During a plenary session of the European Parliament in Strasbourg, Małgorzata Gosiewska, a Law and Justice MEP, spoke during a debate on the dire situation in Haiti, highlighting the scale of the violence and the ongoing collapse of state institutions.
In her speech, she emphasized that the lives of ordinary Haitians have been subjugated to the violence of gangs, which control a significant portion of the capital, recruit children, commit rape and human trafficking, and terrorize entire neighborhoods. As she noted, “Haiti is not just a humanitarian crisis—it is a crisis of the state and its de facto takeover by organized crime.”
The MEP also pointed out that the criminal networks operating in Haiti are transnational in nature and contribute to the destabilization of the Caribbean region, as well as posing a threat to Europe’s security through trafficking in people, weapons, and drugs.
Małgorzata Gosiewska recalled her experiences from 2010, when—as a representative of Polish President Lech Kaczyński—she participated in a humanitarian and medical mission following the earthquake in Haiti. As she noted, “I am familiar with these realities and know how easily humanitarian aid can be hijacked by uncontrolled entities.”
In light of this, she called for a more resolute approach by the European Union toward international aid, emphasizing the need for strict oversight and accountability mechanisms. She emphasized that aid must not end up in the hands of structures linked to criminal activity, and that the EU’s actions should be aimed at dismantling gang networks and protecting the civilian population.
