Dominican Republic 2021 LGBTQ Index and Exhibits
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[NAME] [FIRM] [ADDRESS] [PHONE NUMBER] [FAX NUMBER] UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE EXECUTIVE OFFICE FOR IMMIGRATION REVIEW IMMIGRATION COURT [CITY, STATE] ) In the Matter of: ) ) File No.: A __________ __________ ) ) In removal proceedings ) __________________________________________) INDEX TO DOCUMENTATION OF COUNTRY CONDITIONS REGARDING PERSECUTION OF LGBTQ INDIVIDUALS IN DOMINICAN REPUBLIC TAB SUMMARY GOVERNMENTAL SOURCES 1. Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor, U.S. Dep’t of State, Dominican Republic Country Reports on Human Rights Practices – 2020 (Mar. 30, 2021), available at: https://www.state.gov/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/DOMINICAN- REPUBLIC-2020-HUMAN-RIGHTS-REPORT.pdf • “Significant human rights issues included: reports of unlawful or arbitrary killings by government security forces; torture by police and other government agents; harsh and life-threatening prison conditions; arbitrary detention; serious problems with the independence of the judiciary; arbitrary interference with privacy; criminal libel for individual journalists; serious government corruption; trafficking in persons; and police violence against lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and intersex persons.” (p. 1) • “Discrimination limited the ability of LGBTI persons to access education, employment, health care, and other services. NGO representatives reported widespread discrimination against LGBTI persons, particularly transgender individuals and lesbians, in health care, education, justice, and employment. LGBTI individuals often faced intimidation and harassment.” (p. 25) 2. Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, Dominican Republic: Situation and treatment of sexual and gender minorities by society and authorities, including legislation, state protection and support services (Jul. 15, 2020), available at: https://irb-cisr.gc.ca/en/country-information/rir/Pages/index.aspx?doc=458141 • “However, according to the ILGA World report, "[a]rticle 210 of the 1966 Police Justice Code (Código de Justicia de la Policía) still outlaws sodomy among members of the police forces" (ILGA World Dec. 2019, 34).” (p. 2) • “Between January 2008 and September 2018, there were 42 reported murders of transgender and gender-diverse people in the Dominican Republic (TGEU 2018). Amnesty International indicates that, according to TRANSSA, 47 transgender women have been killed since 2006 in the Dominican Republic (Amnesty International 2019, 6).” (p. 8) • “According to the report by Sin Violencia LGBTI, there were 28 reported homicides of LGBTI persons in the Dominican Republic from 2014 to June 2019 (Sin Violencia LGBTI Aug. 2019, 23).” (p. 8) • “The TRANSSA and ODHGV report notes that transgender persons in the Dominican Republic experience a [translation] "high level" of discrimination and exclusion, which can be exacerbated by other factors such as being of African descent (TRANSSA and ODHGV [2018], 6). The Amnesty International report on the treatment of women engaged in sex work in the Dominican Republic notes that trans women face a "significant risk" of murder (Amnesty International 2019, 11).” (p. 7-8) • “Sources report that LGBT persons in the Dominican Republic experience police abuse (Bertelsmann Stiftung 2020, 12; CLGBTTI [2018], 2; US 11 Mar. 2020, 22). US Country Reports 2019 states that NGOs reported "police abuse, including arbitrary arrest, police violence, and extortion against LGBTI persons" (US 11 Mar. 2020, 22). According to the CLGBTTI report, LGBT persons have reported being victims of arbitrary arrests (CLGBTTI [2018], 3). The TRANSSA and ODHGV report indicates that LGBT persons experience discrimination when interacting with state authorities (TRANSSA and ODHGV [2018], 4). According to the same report, restrictions on access to basic rights for LGBT people, including healthcare and access to justice, are [translation) "influenced and/or condoned by authorities" (TRANSSA and ODHGV [2018], 4). (p. 9) • “The TRANSSA and ODHGV report indicates that authorities are [translation) "unable" to protect transgender women's access to justice (TRANSSA and ODHGV [2018], 5). The same source notes that police, doctors, and state officials have bias and disregard LGBT human rights (TRANSSA and ODHGV [2018], 5).” (p. 9) • “The Amnesty International report indicates that "[m]ost of the transgender women [sex workers, interviewed by Amnesty International] had been subjected to discriminatory and violent actions by the police that could amount to torture or other ill-treatment, typically focused on their gender-identity or expression" (Amnesty International 2019, 7). TRANSSA and ODHGV report that the police carry out [translation] "so-called 'raid operations'" on transgender women and, while they are