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<\/p>\nA 16-year-old Haitian boy has been talking about how he was lured into working for a criminal gang but then threatened with death when he said he would not fight against the police. <\/p>\n
Joseph is one of an increasing number of children who are joining gangs in Haiti, a Caribbean island nation which is experiencing overlapping security, humanitarian and governance crises. <\/p>\n
Some 1.4 million people have been forced to flee their homes because of gang violence and thousands more have died. <\/p>\n
More robust protection measures for children in gang-affected communities are being highlighted in a new report released by the UN in Haiti. <\/p>\n
Read Joseph’s account of gang life: <\/p>\n
“I grew up in a poor neighborhood where gangs controlled everything. I saw armed men in the streets all the time. Some were well-dressed, had nice cars, and were surrounded by women. They were the ones who made the rules in our neighborhood. <\/p>\n
For us children, it was normal. We didn’t have many opportunities to play sports or have fun, and there really wasn’t any hope for the future. <\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
A young boy in Haiti joins a UN-backed program to prevent recruitment into gangs. <\/p>\n
One day, towards the end of August 2024, I was hanging out with a friend and he told me that he was part of a gang. He talked to me about all the positive things the gang gave him, like money and the feeling of being important. He told me I should join them too. I hesitated because I knew it was dangerous, but I decided to give it a try. <\/p>\n
Shortly after I joined, a gang member gave me a radio and asked me to monitor the police and inform the gang of their movements. Then the gang leader gave me a firearm. <\/p>\n
There were rumours of a major police operation, and I was told that I would have to fight the police. I was afraid, because I did not want to be killed. I told the gang leader that I wanted to go home. He became very angry and struck me with the weapon. He hit me repeatedly until he broke my hand. He told me that if I tried to leave, he would kill me. <\/p>\n
Even though I was very afraid to confront the police, I managed to escape shortly afterwards. Someone in my community told me about an organization that could help me get medical care and support. I contacted them in September 2024 and, since then, they have been helping me through counseling and support to cope with everything I went through.” <\/p>\n
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