OEA - CP - Resolución CP CSH 2394

PERMANENT COUNCIL OF THE OEA/Ser.G

ORGANIZATION OF AMERICAN STATES CP/CSH-2394/26 14 April 2026

COMMITTEE ON HEMISPHERIC SECURITY Original: English REPORT OF THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SECURITY (DPS) ON PROGRESS IN THE

PROMOTION OF HEMISPHERIC COOPERATION TO ADDRESS CRIMINAL GANGS

(Presented in preparation of the Committee meeting scheduled for April 23, 2026) This Report is submitted by the Department of Public Security (DPS) of the General Secretariat of the Organization of American States (OAS), in accordance with the provisions established in the Structure for the consideration of substantive issues during regular meetings (2025-2026) , document CP/CSH/INF. 602/25, and pursuant to the request of the Presidency of the Committee on Hemispheric Security. The present document provides delegations with a comprehensive overview of progress achieved by the DPS in promoting hemispheric cooperation to address criminal gangs. It highlights key programs and projects that enhance police tactical and operational capacities, strengthen justice systems, improve training infrastructure, and develop specialized, sustainable training, contributing to the disruption of gang activity, the recovery of high-risk areas, and the improvement of public security, while reinforcing institutional effectiveness and adherence to international standards. Contents

1. Project “Improving the Haitian National Police’s Learning and Training Capacities to Combat Gang Violence (H-TAC)”.......................................................................................................................1

2. Project “Enhancing the Operational Capacity of the Haitian National Police and the Gang Suppression Force through the Construction and Equipping of Forward Operating Bases and Mobile Control Capabilities in the West Department”........................................................................................2

3. SECURE-Haiti program ................................................................................................................3

4. Project “Strengthening the capacities of Ecuador's justice system to combat security threats” ....3

5. Third REDPPOL In-Person Police Training Course......................................................................3

6. Mandates of the DSP/SMS/OAS regarding criminal gangs ..........................................................41. Project “Improving the Haitian National Police’s Learning and Training Capacities to Combat Gang Violence (H-TAC)” The DPS is implementing the project “Improving the Haitian National Police’s Learning and Training Capacities to Combat Gang Violence”, with funding from Global Affairs Canada (GAC). The project aims to strengthen the operational, tactical, and training capacities of the Haitian National Police (HNP) to address gang-related violence and reassert state authority in high-risk areas. It is designed to respond to both immediate operational needs and longer-term institutional capacity gaps, with a focus on sustainability, professionalization, and compliance with International Humanitarian Law (IHL).

The project combines infrastructure refurbishment with the delivery of scalable and sustainable tactical training programs. A key component has been the Instructor Development Course (IDC), aimed at strengthening the instructional and leadership capacities of selected HNP personnel. The course certified 20 instructors and equipped them with the pedagogical and technical skills required to design, deliver, and evaluate training in a structured and standardized manner. It covered core areas such as adult learning methodologies, lesson planning, classroom management, safety protocols, and effective teaching techniques. The IDC was complemented by intensive practical modules to enhance operational readiness and instructional capacity in high-risk environments, including firearms handling and range management, close-quarters battle (CQB), urban operations, convoy tactics, and scenariobased exercises. All modules were grounded in IHL and use-of-force standards. By fostering national ownership, the course contributes to strengthening the HNP’s capacity to respond effectively to gangrelated violence, while ensuring that training efforts are institutionalized, replicable, and sustainable

through the establishment of a permanent cadre of qualified police instructors. Building on these efforts, the project is implementing a three-week Core Tactical Training program, with twelve planned iterations targeting approximately 360 officers, including personnel from specialized units such as SWAT, UTAG, CAT, BOID, and BRI. The training covers marksmanship, tactical movement, patrolling, react-to-contact, casualty evacuation, and close-quarters battle, among other areas, all in accordance with IHL. The first training cycle commenced on 16 February at the Morne Casse facility, and the second cycle has recently concluded, bringing the total number of officers trained to 59. Training is delivered by international instructors, in close collaboration with HNP instructors, further consolidating a national training capability. All activities integrate scenario-based exercises tailored to gang-violence contexts. Through these efforts, the project strengthens the HNP’s ability to combat gang violence more effectively and reestablish state presence in high-risk areas. In parallel, the project has rehabilitated and operationalized the Morne Casse Tactical Training Center to ensure a secure, functional, and sustainable training environment. Refurbishment works have included the rehabilitation and upgrading of key infrastructure, including kitchen and dining facilities, dormitories, water systems, ammunition storage, laundry areas, the shooting range, close-quarters battle training infrastructure, and helicopter landing facilities. The center has been made operational through the deployment of a mixed team of local and international project management and support staff, with total personnel expected to reach approximately 20. Together, these efforts provide a solid institutional and operational foundation to sustain training activities over time and support Haiti’s longterm security objectives.- 22. Project “Enhancing the Operational Capacity of the Haitian National Police and the Gang Suppression Force through the Construction and Equipping of Forward Operating Bases and Mobile Control Capabilities in the West Department”

