People walk past the body of a man shot and killed by unidentified men the night before. Port-au-Prince, Haiti.
Haiti is suffering from an unprecedented surge in gang violence. Since President Moïse was assassinated in 2021, armed gangs have proliferated and violence has intensified. Around 300 criminal groups are active in the country, controlling a territory inhabited by 2.7 million Haitians. Gang violence, reaching levels comparable to war zones, includes killings, disappearances, torture, arson, and systematic sexual violence, notably against women and children. This crisis is deeply rooted in Haiti’s colonial past, slavery, and the crippling independence debt imposed by France, which fueled long-term inequalities. This project, photographed by a resident of Port-au-Prince, captures the human elements behind the statistics of the ongoing crisis.
Are you a photographer and/or passionate about press freedom? Sign up for our newsletter to stay updated on our annual contest and to hear about exhibitions near you.
