November
26, 2013
"Speak out for those who cannot speak, for
the rights of all the destitute. Speak out, judge righteously, defend the
rights of the poor and needy.” -- Proverbs
31:8, 9
We
represent churches, interdenominational groups and faith-based organizations
with long presence and ties in the Dominican Republic. As communities of faith, we express profound
concern at the September 23 ruling of the Constitutional Court that the
children of all persons “in transit” in the country since 1929 are not
Dominican. The decision particularly
affects Dominicans of Haitian descent, potentially stripping them of their
nationality, and putting them at risk of being stateless and/or subject to
deportation.
Dominican
citizens of Haitian descent are often among the poorest of the poor. They are the children, grandchildren and
great-grandchildren of Haitians who crossed the border in search of a better
life, and of migrant workers contracted by the Dominican government to help
harvest sugarcane and other crops. They have helped build the wealth of
communities, labored at the most difficult jobs, and contributed tremendously
to Dominican society and economy. These Dominican citizens for
generations have been fully integrated into Dominican society and have long
since lost ties to Haiti.
As
churches and faith based organizations working and living in the country and accompanying
this population directly, or those who serve them, we have directly observed
the impact on them of increasing hostility:
·
We
have seen the discrimination and neglect experienced by Dominicans of Haitian
ancestry, witnessed their economic and social marginalization in the bateyes,
and observed racial discrimination in their personal lives and the public
domain.
·
We
have noted the impact on this population of the Dominican government’s failure
to comply with the 2005 ruling of the Inter-American Court which called for the
restitution of birth documents withheld from Dominicans of Haitian descent. This
inertia has emboldened some elements to be more vocal in their anti-Dominco-Haitian
sentiments, causing Dominicans of Haitian descent to live in fear of xenophobia
and racism in their own country.
·
We
have noted that since 2005, further rulings of the Dominican Central Electoral
Board have authorized civil registry offices to withhold birth certificates,
and confiscate ID cards and passports from Dominicans of Haitian descent,
simply because of their ancestry.
Hundreds of Dominicans have lived in limbo since then, as without their documents
they are unable to go to school, access medical services, open bank accounts,
get married, or make needed purchases.
Many of these denationalized Dominicans of Haitian descent are young
people awaiting their documentation to rebuild their lives.
·
We
have heard the stories of Dominican citizens who have been deported to Haiti because
of their dark skin.
·
We
have witnessed the attempt made by institutions of the Dominican government to
strip Sonia Pierre, human rights advocate and leader of the Movement of
Dominico-Haitian Women, of her citizenship as she courageously fought for the
nationality and citizenship rights of the Dominico- Haitian population to be
respected.
This
latest ruling of the Dominican Constitutional Court will dramatically worsen
the already unjust situation of discrimination and economic
marginalization. Retroactive application
is illegal under international law and also violates several articles of the
Dominican constitution itself. UNCHR,
UNICEF and the Inter-American Human Rights Commission have deplored this Court
decision, and called upon the government of the Dominican Republic to ensure
that the fundamental human right to nationality is respected.
We urge
the Dominican government to ensure that all necessary steps are taken to
safeguard the nationality and citizenship rights of Dominico-Haitians. This
includes ensuring that relevant ministries expedite processing the backlog for
issuing of birth certificates and national I.D. cards to Dominicans of Haitian descent born prior
to January 2010, whose Dominican nationality is protected by Dominican law as
well conventions signed by government.
As
people of faith, we cannot remain silent as one entire section of the community
is dehumanized simply because of the color of their skin and their cultural
heritage. Jesus Christ welcomed all into the beloved community, and we
cannot honor and follow our Lord and Savior by remaining silent in the face of
such extreme injustice.
AG Missions Inc, (AMI)
Center for Human Rights and
International Justice, Boston College
Community of Christ
Christian Haitian Entrepreneurial
Society, Inc.
Church World Service
Conference of Major Superiors of
Men
Evangelical
Lutheran Church in America (ELCA).
Maryknoll
Office for Global Concerns
Mennonite Central Committee U.S.
Washington Office
Missionary
Oblates of Mary Immaculate
The National Council of the
Churches of Christ in the USA (NCC)
NETWORK, A National Catholic
Social Justice Lobby
Our Lady of Grace-
Chelsea/Everett Haiti Committee
Pax Christi
Ayiti
Pax Christi
USA
Presbyterian Church USA
United Methodist Church, General
Board of Church and Society
United Methodist Women