gangs must be treated as victims, not criminalised.
- Condemns sexual violence against women and girls; calls for survivor access to medical care and legal protection, and accountability for perpetrators.
- Calls for increased humanitarian assistance, with attention to women, children and displaced persons, and insists on safe, rapid and unhindered humanitarian access.
- Urges Haitian authorities to investigate and prosecute serious crimes by criminal groups in fair proceedings and to operationalise specialised judicial capacity.
- Calls on the EU and Member States to step up support for security in Haiti, including the Haitian National Police and Gang Suppression Force, with human rights safeguards.
- Urges the EU and Member States to intensify efforts against illicit arms trafficking and financial flows to Haiti, and to continue targeted sanctions against gang leaders and enablers.
Who is affected
- Criminal groups in Haiti, including gangs operating in Port-au-Prince and other areas.
- Children recruited or used by gangs, who must be treated as victims.
- Women and girls affected by sexual violence, who need medical care and legal protection.
- Haitian authorities, who are urged to investigate and prosecute serious crimes.
- EU and its Member States, called on to increase security support and sanctions.
Figures and deadlines
- At least 5,519 people killed and 2,608 injured in Haiti between 1 March 2025 and 15 January 2026.
- Internal displacement reached 1.45 million in February 2026.
- At least 26 gangs operate in the metropolitan area of Port-au-Prince and parts of Artibonite and Centre departments.
- At least 1,571 women and girls were victims of sexual violence between 1 March and 31 December 2025.
Written by AI from the full text · every figure comes from the text · ¶ opens the paragraph · 4 Sept 2026 · Report a problem
Full text
Text 22 paragraphs
B100228/2026
European Parliament resolution on escalating trafficking and exploitation by criminal groups in Haiti
(2026/2702(RSP))
The European Parliament,
having regard to its previous resolutions on Haiti,
having regard to the Convention on the Rights of the Child,
having regard to the UN OHCHR reports of 2025 on gang violence in Haiti,
having regard to Rule 150(5) and 136(4) of its Rules of Procedure,
whereas, according to OHCHR, at least 5,519 people were killed and 2,608 injured in Haiti between 1 March 2025 and 15 January 2026;
whereas internal displacement reached 1.45 million in February 2026, while over half of Haitians face acute food insecurity;
whereas, according to OHCHR/BINUH, at least 26 gangs operate in the metropolitan area of Port-au-Prince as well as in parts of the Artibonite and Centre departments, and the majority are involved in child trafficking;
whereas children are recruited and used by gangs to gather information, monitor security forces, carry weapons and, in some cases, participate in kidnappings, killings and sexual violence;
Read the rest (10 paragraphs)
whereas girls are particularly exposed to rape, sexual exploitation and sexual slavery; whereas at least 1,571 women and girls were victims of sexual violence between 1 March and 31 December 2025;
whereas illicit arms trafficking, illicit financial flows and support networks linked to political and economic actors continue to fuel gang violence, trafficking and exploitation in Haiti;
Strongly condemns the escalating trafficking and exploitation perpetrated by criminal groups in Haiti, including killings, kidnappings, sexual violence, child recruitment and the forced displacement of civilians;
Expresses concern about the trafficking, recruitment and exploitation of children by gangs; stresses that children recruited, used or exploited by gangs must be treated first and foremost as victims and must not be criminalised for acts committed as a direct consequence of their exploitation;
Condemns all forms of sexual violence and exploitation committed against women and girls; calls for access for survivors to medical care and legal protection, and stresses that those responsible must be held accountable;
Calls for increased humanitarian assistance to populations affected by violence and displacement, with particular attention to women, children and displaced persons, and insists that humanitarian access must be safe, rapid and unhindered;
Urges the Haitian authorities to investigate and prosecute serious crimes committed by criminal groups, including trafficking, sexual violence and crimes committed against children, in fair and credible proceedings; calls for the operationalisation of specialised judicial capacity accordingly;
Calls on the EU and its Member States to step up support for security in Haiti, including support to the Haitian National Police and the Gang Suppression Force, while ensuring robust human rights, monitoring and accountability safeguards;
Urges the EU and its Member States to intensify efforts to curb illicit arms trafficking and illicit financial flows to Haiti, and to continue imposing targeted sanctions against gang leaders, sponsors and enablers of criminal violence and human rights abuses;
Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission, the VP/HR, the Member States, the UN Secretary-General and the Haitian authorities.