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Numerous instances occur, notably in Haiti's notorious prisons. Moreover, UN Blue Helmets sexually exploit and abuse children, besides numerous other offenses, including killings and other forms of mistreatment.
Prison and Detention Center Conditions
"Prisoners (report) physical abuse by correctional officers," at times using lethal force to quell disturbances. Overall, prisons are severely overcrowded, poorly maintained, dangerous, unsanitary, damaged by Haiti's 2010 earthquake, staffed by repressive guards, and run by repressive officials.
Moreover, "(s)ome prisons (have) no beds for detainees; some cells (have) no access to sunlights. Many prison facilities (lack) basic services" for healthcare, water, electricity, and isolation for contagious inmates, putting them all at risk to disease and death.
Detainees also lack basic hygiene, proper food and enough of it, minimal healthcare, time of out cells for exercise and fresh air, or other basic services. "In some prisons....AIDS, malaria, and drug-resistant tuberculosis (are) serious problem(s)." In addition, Haiti's cholera epidemic gravely harmed inmates.
At year end 2010, Haiti's prison population in 17 facilities was triple their capacity. Moreover, pretrial detention in overcrowded conditions is a major unaddressed issue.
Many untried and convicted prisoners are incarcerated for months or years in temporary holding cells. In some cases, male and female prisoners are held together for lack of space, and children 16 or older are confined with adults. However, some as young as 10 are imprisoned, leaving them especially vulnerable to sexual and other abuses.
Overall, Haitian prison conditions are appalling by any standard, affording no safety or justice to those interned.
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