THE use of 'prolonged SoEs' by Trinidad and Tobago and the impact of such measures on civil liberties was flagged as a concern in a 2025 report by the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR).In its 2025 annual report, the IACHR 'observed that the continued reliance on States of emergency in Belize, Jamaica and Trinidad and Tobago, raised several concerns regarding the impact of these emergency measures on persons' fundamental rights and freedoms, including their rights to expression, association and personal liberty within these states'.The report noted with concern 'the continued use of States of Emergency by several Caribbean States throughout the region as part of security policies aimed at addressing rising levels of violence and insecurity'.The report went on examine the use of SoEs in these countries while stating that the Commission 'also notes with concern the prolonged use of SoEs in Trinidad and Tobago'.It said according to publicly available reports, as of January 31, 2026, T&T had spent a cumulative total of 301 days under SoEs, since December 2024.The report said subsequently, on March 3, 2026, 'the State declared another period of emergency in response to a surge in violent gang-related crime and intelligence of planned attacks on members of the protective services'.On June 10, 2026, this state of emergency was further extended for a period of three months and is scheduled to expire in September 2026, the IACHR report noted.The Commission recalled that 'the use of emergency powers are exceptional measures that must be limited in duration and scope and may only be applied within the principles of legality, necessity, proportionality, and temporality'.This is underlined in the IACHR's recent Resolution 1/2026 on Organised Crime and Human Rights in the Americas, which reiterates that 'prolonged or repeated reliance on emergency powers risks normalising these extraordinary measures and consequently, may undermine the full enjoyment of human rights, including due process guarantees and protections against arbitrary detention'.Ensure constitutionality'The IACHR reiterates that while States have the duty to guarantee citizen security and combat organised crime, any emergency measures adopted must comply with international human rights standards, including the principles of legality, necessity, proportionality and temporality,' the 2025 report said.The Commission's report last year also emphasised a need to preserve constitutional rights during period where the state is using emergency powers such as an SoE, including the rights of those detained by law enforcement during this period.The report asserted that 'states must ensure that all persons detained during security operations are afforded judicial guarantees and access to due process protections consistent with the American Declaration of the Rights and Duties of Man, the American Convention on Human Rights and other applicable inter-American standards'.'The Commission also underscores the importance of judicial oversight, transparency, and accountability mechanisms in the implementation of emergency measures,' the report stated.The IACHR recalled that it has continuously monitored and reported on the use of SoEs in Jamaica.In 2024, the IACHR called on Jamaica to ensure that measures used to prevent and combat crime were implemented in accordance with international human rights standards.Jamaica: 17 unconstitutional SoEs Additionally, the 2025 annual report took note of the Supreme Court's ruling in the case of Dayton Campbell v AG of Jamaica, where 17 SoEs proclaimed between 2018 and 2023 were declared unconstitutional.The court would have noted that the SoEs were invalid, as they were not declared for a constitutionally legitimate purpose, were disproportionate within a free and democratic society, and undermined the separation of powers by diminishing parliamentary authority regarding their extensions, the Commission had stated.The Commission also recalled that on May 8, 2026, Belize declared another SoE in areas of Belize City and parts of the Belize District.It said according to public information, the measure followed a security assessment and intelligence indicating an increase in gang-related activity and was adopted to prevent shootings and murders associated with ongoing criminal violence.Reports indicated that some 126 individuals were detained during operations conducted in Belize City and the Belize District as of May 11, 2026.The 2025 report stated, 'While recognising the significant security challenges faced by States in the region, the IACHR reiterates that sustainable responses to violence and organised crime must be grounded in respect for human rights and the rule of law.'In this regard, the Commission said it 'calls on States to adopt comprehensive, multi-sectoral security strategies, based on evidence, that address the root causes of violence while ensuring the protection of fundamental rights'.The Commission said it 'remains committed to supporting States of the Caribbean region in their efforts to promote citizen security in a manner that is consistent with its international human rights obligations'.About the IACHRThe IACHR is an autonomous body of the Organisation of American States (OAS) whose mandate is based on the OAS Charter and the American Convention on Human Rights. Its mission is to promote and defend human rights throughout the Americas and to serve as an advisory body to the OAS in this area. The IACHR consists of seven independent members elected by the OAS General Assembly who serve in a personal capacity and do not represent their countries of origin or residence.