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Sheet of paper Report

Annual Report: Dominican Republic 2013

Dominican Republic Head of state and government Danilo Medina Sánchez The number of unlawful killings by police remained high. People of Haitian descent continued to be denied identity documents. Violence against women and girls remained a major concern. There were concerns that proposed reforms to the Penal Code could have a negative impact on women’s rights and freedom of expression. Background Danilo Medina of the Party for the Dominican Liberation was elected President in May and took office in August. A law on fiscal reform approved in November sparked a wave of demonstrations across the country, some of which were…

May 17, 2013

Press Release

Student’s Killing Underscores Urgent Need for Police Reform in Dominican Republic

A 21-year-old medical student, died after being shot on Thursday during clashes between police and student protesters demonstrating against a highly disputed tax reform.

November 9, 2012

Sheet of paper Report

Dominican Republic urged to tackle alarming levels of police abuse

Hundreds of people are shot and killed every year by police in the Dominican Republic.

October 25, 2011

Press Release

Amnesty International Urges Dominican Republic to Tackle Alarming Levels of Police Abuse, in New Report

  Human rights organization to release new findings at Santo Domingo press conference   Contact: Sharon Singh, [email protected], 202-509-8194 (Washington, DC) -- Authorities in the Dominican Republic must urgently reform their police force to tackle alarming levels of killings and torture, Amnesty International said in a new report today at a press conference in Santo Domingo. 'Shut up if you don’t want to be killed:' Human rights violations by the police in the Dominican Republic documents scores of cases of killings, torture and ill-treatment at the hands of police and the lack of effective investigations gathered during three recent research…

October 25, 2011

Press Release

Amnesty International Urges Authorities in Dominican Republic to Ensure Protection of Journalists

Contact: AIUSA media relations, 202-509-8194 (Washington, D.C.) - Authorities in the Dominican Republic must ensure journalists are given adequate protection to carry out their jobs without fearing for their lives, Amnesty International said today after a reporter was abducted and shot dead in the east of the country. The body of TV journalist José Silvestre was found yesterday near the city of La Romana with two bullet wounds in the abdomen, several hours after four people were seen beating him and driving away with him in an all-terrain vehicle. "The Dominican authorities must ensure a prompt and full investigation into…

August 4, 2011

Sheet of paper Report

Annual Report: Dominican Republic 2011

Head of state and government: Leonel Fernández Reyna Death penalty: abolitionist for ordinary crimes Population: 10.2 million Life expectancy: 72.8 years Under-5 mortality (m/f): 37/29 per 1,000 Adult literacy: 88.2 per cent Unlawful killings by police were reported. People of Haitian descent continued to face entrenched discrimination and social exclusion. Violence against women and girls remained widespread. Background A new constitution entered into force on 26 January. In April, the Dominican Republic's human rights record was assessed under the UN's Universal Periodic Review (UPR) and the Dominican authorities undertook to implement 74 of the 79 recommendations made by the UN…

June 20, 2011

Press Release

Dominican Republic: Amnesty International Calls the Dominican Republic to Stop Forcible Deportation of Haitians

Amnesty International Press Release For Immediate Release Friday, January 07, 2011   Amnesty International Calls the Dominican Republic to Stop Forcible Deportation of Haitians --- Organization Says Nearly 1,000 Haitians Were Deported Within the Last Week on Grounds of Stopping the Spread of Cholera   Contact: Wende Gozan-Brown, 212-633-4247, [email protected]   (London) – Amnesty International today urged authorities in the Dominican Republic to immediately halt the mass deportation of Haitian migrants amid claims by the authorities that the move is necessary to prevent the spread of cholera. “Haiti is still recovering from a devastating natural disaster," said Javier Zuñiga, senior…

March 27, 2011

Press Release

Dominican Republic: Amnesty International Calls the Dominican Republic to Stop Forcible Deportation of Haitians

Amnesty International Press Release For Immediate Release Friday, January 07, 2011   Amnesty International Calls the Dominican Republic to Stop Forcible Deportation of Haitians --- Organization Says Nearly 1,000 Haitians Were Deported Within the Last Week on Grounds of Stopping the Spread of Cholera   Contact: Wende Gozan-Brown, 212-633-4247, [email protected]   (London) – Amnesty International today urged authorities in the Dominican Republic to immediately halt the mass deportation of Haitian migrants amid claims by the authorities that the move is necessary to prevent the spread of cholera. “Haiti is still recovering from a devastating natural disaster," said Javier Zuñiga, senior…

March 27, 2011