A/HRC/45/CRP.11 design.1825 OLHPs were defined as a “system planned and articulated” by the Ministry of the Interior, together with the CEOFANB, “for the liberation of the areas taken by organized crime, in order to eradicate criminal and paramilitary activities”.1826 The protocol made clear that the Ministry of the Interior and the Ministry of Defence (which was not involved in the OLP operations, marking a difference between the two) were responsible for the OLHPs. 1827 The protocol defined the participation and responsibilities of specific security institutions, including the CICPC, PNB, SEBIN, the Public Prosecutor’s Office, and state and municipal police.1828 1027. The protocol established defined operational quadrants, under which OLHPs would “completely eradicate the organized gangs that generate violence and consequently reduce crime”.1829 Command of quadrants was assigned to police or military officials designated by the Ministry of the Interior. The Protocol stated that, “it is necessary to have an organization that allows […] flexibility and operational functionality”, with a determined duration depending on the situation of criminal activity within the quadrant. 1830 1028. The OLHP protocol also integrated a community-based vigilance system, via the Popular System of Protection for Peace (SP3), which was to have a representative within the ZODIs in order to coordinate intelligence information received from “cooperating patriots, the popular information system and social intelligence”.1831 1029. The OLHP protocol has a specific provision regarding use of force. It states that when the use of firearms is “unavoidable”, the security forces are obligated to act in proportion to the seriousness of the crime and the legitimate objective pursued; minimize damage and injury to respect and protect human life; proceed to provide medical assistance as soon as possible; try to notify relatives of affected people; and immediately notify supervisors. With respect to persons in custody or detention, no force shall be used except when strictly necessary to maintain security or the physical integrity of persons at risk. 1030. The OLHP protocol also specifically mandates that special attention should be provided to vulnerable groups including children, adolescents, older persons, women and persons with disabilities.1832 1031. By mid-2017, Government representatives had largely stopped referring to OLPs/OLHPs in statements, indicating a change of strategy. This shift coincided with a 14 July 2017 public announcement that the specialized tactical force, the FAES, within the PNB, would take the lead in the fight against crime and terrorism.1833 B. OLP/OLHP Tactics 1032. The OLP/OLHPs differed from other cases of killings by police forces, described in the next section, in the following ways: (1) the participation of mixed military and police forces; (2) a high public profile of operations; (3) a large investment of resources; and (4) a large number of arbitrary detentions. Otherwise, in particular regarding the modus operandi in the extrajudicial executions themselves, the OLPs followed similar patterns to other cases reviewed. 1825 1826 1827 1828 1829 1830 1831 1832 1833 Protocolo de Actuación de los CSE en las OLHP Enero 2017 “RESERVADO”, available at: https://es.scribd.com/document/360500479/Protocolo-de-Actuacion-de-Los-Cuerpos-de-Seguridadde-Estado-en-La-OLHP. Ibid., art. 2.1, p. 17. Ibid., p. 9. Ibid., pp. 53-59. Ibid., art. 2.1, p. 17. Ibid., art. 2.6, p. 19. Ibid., art. 4.27, p. 50. Ibid., Chapter III, art. 5.2, p. 52. See YouTube Video, Luigino Bracci Roa, Maduro en la graduación en la UNES de la Policía Nacional Bolivariana, 14 July 2017, minute 1:32:00, available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JQ43MSRCeUA. 203