Haitian police officers and members of the multinational mission are mobilizing to launch operations against armed gangs. Children from families in precarious socio-economic conditions are recruited into these gangs. On this basis, the NGOs Save the Children, Plan International and World Vision insist on the protection of these children during MMS operations.
Port-au-Prince, June 26, 2024.- The operations of the multinational mission against gangs are imminent.
Estimates indicate that half of the members of the country’s armed groups are children.
The risk of loss of life among children is therefore high. Humanitarian organizations have received alarming reports of the use of children by these groups during clashes with the National Police.
These children and adolescents are sometimes used as human shields, which causes deep concern among these humanitarian organizations.
The NGOs Save the Children, Plan International and World Vision expressed their concerns in a joint statement.
Based on this observation, these humanitarian organizations urgently ask the MSS to prioritize the rights and safety of children.
They insist that deployed forces have expertise in child protection and are trained before deployment.
Additionally, these organizations are calling for forces to be trained in the prevention of gender-based violence, sexual exploitation and abuse.
This would ensure better protection of girls and women, they explain.
Additionally, this group of NGOs also emphasizes the need for an ongoing training plan for mission members on rights after deployment.
It should be noted that the arrival of Kenyan police officers in the country has given rise to a sense of hope among the population for the restoration of a secure climate.
Jean Allens Macajoux
Beef Sale Info (VBI)
