MSS force commander Godfrey Otunge speaks during the launch of the complaints reporting mechanism in Haiti on February 5, 2025 /MSS/XThe Multinational Security Support Mission in Haiti has opened a channel through which Haitians can report any complaints they may have with the mission’s operations in the country.
The MSS under the command of Kenya’s army commander Godfrey Otunge launched the complaints reporting mechanism (CRM) on Wednesday with assurance to the local and international community that the mission will uphold human rights.
“I promise the people of Haiti and the international community the highest level of transparency and a firm commitment to upholding international human rights standards. I also reaffirm my dedication to fully implementing the CRM in collaboration with all relevant partners who contributed to its creation,” Otunge said.
He was speaking at Hotel Karibe in the capital Port-au-Prince during the official launch of the CRM presided over by a representative from the Ministry of Justice, Nesuy Ely, on behalf of the Prime Minister of Haiti.
Present at the event were representatives from civil society organizations, members of the diplomatic corps, and representatives from the Haitian National Police (HNP).
The launch of the CRM came at the end of a two-day training held last week that brought together various stakeholders.
Otunge said that the CRM aims to address challenges encountered in past operations and assured that MSS will work closely with the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) and other partners to investigate and resolve all cases of misconduct involving MSS officers.
The Force Commander also expressed appreciation for all contributors, including members of civil society organizations.
His remarks were echoed by Ely who commended all stakeholders involved in developing the CRM, recognizing the challenges of past interventions and emphasizing that MSS’s implementation of the CRM will play a crucial role in preventing previous mistakes.
In her remarks, HCDH Resident Coordinator Ulrika Richardson emphasised that the CRM has established a strong framework to detect and prevent violations, ensuring the security of all Haitians.
MSS Head of Community Engagement, SSP Adrian Hamilton, provided further assurances, stating that the CRM follows clearly defined standards for receiving, processing, and responding to reports of misconduct and grievances involving MSS officers, in line with the principles on which the system was built.
