Ligue des droits de l'homme opposes police self-defense law

The Ligue des droits de l'homme (LDH) is raising alarms regarding a legislative proposal to establish a presumption of self-defense for law enforcement officers. The measure, which was adopted by the National Assembly on July 7, stems from an amendment by the Minister of the Interior to modify the internal security code.

Nathalie Tehio, president of the LDH, warns that if the Senate adopts the text, it could function as a ‘quasi-permit to kill.’ The organization argues that while conditions of absolute necessity and strict proportionality remain, the presumption of legality regarding shots fired could lead to an increase in police shootings and fatalities, similar to trends observed in 2017.

Furthermore, the LDH contends that the proposal, which follows a request from the Alliance police union, would prevent prosecutors from systematically opening investigations, potentially hindering the collection of evidence. The organization maintains that such a law would increase police impunity and diminish public trust in state institutions.