On Wednesday, September 16, 2026, at the opening of the joint workshop of the Haitian National Police (PNH), the Armed Forces of Haiti (FAd'H), and the Gang Supression Force (GSF) on the principles applicable to the use of force in conducting operations within the framework of International Human Rights Law (IHRL) and International Humanitarian Law (IHL), Vladimir Paraison, the Acting Director General of the PNH, delivered a speech which we reproduce in its entirety :

Speech by Vladimir Paraison :

"Mr. Representative and members of the Delegation of the International Committee of the Red Cross in Haiti,

Mr. Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Haiti (FAd'H) and senior military officials,

Gentlemen of the command of the Gang Supression Force (GSF),

Mr. Inspector General of the PNH,

Dear members of the High Command and From the PNH Command, present here today,

Distinguished participants, in your respective ranks, titles, grades, and capacities.

It is an honor and a solemn duty for me to address you today at this joint workshop, which is of paramount importance for the future and legitimacy of our security operations in Haiti.

I wish to begin by expressing the profound gratitude of the Haitian National Police to the International Committee of the Red Cross in Haiti (ICRC) for this strategic initiative and for its ongoing technical support to our security forces.

We are meeting today in a security context of unprecedented complexity.

Faced with this reality, the PNH, in conjunction with the Armed Forces of Haiti and the partners of the Gang Repression Force, is engaged on the ground in a relentless fight to restore public order and protect our citizens.

However, the complexity of our missions in the field demands more than just courage and determination. It demands exemplary coordination and a shared understanding of the legal rules governing the use of force.

Whether we are operating within the framework of maintaining public order guided by International Human Rights Law (IHRL) or in hostile situations where IHL applies or complements it, our guiding principle must remain the same: the law and the protection of civilian populations.

In the field, our commanders, planners, and intervention units face difficult tactical choices daily. This workshop aims precisely to transform the theoretical principles of IHRL into operational reflexes.

The use of armed force cannot be arbitrary. It rests on four cardinal pillars that every officer must master and enforce :

1 - Legality: acting strictly within the framework established by law;

2 - Necessity: resorting to force only when absolutely necessary;

3 - Proportionality: Calibrating the intensity of the response to the severity of the threat;

4 - Precaution: Planning our operations to avoid or minimize collateral damage and injuries among innocent civilians...

The true strength of a republican institution like the Haitian National Police (PNH) and its partners in the Armed Forces of Haiti (FAd'H) and the GSF lies in its ability to maintain public order while remaining exemplary in its respect for human rights.

Respect for these legal standards does not restrict our operational effectiveness; on the contrary, it strengthens our legitimacy and the public's trust in us.

To the PNH officers present here, to those in the field, as well as to our brothers-in-arms in the FAd'H and the members of the FRG, I ask you to fully engage in this work.

Take advantage of the case studies, simulations, and interactive discussions that will be offered. Clearly identify the challenges on the ground, assess training needs, and develop concrete proposals that will inform our doctrine and future operations. You have been chosen because you are essential intermediaries within your respective commands.

I hope that this inter-institutional forum, established with the support of the ICRC, will become a lasting opportunity for harmonization and operational strengthening. Together, with respect for the law and professional rigor, we will succeed in restoring peace and security for all Haitians.

Thank you."

HL/ HaitiLibre