Haiti - Justice : Reopening of the Court of First Instance of Port-au-Prince
On Monday, March 24, 2025, in an official memo, as part of the government's ongoing efforts to restore security, strengthen the rule of law, and ensure a more accessible and effective fair justice system for all, Patrick Pélissier, the Minister of Justice, in collaboration with the Presidential Transitional Council (CPT) and the Prime Minister's Office, announced the reopening of the Port-au-Prince Court of First Instance (closed since February 2023) in a new space in Puits-Blain (Delmas 75), allowing for daily hearings, and the creation of specialized judicial centers starting the first week of April.
This decision is part of the government's desire to restore the judicial system's capacity to fully fulfill its mission in serving the population. This reopening constitutes an important step in restoring the judicial system and fighting impunity. The Professional Association of Magistrates (APM), while welcoming this decision, nevertheless expresses some reservations.
Furthermore, at the next Council of Ministers meeting, the government will adopt a decree establishing two specialized judicial units, aimed at better addressing the challenges of impunity and ensuring more rigorous handling of sensitive cases :
1 - A unit competent to try perpetrators and accomplices of mass crimes committed against the population, as well as sexual violence against women and girls.
2 - A unit specialized in the fight against financial crime, responsible for trying perpetrators and accomplices of financial crimes and combating corruption and the misappropriation of public funds.
