Haitian Heritage Month offers a chance to reflect on human rights in Haiti
- Human Rights Research Center
- 2 minutes ago
- 3 min read
Author: Peter Clarkin, MA
May 22, 2026
HRRC recognises the importance of Haitian Heritage Month for the Haitian diaspora, but also strongly recommends that this period be used to highlight the human rights challenges facing the country. Appropriate action must be taken by the Haitian government to reduce the influence of gangs, with the safety of civilians placed at the forefront of all discussions.
![Haitian Heritage Month commemorates the contributions made by the Haitian community around the world. [Image credit: Jacqueline Macou from Pixabay]](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/e28a6b_dcab0e2947f142599cd7923544229c41~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_147,h_94,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,blur_2,enc_avif,quality_auto/e28a6b_dcab0e2947f142599cd7923544229c41~mv2.jpg)
The month of May is a time when Haitian Heritage Month is celebrated throughout the Haitian diaspora, providing an opportunity for many cities – particularly in the United States – to host activities such as parades, flag raisings, and exhibitions. While the recognition of Haitian culture is extremely important during this time of year, it also offers a chance to highlight some of the human rights issues currently faced by Haitians in their homeland.
Beginning in 2025 and continuing through the first half of 2026, Haiti has suffered significantly due to the expanding influence of street gangs, especially in the capital, Port-au-Prince. Between 1 March 2025 and 15 January 2026, over 5,000 people were killed in gang-related violence. These violent acts involve not only gangs, but also national security forces, private security firms, and self-defence groups.
One of the most worrying tactics employed by Haitian gangs is the recruitment of minors, a practice that almost tripled in 2025. It is estimated that children now make up up to 50 percent of total gang members in Port-au-Prince. Despite their involvement with gangs, the United Nations has made it clear that all children encountered in security operations should be treated as victims. UN Special Representative for Children and Armed Conflict Vanessa Frazier stated that, “Without protecting these children and supporting all children affected by violence, lasting stability in Haiti will not be possible.”
Recently, there have been signs of gradual progress in Port-au-Prince, where neighbourhoods previously under the control of armed gangs have slowly been liberated by the Haitian National Police (PNH). These neighbourhoods have suffered greatly over a number of years, with ongoing violence and the near-total collapse of essential services. As these areas become more accessible, humanitarian aid agencies will be able to enter and provide assistance to previously unreachable communities.
However, this progress has come at a significant cost to innocent civilians, with several human rights organisations suggesting that the tactics used by security forces might include the unlawful use of drone attacks. It is alleged that drones are being used to target gang members in densely populated urban areas, but innocent civilians are regularly being caught in these attacks, resulting in significant casualties.
Haitian Heritage Month is a meaningful time for celebrating the culture and history of Haiti, but it must also be used to highlight the human rights issues in the country. Pressure must be placed on the Haitian authorities and the international community to work together to create conditions in which Haiti can prosper and become a safe place to live for its inhabitants.
Glossary (https://dictionary.cambridge.org/)
Casualties — people injured or killed in a serious accident or war.
Densely — with a lot of things close together.
Diaspora — a group of people who spread from one original country to other countries.
Drone — an aircraft that flies without a pilot inside it and is controlled remotely.
Essential services — basic services that are necessary for society to function, such as healthcare, transport, water, or electricity.
Humanitarian aid agencies — organizations that provide help, food, medical care, or support to people affected by war, disasters, or poverty.
Liberated — freed from control, imprisonment, or oppression.
Minors — people under the age at which the law considers them adults.
Private security firms — companies that provide security services such as guarding people or property.
Prosper — to be successful, especially financially.
Security operations — activities carried out to protect people, places, or information from danger or threats.
Self-defence— justification for inflicting serious harm on another person on the ground that the harm was inflicted as a means of protecting oneself .
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