Girl Kidnappings in Haiti on the Rise says the UN

The UN Peacekeeping force in Haiti has expressed concern over the rise in kidnappings of young girls by gangs.  While both boys and girls have been kidnapped, it seems that females are the large target, and often raped and sexually abused.  The gangs who are kidnapping children (often while on their way to school) also frequently end up killing them, despite the family paying their requested ransom.  Child protection officers have suggested that successfully decreasing the number of adult kidnappings has led to gangs to move on the children in response.