Heartland Alliance International (HAI) documents and responds to the urgent needs and vulnerabilities of stateless populations and those at risk of statelessness in the Dominican Republic, educating community members about their rights and ensuring access to legal services. HAI also provides mental health support and access to health care to marginalized groups, including migrants and refugees from Venezuela, survivors of trafficking, and LGBTQ+ individuals.
Background
Article 15 of the UN Declaration of Human Right asserts that “everyone has the right to a nationality. No one shall be arbitrarily deprived of his [or her] nationality nor denied the right to change his [or her] nationality.”
In 2013, the Constitutional Court of the Dominican Republic issued Decree 168-13, which retroactively stripped tens of thousands of Dominicans of their citizenship. Due to changes in citizenship law, many Dominicans of Haitian descent may fall into the category of statelessness, or are at risk of statelessness, and are barred from exercising their basic and fundamental rights, including registering their children’s births, voting, accessing health care and education, and securing legal identity documents. Without any identity certification, birth certificates or state identity cards, persons of Haitian descent are marginalized in Dominican society. They face difficulties finding employment, are unable to travel abroad, and are disenfranchised and without political power.
Furthermore, they are often geographically segregated into neighborhoods first established for agricultural laborers. These Bateyes were created at the end of the 19th century when large numbers of Haitians began to arrive in the Dominican Republic to cut sugar cane. Sugar companies developed barrack style housing as a way to minimize costs, and Haitian workers were forced to buy goods from the company store on credit, to meet their basic needs, and later became unable to leave the plantation because of an inability to pay off their debt.
Programs
- Services for Stateless Individuals: HAI works in 11 provinces, providing legal and psychosocial services to help stateless individuals obtain nationality and reintegrate into Dominican society. HAI disseminates information through brochures, radio broadcasts and messaging campaigns. HAI also partners with grassroots organizations to invest in local leadership, build capacity and provide comprehensive services to a broader population. HAI is committed to improving national and local governments’ responses to statelessness and expanding support for stateless individuals through the public and private sector.
- HIV Prevention and Gender Equity: HAI promotes community-based mental health and works for equality for women and LGBT individuals. From 2010 to 2015, HAI worked to improve access to health services for men who have sex with men and strengthen the capacity of local gay and transgender-focused organizations.
Impact
Supporting Stateless Individuals:
- Since 2014, HAI has supported nearly 8,000 beneficiaries who are stateless or at risk of statelessness.
- 90% of stateless persons and individuals at risk of statelessness who participating in trainings demonstrated increased knowledge of processes for accessing legal assistance
HIV Prevention and Gender Equity:
- Reached more than 65,000 men who have sex with men with sexual health services
- Trained more than 400 health care workers on an inclusive approach to needs of men who have sex with men
