Reconocido
Reconocido (Red Común Nacional Organizada de Ciudadanos/as Domininicanos/as) is a movement in the Dominican Republic that campaigns for citizenship rights and equality for all Dominicans of Haitian descent who are traditionally victims of discrimination, racism and xenophobia in the country. The situation has worsened for the minority group since Decision 168-13 of the Constitutional Court, which deprived four generations of Dominicans of Haitian descent, born between 1929 and 2007, of their right to Dominican nationality.
The work of Reconocido involves mobilising and empowering marginalised communities, as well as assisting people who require legal support to access their documents in order to secure their rights in the country. Due to their work, members of the movement have been subjected to harassment and threats against their lives and personal integrity. They have been beneficiaries of precautionary measures by the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights since 2014.
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.
