Covenant of Haitian Church calls for an end to violence, impunity, and terror
In the troubled nation of Haiti, a prolonged socio-political crisis has led to a devastating humanitarian crisis, with thousands of deaths and millions of displaced people. The current state of affairs is particularly dire when it comes to kidnappings and the overall human rights situation.
According to the Archdiocese of Port-au-Prince, the situation is severe, characterized by widespread violence and a high number of abductions. This was underscored by the case of Irish missionary Gena Heraty, who was kidnapped along with others from an orphanage in Kenscoff. The Archdiocese's accounts highlight the ongoing violence affecting communities and the persistent threat faced by those working in humanitarian aid settings.
The United Nations Integrated Office in Haiti (BINUH) corroborates this, reporting at least 346 kidnappings in the first half of 2025 alone, and 1,494 kidnappings in 2024. This places Haiti at the top of the global kidnapping rates list. Alongside kidnappings, the homicide rate is alarmingly high, with over 3,000 people killed in the first half of 2025.
Gangs such as the Grand Ravine and Village de Dieu, part of the Viv Ansanm federation designated as a terrorist organization by the US, are largely responsible for the kidnappings and violence.
The kidnapping incidents have attracted significant international concern, with Irish and other foreign government officials demanding the immediate release of victims and calling attention to the lawlessness affecting Haiti’s social welfare system. However, families often do not report kidnappings due to fear or negotiations with criminals, so official figures may understate the true scope of the crisis.
The Church in Haiti is appealing to the faithful to respond with prayer and concrete humanitarian help, and to institutions to ensure order, security, and justice. The Church warns against falling into indifference and internal disputes, as it could lead to complicity in the slow destruction of the country. The Church's message emphasizes that Haiti's future cannot be built on bloodshed, impunity, and fear.
The Archdiocese of Port-au-Prince has issued a statement condemning the kidnapping of nine individuals, including an Irish missionary and a child with disabilities, at the Sainte-Hélène Orphanage in Kenscoff. The Archdiocese views this violence as undermining the very foundations of civil coexistence and human dignity. The statement is a cry of alarm at the current state of affairs in Haitian society, where moral collapse seems to be engulfing the entire society.
The Church has urged all individuals, regardless of faith, to unite in prayer and action against the climate of dehumanization. The Archdiocese expresses deep sadness and great indignation, emphasizing how such crimes reveal the failure of the State and a society that is losing its sensitivity to life. The human rights situation in Haiti is described as "extremely concerning" in a report by the United Nations Integrated Office in Haiti.
As the time has come to say "enough!", the Church and the Archdiocese of Port-au-Prince are calling for action from both the faithful and the institutions to address the escalating violence and impunity in Haitian society. The worsening climate of impunity, where the unimaginable becomes routine and places dedicated to care, education, refuge, and hope are becoming targets, requires immediate attention and action.
The ongoing socio-political crisis in Haiti, exacerbated by high rates of kidnappings and violence, has become a major focus of general-news reports worldwide. This critical situation, portrayed as a threat to human rights and dignity, has attracted the attention of international organizations like the United Nations and foreign governments, who are demanding action to restore order and justice. The Archdiocese of Port-au-Prince, calling for unity among individuals regardless of faith, has issued a statement condemning the kidnapping of missionaries and children, viewing it as a violation of basic human dignity and a sign of the moral collapse of Haitian society.
