On escalating trafficking and exploitation by criminal groups in Haiti

B100220/2026

European Parliament resolution on escalating trafficking and exploitation by criminal groups in Haiti

(2026/2702(RSP))

The European Parliament,

having regard to Rule 150 of its Rules of Procedure,

whereas Haiti faces a collapse of state authority, with armed criminal groups controlling large parts of Port-au-Prince, thereby undermining rule of law;

Whereas these groups have evolved into structured criminal networks centred on trafficking and exploitation;

Whereas the UN has found that all major gangs in and around Port-au-Prince are involved in trafficking, notably child recruitment and exploitation;

Whereas UNICEF reported that child recruitment increased by approximately 200% in 2025;

Whereas between January 2025 and March 2026 at least 5,519 people were killed, 2,608 injured and 1,578 subjected to sexual violence, including 165 children, illustrating systematic abuses;

Whereas women and girls are disproportionately affected by trafficking and exploitation, including widespread sexual violence as a means of control, while internally displaced persons remain particularly exposed;

Whereas the humanitarian situation continues to deteriorate, with over 1.4 million internally displaced persons, 5.8 million facing acute food insecurity, and nearly 1.9 million facing acute malnutrition, with a severely underfunded response;

Whereas the EU has imposed targeted sanctions and increased support for international stabilisation efforts;

Strongly condemns the transformation of criminal groups in Haiti into organised trafficking and exploitation networks, including child recruitment, sexual violence, kidnapping and extortion;

Recognises that the recruitment and use of children by gangs constitutes trafficking in persons and calls for their protection, release and reintegration, stresses that they must be treated as victims and not criminalised;

Urges the Haitian authorities, with international support, to prioritise dismantling trafficking networks and their command structures, including through financial investigations and prosecution of organisers and financiers;

Calls on the EU and its Member States to scale up support to anti-trafficking efforts, including judicial cooperation, border monitoring and measures targeting financial flows;

Calls for additional targeted restrictive measures against individuals and entities involved in including those operating from outside Haiti;

Demands full implementation of the UN arms embargo and stronger international cooperation to prevent and intercept illicit flows of firearms and ammunition into Haiti;

Supports the rapid strengthening of the international security support mission in Haiti, with strict respect for international human rights law, civilian protection and zero tolerance for sexual exploitation and abuse, including by international forces;

Calls for increased humanitarian assistance, including protection and healthcare for victims of trafficking and sexual exploitation; urges the EU and its Member States to step up support to the UN-backed mission and humanitarian aid;

Underlines the negative impact of the serious security situation in Haïti on European territories in the region;

Insists on strengthening judicial and prosecutorial capacity, with international support, to ensure accountability for trafficking, sexual violence and organised crime, including through victim- and survivor-centred approaches and effective witness protection;

Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Government and Parliament of Haiti, the Council, the Commission, the VP/HR, the Member States, the UNSG, CARICOM and the OAS.