On September 16, the Haitian Embassy in France received a delegation of twenty Haitian trainers participating in a training program as part of preparations for the entry into force in early 2027 of the new Penal Code and the new Code of Criminal Procedure, following decades of efforts to adapt criminal law to the evolving needs of Haitian society.

These lawyers, judges, and other professionals in the criminal justice system came to enhance their knowledge of new offenses, procedures, roles, and key developments in the legal framework at the French National School for the Judiciary (École Nationale de la Magistrature), the National School for Court Clerks (École Nationale des Greffes), and the French National Bar Council (Conseil National des Barreaux de France).

The delegation coordinator, Claudjinou Colastion, speaking on behalf of the Minister, highlighted the initiatives undertaken by the Ministry of Justice to prepare the necessary conditions for the effective implementation of the penal reform, including the training of stakeholders, which is one of its priority areas.

"We have prioritized a peer-to-peer training approach. Judges will train judges, lawyers will train lawyers, and so on, for all the different actors in the criminal justice system. That is why our delegation of trainers is made up of representatives from all sectors of the criminal justice system," she added.

In his remarks for the occasion, Ambassador Louino Volcy stated that this visit is particularly significant given that this specialized training is an essential step in the Haitian government’s efforts to prepare for the entry into force, on January 1st, 2027, of the two instruments for modernizing Haitian law: our new Penal Code and our new Code of Criminal Procedure. "As your training is about to conclude, your mission is only just beginning. May the experience you have gained in France become, through you, a shared skill in service of a more modern, more efficient, and more rights-respecting Haitian justice system. In addition to spearheading the reforms underway, be true architects of a modern rule of law in Haiti."

The diplomat also thanked the French government for organizing this training for Haitian justice officials. Emphasizing the dual legal and cultural ties between the two countries, Ambassador Volcy stated that "this training of trainers gives the bilateral partnership a particular depth and is a concrete illustration of Franco-Haitian cooperation in the field of justice."

On this occasion, Ms. Ina Pouant, Head of the Democracy Support Mission at the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs, spoke to commend the ambition of Haiti’s penal reform, which aims to strengthen the rule of law and institutions, making them more effective, more accountable, and better able to protect citizens.

She expressed her gratitude to the Haitian authorities for choosing to work with the French training institutions, the National School for the Judiciary and the National School for Court Clerks, for the training of judges, court clerks, lawyers, and police officers. "Reflecting this institutional commitment, what I take away from this program is its long-term perspective and its truly structuring approach."

For his part, Magistrate Garry Paul Angrand, speaking as the focal point for the delegation of 20 trainers of actors in the Haitian criminal justice system, noted that they came seeking tools, methods, and experience. "We leave with a stronger conviction: the Haitian justice system deserves trained, equipped, and respected women and men," he said.

IH/ iciHaiti