Haiti’s new security deployment must take into account child protection
1 October 2025The protection of the children should be at the heart of the response, as the United Nations Security Council authorised the deployment of a Gang Suppression Force.
The force aims to address the escalating violence and insecurity in Haiti and will replace the UN-backed Multinational Security Support (MSS) mission.
These services are crucial for shielding children from exploitation, trafficking, and the lasting effects of violence, and a major boost in funding is urgently required.
“The violence gripping Haiti is robbing children of their safety, their education, and their future” said Prospery Raymond, Plan International’s Country Director in Haiti.
Raymond sheds light on the urgent challenges facing children and families across the country,
Fear and food shortages
“Families are trapped in fear, and the hunger crisis is worsening – leaving nearly half the population facing food shortages and uncertainty for their next meal.
The risks for children, especially girls, are unthinkable, as they face increased dangers of trafficking, exploitation, and recruitment by armed groups.”
Plan International remains unwavering in our commitment to these children and their families.
Our teams are providing critical emergency child protection and education services, including safe spaces, psychosocial support, and case management for the most vulnerable.
“We welcome international efforts to restore order, but this must go hand in hand with a firm commitment to protect children from harm. Every child has the right to grow up free from violence, exploitation, and fear. Their protection must be at the heart to any security and humanitarian response” Raymond added.
Urgent action needed
Plan International is working with Haitian organisations to reach hard-hit areas and expanding efforts to provide food, education, and care to those who need it most. However, the future of this work requires urgent action from the international community.
Plan International will continue to work as a principled humanitarian actor and call on all Haitian security forces to respect their obligations under International Humanitarian Law, respect human rights and ensure greater protection of civilians.
Funding for essential services for children, such as education and protection from harm, remains alarmingly low.
According to the UN’s Financial Tracking Service for the 2025 Haiti Humanitarian Response Plan, only 13% of the required funding has been secured for education and child protection efforts, leaving thousands of children without the safety, support, and opportunities they desperately need.
Safety of children must be priority
The organisation call for the rights and safety of children to be prioritised, ensuring that deployed forces have child protection expertise and receive training on child protection and safeguarding prior to deployment, as well as specific training on the prevention of gender-based violence, sexual exploitation and abuse.
The organisation also hope that any multi-national force would be able to enable humanitarian access for humanitarian actors to reach populations in need and better support them.
Categories: Emergencies
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