Thank you, Mr. Chair.
While the world watches, gangs funded by political and affluent individuals have continued to expand their control, crimes and destruction within Haiti. The country is intentionally being kept in a state of political instability and has not had a formal election since 2016. Gang members are recording and openly sharing sexual assault, abuse, destruction of landmarks and hospitals, and massacres through social media platforms, causing psychological damage and intimidation beyond their physical reach. As a result, increased violence is evident among children and adults across the country.
Prolonged stress and instability have deeply affected the mental health of Haitian communities, even in areas not directly affected by gang violence. Over one million people in Haiti have been displaced due to the violence, with over half of that number being children. These internally displaced families have been left homeless and unemployed and in a state of extreme vulnerability.
Meanwhile, years of exponential inflation has left the cost of living unattainable for the majority of the population. Over five million people in Haiti are facing acute hunger. Amidst this homelessness and famine, each year, Haiti experiences heavy rains and flooding.
Child trafficking has been a major concern, not only in Port-au-Prince, but also in rural regions of Haiti, where children are reportedly disappearing and street children are being forcibly recruited. The number of children who have become involved in armed gangs in Haiti is extremely alarming, and children in vulnerable communities or in the streets are being bribed or trafficked and forced to become child soldiers. Once they've joined the armed gangs, it's dangerous for these children to leave. Girls are also being used by armed gangs for forced domestic labour and for sexual exploitation.
Orphanage relocation has increased the risk of long-term family separation and trafficking for many children. The majority of orphanages in the country are operating illegally, and child protection authorities and partners lack the resources to facilitate family reunification for the thousands of children living in these neglectful and often abusive institutions.
Sexual assault cases have skyrocketed, yet a weak justice system puts both survivors and advocates at risk. Meanwhile, the child protection actors who respond to such cases are severely under-resourced, as UNICEF and other major stakeholders are underfunded.
Medical facilities are under-resourced when it comes to both human resources and supplies. Hospitals are challenging for people to reach due to gang control of major roads, and challenging to afford once they can be reached. Many medical professionals are having to flee gunfire while saving lives and are being targeted for kidnappings.
These are my recommendations for the committee.
First of all, support the decentralization of services and economic opportunities in Haiti by building the capacity of regional offices and facilities, by supporting the development of the country's agricultural industry and by utilizing infrastructure development to create employment for Haitians.
Second of all, I urge Canada to prioritize funding child protection initiatives to respond to and prevent extreme vulnerability, famine, homelessness, child trafficking and sexual assault cases, while ensuring that children are supported within their families and that separation is avoided.
Finally, urgent intervention is required to address the involvement of children in armed gangs in Haiti. This must be addressed by providing supports for the reintegration of child soldiers and street children safely into society and through prevention via the reinforcement of vulnerable families.
Thank you.