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OEA/Ser.L/V/II.104
Doc. 49 rev. 1
7 october 1999
Original: Spanish

REPORT ON THE SITUATION OF
HUMAN RIGHTS IN THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC

CHAPTER I BACKGROUND

A. Introduction
B. Methodology of the Report
C. On-site visit
D. Acknowledgments
E. Executive Summary

CHAPTER II POLITICAL AND JURIDICAL ORGANIZATION OF THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC

A. Political structure of the Dominican Republic
B. Individual guarantees set forth in the Constitution

a. Guarantees of equality
b. Guarantees of liberty
c. Guarantees of security
d. Guarantees of property
e. Social guarantees

C. Mechanisms for protecting individual rights
D. Recent legislative advances in the Dominican Republic

a. Code of the Minor
b. Law on Family Violence

 E. International instruments for the protection of human rights signed and ratified by the Dominican Republic

a. Inter-American system
b. Universal system

F. The treatment accorded international treaties under Dominican law

Conclusions and Recommendations

CHAPTER III THE RIGHT TO JUDICIAL RECOURSE AND THE ADMINISTRATION OF JUSTICE IN THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC

A. Background
B. Main problems of the Dominican judicial system

a. Efficiency
b. Procedures before the Dominican courts
C. Reforms undertaken by the Government

Conclusions and Recommendations

CHAPTER IV THE RIGHT TO LIFE IN THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC

A. Legal provisions
B. Extrajudicial executions

a. Executions committed during police activities
b. Executions committed in the prisons

C. Forced disappearances
D. Impunity for the acts committed by security agents

Conclusions and Recommendations

CHAPTER V THE RIGHT TO HUMANE TREATMENT IN THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC

A. Legal provisions
B. Torture and inhumane treatment

a. Torture and inhumane treatment during detention
b. Torture and inhumane treatment in the prisons

C. Impunity for the acts committed by security agents

Conclusions and Recommendations

 CHAPTER VI THE RIGHT TO PERSONAL LIBERTY

A. Legal provisions
B. Arbitrary detentions

a. Massive arrests by the police and other police operations
b. Detentions during demonstrations and protests
c. Detentions of family members as a means of coercion

C. Desacato
D. Preventive detention

Conclusions and Recommendations

CHAPTER VII RIGHT TO FREEDOM OF THOUGHT AND EXPRESSION

A. Legal provisions
B. Freedom of expression

Conclusions and Recommendations

CHAPTER VIII PRISON CONDITIONS AND THE SITUATION OF PRISONERS

A. Background
B. Control of the prisons
C. Overpopulation of the prisons
D. Judicial assistance and the processing of benefits for prisoners
E. Failure to separate prisoners by categories
F. Disciplinary regime in the prisons
G. Health conditions and food
H. Visits by family members
I. Rehabilitation, opportunities for work and recreation in the prisons

Conclusions and Recommendations

CHAPTER IX SITUATION OF HAITIAN MIGRANT WORKERS AND THEIR FAMILIES IN THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC

A. Introduction

a. Background
b. On-site visit by the IACHR in 1991

B. Massive expulsions of Haitians and Haitian-Dominicans
C. Working and living conditions in the bateyes

a. Working conditions
b. Living conditions
c. The situation of Haitian women in the bateyes

D. Status of permanent illegality

Conclusions and Recommendations 

CHAPTER X THE SITUATION OF WOMEN IN THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC

A. The legal framework for the protection of women

a. Domestic provisions
b. International provisions

B. Violence against women

a. Domestic violence
b. Violence associated with prostitution and the trafficking of women

C. Discrimination against women in politics
D. Labor situation of women in the free-trade zones

Conclusions and Recommendations

CHAPTER XI SITUATION OF MINORS IN THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC

A. Legal framework for the protection of minors

a. Domestic provisions
b. International provisions

B. Socioeconomic situation of minors
C. Education
D. Child labor
E. Child prostitution
F. Violence against minors
G. Situation of minors deprived of their liberty

Conclusions and Recommendations 

CHAPTER XII CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS

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