The UN human rights office on Tuesday welcomed the Haitian government’s opening of two specialised judicial units, describing the move as a significant step toward tackling the near-total impunity that has taken hold in a country where courts have been attacked and occupied by gangs and judicial officials subjected to threats and violence.

Launched at the end of May, the units are designed to handle complex corruption cases, including illicit arms trading and money laundering, as well as serious human rights violations perpetrated by gangs: killings, kidnappings, sexual violence and child trafficking. So far this year, gang-related violence has resulted in at least 2,310 deaths, 1,106 injuries and 99 kidnappings. A further 699 people, mostly women and girls, have been subjected to sexual violence.

OHCHR spokesperson Marta Hurtado stressed that for the units to succeed they must be genuinely independent, both institutionally and individually, and that the safety of judges and security of courtrooms must be guaranteed. If properly implemented, the units could begin to restore public confidence in a justice system that has effectively ceased to function in large parts of the country, and open pathways for victims to access justice and reparations.

UN Human Rights Chief Volker Turk urged Haitian authorities to implement the units swiftly and in accordance with international human rights law, with the support of the international community.

Source: UN News, 2 June 2026