The EU-funded project “Enhancing the Operational Capacity of the Haitian National Police and the Gang Suppression Force through the Construction and Equipping of Forward Operating Bases and Mobile Control Capabilities in the West Department” aims to address escalating gang violence and restore state presence in high-risk areas, particularly through an operational deployment model designed to enable sustained and adaptive security operations in complex urban environments. At the core of this project is the establishment of a layered security architecture that enhances territorial control and operational reach. This model links central headquarters to Forward Operating Bases (FOBs), which will serve as secure deployment hubs located near, but outside, gang-controlled areas. From these bases, smaller Advanced Control Points (ACPs) will be deployed as mobile, semitemporary units positioned along key access routes and chokepoints. This structure enables a continuous and adaptive presence, allowing security forces to move progressively closer to affected communities while maintaining operational safety and logistical support. This approach will significantly improve response times, strengthen deterrence, and prevent the reoccupation of cleared areas by criminal gangs. The project includes the establishment of a scalable network of FOBs across strategic locations in the West Department, identified through joint security assessments and geospatial analysis conducted with national authorities. These bases will be refurbished and equipped with essential infrastructure, including secure perimeters, accommodation facilities, power systems, and operational support areas. Each FOB will be designed to sustain deployments over extended periods through integrated logistics, including food supply, fuel, and medical support. In parallel, ACPs will be deployed for rotating periods of 7 to 12 days, equipped with mobile and modular infrastructure to ensure flexibility, minimize vulnerability, and adapt to evolving operational contexts. To support this deployment model, the project establishes logistical and sustainment systems. These include a centralized kitchen and distribution network capable of providing daily meals to all deployed personnel, secure supply chains for fuel, equipment, and essential goods, and the provision of key assets

such as motorcycles, communication tools, and personal protective equipment. A dedicated Trauma Level 2 Medical Center will further reinforce operational resilience by providing emergency medical care, reducing preventable fatalities, and increasing the confidence of deployed personnel. Together, these components form an integrated system that ensures continuous deployment, operational readiness, and personnel welfare. The project will also provide training to HNP and GSF personnel in logistics, asset management, and supply chain operations, supported by a train-the-trainers approach to ensure long-term knowledge transfer. By enabling sustained and coordinated security operations, the project will directly strengthen the HNP and GSF’s capacity to combat gang violence, reclaim high-risk areas, and improve overall public security in Haiti.- 33. SECURE-Haiti program With contribution from the United States of America to the SECURE-Haiti program, DPS complements ongoing support efforts by addressing critical operational and institutional needs of the HNP. The contribution focuses on the procurement and delivery of vetted, non-lethal equipment, thereby enhancing the HNP’s operational effectiveness and its ability to effectively combat gangs.

4. Project “Strengthening the capacities of Ecuador's justice system to combat security threats” The DPS is implementing the project “Strengthening the capacities of Ecuador's justice system to combat security threats” with the support of the U.S. Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (USINL). The project adopts a comprehensive approach to strengthening Ecuador’s justice system by enhancing technical, legal, investigative, and institutional capacities across key institutions involved in the prevention, investigation and prosecution of complex criminal activity.

By reinforcing institutional capacities to address security threats, the project also contributes to enhancing the ability to prevent and combat gang-related violence. The project has focused on capacity building for judges, prosecutors, judicial personnel, and police officers through specialized training initiatives. More than 430 justice sector operators have been

trained through programs on complex criminality , including a 144-hour certificate program with a practical focus on litigation, legal argumentation, and investigative techniques; a 40-hour legal and procedural update course for technical and administrative personnel, which has been consolidated as a MOOC to ensure continuous training; and a specialized workshop on virtual assets, which strengthened capacities in digital evidence, blockchain, and technology-enabled financial crimes. These efforts have been complemented by the strengthening of the operational and technological capacities of key justice and oversight institutions through the provision of equipment, specialized software, and technological tools. Support has been delivered to the Attorney General’s Office, the Judiciary Council, the National Police, the Office of the State Comptroller General, and the Public Defender’s Office, enhancing their ability to address complex criminality. Together, these activities reinforce Ecuador’s capacity to respond to public security threats across the full criminal justice chain, including gang-related violence, advancing a more professional, coordinated, and technologically equipped justice system grounded in institutional resilience and the rule of law.

5. Third REDPPOL In-Person Police Training Course The DPS, in collaboration with the Government of the Dominican Republic and the University of São Paulo, implemented the Third In-Person Police Training Course of the Inter-American Network for Police Development and Professionalization (REDPPOL) from June 23 to July 17, 2025, in Santo

Domingo. The course brought together 62 police officers from 28 countries to strengthen police professionalization and regional cooperation. Several modules addressed trends in violence and organized crime in the Americas, including aspects related to gang-related violence, alongside broader topics such as leadership, knowledge management, and international police cooperation.- 4The curriculum was designed based on prior assessments and evaluations to address current law enforcement training needs effectively and the officers received their diplomas from both the University of São Paulo and the OAS.

6. Mandates of the DSP/SMS/OAS regarding criminal gangs AG/RES. 3031 (LIV-O/24)

F. Promotion of hemispheric cooperation in dealing with criminal gangs

University of São Paulo and the OAS.

6. Mandates of the DSP/SMS/OAS regarding criminal gangs AG/RES. 3031 (LIV-O/24)

F. Promotion of hemispheric cooperation in dealing with criminal gangs

53. To request that the CSH, with the support of the SMS, undertake a review and updating of the “Regional Strategy to Promote Hemispheric Cooperation in Dealing with Criminal Gangs” (CP/CSH-1229/10) and its annexes, at which member states and organs, agencies, and entities of the inter-American system, as well as other international organizations and civil society may present their views and experiences at the national, subregional, and hemispheric levels.

B. Special security concerns of the small island and low-lying coastal developing states of the

Caribbean

83. To instruct the CSH to include the subject of addressing gang violence in its 2024-2025 schedule of activities.