Insecurity in Lost Territories: Girls and Boys Facing the Same Violence, a Brutal Reality

For a large segment of the Haitian population, for more than five years now, the nightmare has no longer been an exception but a daily reality. Insecurity has taken root, normalized itself, and become the backdrop of ordinary life. The assassination of President Jovenel Moïse on the night of July 6–7 did not reverse this trajectory.

On the contrary, it accelerated the chaos, deepening an already advanced process of decomposition, particularly in working-class neighborhoods, ghettos, and shadow zones now under the control of armed groups. In the corridors and alleyways of the metropolitan area, violence imposes its own law, redraws borders, and disrupts social reference points. Municipalities and neighborhoods once perceived as peaceful residential spaces are now dominated by criminal groups.

This reality was eventually acknowledged by the State itself when the then Minister of Justice and Public Security, Emmelie Prophète Milcé, spoke in March 2023 on Radio Sans Fin (RSF) about the existence of genuine “lost territories. ” What truly happens inside these so-called “lost territories”?

Within these spaces labeled “Lost Territories,” all residents — women, men, and children alike — endure various forms of inhuman treatment without distinction. Popular discourse on social media and in militant-leaning press reviews tends to focus mainly on women and girls, who are indeed major victims of insecurity, while giving far less attention to the situations faced by men and boys. Yet they are equally victims of what could be called the “Labyrinth of Insecurity.”

The first-quarter 2025 report (January–March) of BINUH on victims of violence supports this observation. During this period, victims were distributed as follows: 85% men, 13% women, and 2% children. These statistics encompass three main dynamics of violence and abuse identified during the second half of 2024:
Violence linked to criminal activities
Police operations against gangs
Violent actions by self-defense groups and the so-called “Popular Justice” movement known as Bwa Kale
Despite these figures, public attention continues to focus primarily on women and girls.

Numerous testimonies highlight the vulnerability of young men in the face of insecurity in Haiti. Jean Patrick François, a young man, shared his story on Ayibopost through a video after narrowly escaping death in Canapé-Vert following severe physical abuse by local vigilante groups known as “Nèg Brigad.” His case is only one among many; countless victims — mostly men — have already lost their lives.

This testimony sheds light on the vulnerability of young men based on their physical appearance and certain practices that remain taboo in Haitian society. Hairstyles such as dreadlocks, piercings, or clothing that does not conform to social norms can expose young men to suspicion, harassment, and violence.

Many organizations focus their advocacy, reporting, and rehabilitation programs on women and girls who are victims of insecurity in Haiti. But what about men and boys who suffer the same forms of violence — rape, exploitation, beatings, and even murder? Who speaks on their behalf? A heavy silence weighs over the dire situation faced by men and boys. What explains this silence?
Very few organizations adopt an inclusive approach. One example is SOFA (Solidarité Fanm Ayisyen), through its project entitled “Reintegration of Displaced Adolescent Girls and Boys, Witnesses and Victims of Violence,” which provided psychosocial support during the summer period to displaced adolescents living in camps due to gang violence.

Insecurity in Haiti — in all its forms: food insecurity, physical insecurity, economic insecurity, psychological insecurity, and social insecurity — affects the entire population in the same way, without distinction based on sex or gender. Men and women, girls and boys, can all become victims of insecurity-related violence.
In certain areas known as “Rat pa Kaka” — meaning zones with strong vigilante brigades meant to prevent gang infiltration — men and boys are even more likely to be killed despite being innocent, often based on unproven accusations. This falls under the third category of violence identified by BINUH.
Therefore, reality must be understood in its entirety so that everyone is taken into account when assessing the true impact of insecurity on the Haitian population.
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Yvelie Jemima Sanon

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Haïti : quand l’autonomisation des femmes reste piégée par les stéréotypes de genre