Haiti - Justice : The OPC disapproves the PNH TV show «Alo Lapolis»
The Office of Citizen Protection (OPC), National Institution for the promotion and protection of human rights (INDH), congratulate the High Command of the National Police of Haiti for the new provisions to combat banditry and promoting the establishment of a better security environment in the country. However, as transmission belt of concern of the civil society, including organizations of human rights, OPC expresses its deep disapproval on the TV show called "Alo Lapolis" established for over a decade, by the National Police of Haiti (PNH), in which are broadcast images of people arrested, which in some cases are forced to make a confession.
While recognizing the positive impact in terms of visibility of the actions of the PNH, Florence Élie, the Ombudsman reaffirms that "these advertising practices are serious violations of the principle of the presumption of innocence, which is a fundamental right guaranteeing the right to any person suspected of having committed an offense, not to be considered guilty before being tried and sentenced by a legally constituted and impartial court."
In order to prevent public officials from prosecution, she believes appropriate to recalls that "when a defendant made public confessions, officially on television during an arrest by the police as part of an investigation or an instruction, actions for compensation for damage suffered, may be brought against the natural or legal persons involved, under Articles 27 and 27-1 of the Constitution of 1987."
Consequently and in accordance with its constitutional attributions and having legal prescriptions to propose any changes to laws and regulations relating to human rights, the Ombudsperson recommends that steps be immediately adopted for the temporary withdrawal of the broadcast of the program "Alo Lapolis", meanwhile, that like the models used in a foreign land, the necessary technical changes are made to clear the faces and hide voice, while prohibiting the diffusion of the parts where confessions would be unduly declared.
