Agencies promote rights of ‘stateless’ Dominican-Haitian people

Tamayo, Dominican Republic.- The Center for SustainableDevelopment (CEDESO) and the United Nations Fund for Democracy (UNDEF) developa project to promote the rights of Dominicans of Haitian descent affected by ConstitutionalCourt ruling 168-13.

A large number of citizens affected by that ruling failedto regularize their status as law 169-14 stipulates, leaving them open topersecution by Dominican authorities.

CEDESO director Beneco Enecia said reports indicate thataround 173 Dominicans of Haitian descent were left stateless in the country becausethey submitted their documents as Haitians despite that they were born on thisside of the border. “Now the government of the neighboring country doesn’trecognize their citizenship.”

The project "Towards a political culture based onrights for the participation of Dominican of Haitian descent," was providedto journalists and social leaders, in the House of Culture of Tamayo.

Enecia said the project aims to identify and help affected personsin villages near the border in Independencia and Bahoruco provinces (west).

He said they’ll help the people whether registered or notin the civil registry. “whose rights have been violated with restrictivepolicies and poor implementation of the measures announced by the State, leavinghundreds of stateless and/or denationalized people who risk being expelled fromtheir country to a state that doesn’t recognize them as their nationals."