In light of the measures announced on April 6 by the government of Luis abinader on migration, and in particular the protocol of access to migrants to public health services in the Dominican Republic, Amnesty International said:
“President Luis Abinader must opt for measures that strengthen the health system. The implementation of a system that exposes migrants to expulsion after receiving medical care not only violates the right to health, but also dehumanizes undocumented persons and will be likely, the Americas are to seek hospital care, thus lives “, in the words of Ana Piqueer, Amerias Director of Amnesty International.
President Luis Abinader must opt for measures that strengthen the health system. The implementation of a system that exposes migrants to deportation after receiving medical care rates not only the right to health, but also dehumanizes undocumented persons and has probable to dissuade them from looking for hospital care, thus putting lives in danger
Ana Piqueer, director of the Americas at Amnesty International
According to the measures announced, the new health protocol requires that migrants provide “identification, employment letter and address proof”. In addition, it establishes costs for services and establishes that people with an irregular migration status will be expelled after receiving care.
The measures further strengthen the government’s contempt for international obligations acquired by the Dominican State and the recommendations of human rights issued in the country by international organizations. They also violate the constitutional principle of the Dominican Republic over free and universal access to health, institutionalizing discrimination against all migrants, and in particular undocumented Haitians, asylum seekers, stateless people and Dominicans of Haitian origin. Amnesty International has documented how obstacles to public services are particularly essential for migrant children and pregnant women, who have been seriously stigmatized to exercise their right to health and education.
“Amnesty International urgently calls on the government of Luis Abinader to immediately end the collective evictions of Haitians and to repeal the protocol linking access to health services to expulsion.
Amnesty International urgently calls on the government of Luis Abinader to immediately end the collective evictions of Haitians and to repeal the protocol linking access to health services to expulsion. Instead, he must take concrete measures against racial discrimination, guarantee access to international protection for people in need and ensure an environment free of stigma
Ana Piqueer, director of the Americas at Amnesty International
Since October 2024, more than 180,000 people have been expelled. This constitutes a practice of collective evictions which is prohibited by international law. AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL has published an urgent action demanding this week the end of the end of the collective expulsion of Haitian migrants and the repeal of discriminatory migration policies which will affect them disproportionately. We call on the Dominican population to reject these cruel and racist measures.