The Ministry of Justice and Public Security officially launched this week the preparatory activities for the implementation of the new Penal Code and Code of Criminal Procedure, scheduled to come into effect on January 1st, 2027.

Under the theme "Criminal Reform : A Collective Commitment to a New, Humane Justice System and a More Just Society" this inaugural conference brought together representatives of state authorities, key stakeholders in the judicial system, technical and financial partners involved in the reform process, students, and representatives from the State University of Haiti and civil society organizations.

Patrick Pélissier, the Minister of Justice and Public Security, presented a progress report on the work carried out within the framework of the criminal legislation reform. He also announced the launch of a training program for trainers, intended for judicial personnel. This is an essential step to ensure the effective implementation of this reform. The Minister of Justice and Public Security emphasized the importance of modernizing the legal framework, a prerequisite for strengthening the effectiveness of the justice system so that it can better meet the public's expectations.

Prime Minister Alix Didier Fils-Aimé, represented by his Chief of Staff, highlighted the significance of adopting these Codes, which constitute an act of sovereignty aimed at providing the country with a more modern, efficient, and contemporary judicial system.

"This reform will contribute to consolidating the rule of law, strengthening institutions, and modernizing the judicial system," he stated.

Ms. Sabine Boucher, Chair of the Technical Coordination Committee for developing the training program for implementing the codes, immediately clarified the challenge: the reform cannot be the exclusive domain of experts; She called for the mobilization of all actors in the judicial system and civil society, including judges, lawyers, police officers, teachers, and students. Ms. Boucher indicated that the excellence of legal codes cannot be decreed once and for all, but is built through critical use and informed revisions, as the law is a living entity that practice and reason continually shape. Finally, she forcefully reiterated the imperative need to move beyond legislation dating back nearly two centuries and resolutely adapt it to the legal, social, and institutional requirements of the present.

Me Patrick Pierre-Louis, President of the Port-au-Prince Bar Association, emphasized the importance of training judicial actors and the credibility of the process at this conference. He expressed his hope that this initiative would produce the expected results for the benefit, he said, of society as a whole.

Speaking on behalf of the Embassy of Canada in Haiti, Jacob Gateau, Head of Mission and Political Advisor, reaffirmed his country's commitment to supporting the Haitian authorities in this reform aimed at strengthening the rule of law in Haiti.

For his part, Me Philippe Lamarche, Representative of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Haiti, welcomed this initiative while emphasizing his institution's commitment to supporting the Commission and all national partners involved in implementing this reform, which is fully aligned with Sustainable Development Goal 16, which aims to strengthen the rule of law.

It should be noted that the entry into force of the new Penal Code and Code of Criminal Procedure, scheduled for January 1, 2027, represents a major step forward for the Haitian judicial system. This reform demonstrates the government's commitment to providing the country with a modern legal framework that guarantees a more effective, more humane, and more citizen-centered justice system.

HL/ HaitiLibre