Epifania St. Chals Lichardo es coordinadora y co-fundadora de Reconocido (Red Común Nacional Organizada de Ciudadanos/as Domininicanos/as), un movimiento que promueve los derechos de ciudadanía y la igualdad de los/as dominicanos/as de ascendencia haitiana, moviliza y empodera a las comunidades marginadas y acompaña a las personas que necesitan apoyo legal para acceder a sus documentos.
In the Dominican Republic, Haitian descendants are widely seen as second class citizens. In 2010, a new constitution rendered stateless anyone who was born to an undocumented foreign parent. The ruling was implemented retroactively and thousands of people found themselves without valid documents overnight. Since then, many have been living in limbo: they are denied access to education, employment, health services and the right to vote. Human rights defenders who advocate for the rights of Haitian descendants have been subjected to threats, smear campaigns and attacks.
