The approval of the new Organic Law of the National Police is a momentous step in the institutional life of the public security system of the country.

Honduras’ National Congress approved a new Organic Law of the National Police this morning with support from all political parties. The legislative consensus around the new law is “historic” says civil society leader Omar Rivera.

“On behalf of nongovernmental organizations, we express our joy at this momentous step in the institutional life of the public security system in Honduras,” he said.

Rivera praised the “willingness of lawmakers from different political parties in the National Congress to approve this law that defines the new organizational structure of the entity.”

“Now the National Police will operate with a new structure that is much more versatile, harmonized, simpler and much less onerous,” Rivera said.

Omar Rivera, along with former Supreme Court justice Vilma Morales and civil society leader Alberto Solórzano, was appointed by the Honduran president in April of 2016 to form a Special Commission for the Reform and Restructuring of the National Police force. This appointment followed scandals where high-ranking police officers were demonstrated to be linked to gang activity, drug trafficking, and assassinations.

In the past year, the Special Commission has removed over 4,000 National Police officers, and has drafted new laws that will increase accountability for the National Police.

“We also applaud the commitment of lawmakers to immediately approve the new Police Career Law that will offer valuable tools for authorities to efficiently administrate the human resources of different police agencies and prioritize merit and good management when granting promotions and making appointments to senior ranks within the institution,” said Rivera.

“The updating of the legal framework of the National Police will grant sustainability to many of the achievements of the reform and transformation process led by the Special Commission,” Rivera concluded.