detained, their rights are not respected, and they are robbed, raped and placed in cells with cisgender men (TRANSSA and ODHGV [2018], 10).” (p. 10) • “The BTI 2020 reports that "[m]ost cases of violence against LGBTQ people are not addressed by the authorities" (Bertelsmann Stiftung 2020, 12). Similarly, the FUNCEJI and CEB-LGBT report indicates that LGBT Dominicans lack access to justice and that there is impunity for those who violate the rights of LGBT persons (FUNCEJI and CEB-LGBT 2018, 3).” (p. 15) • “Sources report that LGBT persons in the Dominican Republic encounter violence (Freedom House 2019, Sec. F4; FUNCEJI and CEB-LGBT 12 July 2018, 3). A 2018 report, which was presented to the UN Human Rights Committee by the LGBTTI coalition of the Dominican Republic (CLGBTTI) [1], indicates that LGBT persons face physical violence and psychological abuse in the family sphere (CLGBTTI [2018], 2). The FUNCEJI and CEB-LGBT report indicates that LGBT Dominicans face hate crimes (FUNCEJI and CEB- LGBT 12 July 2018, 3).” (p. 8) • “LGBT persons are refused care or treated [translation] "poorly" in health service centers (Corresponsales Clave 22 Aug. 2018). According to the TRANSSA and ODHGV report, there is the view in the Dominican Republic that all persons who are LGBT have HIV and, as a result, doctors and nurses will refuse to treat LGBT people (TRANSSA and ODHGV [2018], 9). The FUNCEJI and CEB-LGBT report notes that many LGBT persons, particularly transgender persons, do not go to health centers or hospitals due to previous experiences with stigmatization by health care providers (FUNCEJI and CEB- LGBT 2018, 4).” (p. 14) • “TRANSSA and ODHGV also indicate that hormone therapy and gender- affirming treatment is not available for transgender persons in the Dominican Republic” (p. 14) • “The ILGA World report indicates that there is no legal recognition of adoption, marriage or civil unions for same-sex partners in the Dominican Republic (ILGA World Dec. 2019, 140-141, 171).” (p. 5) • “In a 2019 report on sexual and reproductive health and rights in the Dominican Republic, Human Rights Watch (HRW) notes that, based on interviews with five LGBT children and young adults, LGBT youth report experiencing bullying and discrimination at school because of their sexual orientation (HRW June 2019, 24).” (p. 13) 3. Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor, U.S. Dep’t of State, Dominican Republic Country Reports on Human Rights Practices – 2019 (Mar. 11, 2020), available at: https://www.state.gov/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/DOMINICAN- REPUBLIC-2019-HUMAN-RIGHTS-REPORT.pdf • “Significant human rights issues included reports of unlawful or arbitrary killings by government security forces; torture by police and other government agents; arbitrary detention; harsh and life-threatening prison conditions; arbitrary interference with privacy; serious problems with the independence of the judiciary; criminal libel for individual journalists; serious government corruption; police violence against lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and intersex (LGBTI) persons; and forced and child labor.” (p. 1) • “In March, Amnesty International released a report detailing incidents of police rape and abuse of transgender sex workers (see also section 1.c.). Other NGOs reported police abuse, including arbitrary arrest, police violence, and extortion against LGBTI persons. According to civil society organizations, authorities failed to properly document or investigate the incidents that were reported. According to a report presented by civil society to the UN Human Rights Committee, the law does not provide for the prosecution of hate crimes against LGBTI individuals based on their sexual orientation or gender identity.” (p. 22) • “Discrimination limited the ability of LGBTI persons to access education, employment, health care, and other services. NGOs reported widespread discrimination against LGBTI persons, particularly transgender individuals and lesbians, in health care, education, justice, and employment. LGBTI individuals often faced intimidation and harassment.” (p. 22) 4. Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor, U.S. Dep’t of State, Dominican Republic Country Reports on Human Rights Practices – 2018 (Mar. 13, 2019), available at: https://www.state.gov/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/DOMINICAN- REPUBLIC-2018.pdf • “Human rights issues included reports of unlawful or arbitrary killings by government security forces; torture by police and other government agents; arbitrary detention; harsh and life-threatening prison conditions; arbitrary interference with privacy; criminal libel for individual journalists; corruption; police violence against lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and intersex (LGBTI) persons; and forced labor and child labor.” (p. 1) • “NGOs reported police abuse, including