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Dominican Republic

Monthly Event Reports

September 2023 | Dispute over access to river leads to government closure of border with Haiti
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The construction by Haiti of an irrigation canal in a river shared with the Dominican Republic has caused tension among both countries. The Dominican government argues that such construction is contrary to a joint declaration issued years prior about the shared nature of the river, and the right of both nations to access it. Calling it a “provocation”, the Dominican Republic decreed the closure of its land, air and maritime borders, and announced the suspension of visas to Haitians.   The closure impacts the serious humanitarian situation in Haiti, as around a quarter of food in that country is imported from the Dominican Republic and significant amounts of medical and other supplies also come from the latter. Experts have also noted that while the closure will more likely impact Haiti the most, Dominican workers and business will also be affected. The UN Independent Expert on the situation of human rights in Haiti has questioned the compatibility of this measure with human rights and called on the Dominican Republic to reconsider; it further called the government to end ill treatment and forced return of migrants to Haiti.

November 2022 | Dominican Republic ramps up border enforcement amid Haiti’s humanitarian crisis

The Dominican Republic has stepped up its border enforcement, including through deportations of Haitians, arguing the measure is needed for security purposes, considering the exacerbation of violence in the neighbouring country. The government’s actions have raised concerns regarding the use of violence against migrants, discrimination, arbitrary detentions, and other human rights violations as immigration agents implement strict controls. The United Nations refugee agency has urged countries receiving Haitian asylum seekers to halt forced returns to Haiti due to the continuing crises. It has also highlighted that forced returns of people to countries where they could face torture, persecution, or irreparable harm could constitute “refoulement”, which is prohibited under international law.

Explore past monthly event reports

GSoD Indices Data 2013-2022

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Basic Information

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Population Tooltip
10 953 710
System of government
Presidential system
Head of government
President Luis Abinader (since 2020)
Head of government party
Modern Revolutionary Party
Electoral system for lower or single chamber
List Proportional Representation
Women in lower or single chamber
27.9%
Women in upper chamber
12.5%
Last legislative election
2020
Effective number of political parties Tooltip
3.65
Head of state
President Luis Abinader
Selection process for head of state
Direct election (two-round majority)
Latest Universal Periodic Review (UPR) date
30/01/2019
Latest Universal Periodic Review (UPR) percentage of recommendations supported
66.49%
Population Tooltip
10 953 710
System of government
Presidential system
Head of government
President Luis Abinader (since 2020)
Head of government party
Modern Revolutionary Party
Electoral system for lower or single chamber
List Proportional Representation
Women in lower or single chamber
27.9%
Women in upper chamber
12.5%
Last legislative election
2020
Effective number of political parties Tooltip
3.65
Head of state
President Luis Abinader
Selection process for head of state
Direct election (two-round majority)
Latest Universal Periodic Review (UPR) date
30/01/2019
Latest Universal Periodic Review (UPR) percentage of recommendations supported
66.49%
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Human Rights Treaties

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State Party State party
Signatory Signatory
No Action No action
United Nations Human Right Treaties
International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights
State Party
International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights
State Party
International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination
State Party
Convention on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women
State Party
Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman and Degrading Treatment or Punishment
State Party
Convention on the Rights of the Child
State Party
International Convention on Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families
No Action
International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance 
Signatory
International Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities
State Party
International Labour Organisation Treaties
Forced Labour Convention
State Party
Freedom of Association and Protection of the Right to Organise Convention
State Party
Right to Organise and Collective Bargaining Convention
State Party
Equal Remuneration Convention
State Party
Abolition of Forced Labour Convention
State Party
Discrimination (Employment and Occupation) Convention
State Party
Convention concerning Minimum Age for Admission to Employment
State Party
Worst Forms of Child Labour Convention
State Party
Regional Treaties
American Convention on Human Rights
State Party
Additional Protocol to the American Convention on Human Rights in the Area of Economic, Social and Cultural Rights
Signatory
in
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Performance by category over the last 6 months

Representation neutral Representation
Sep 2023
Oct
Nov
Dec
Jan
Feb 2024
Representation neutral Rights
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Oct
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Dec
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Feb 2024
Representation neutral Rule of law
Sep 2023
Oct
Nov
Dec
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Feb 2024
Representation neutral Participation
Sep 2023
Oct
Nov
Dec
Jan
Feb 2024

Global State of Democracy Indices

Hover over the trend lines to see the exact data points across the years

Explore the indices
Representation
Representation
0
/1
high 0.7-1.0
mid 0.4-0.7
low 0.0-0.4
Rights
Rights
0
/1
high 0.7-1.0
mid 0.4-0.7
low 0.0-0.4
Rule of Law
Rule of Law
0
/1
high 0.7-1.0
mid 0.4-0.7
low 0.0-0.4
Participation
Participation
0
/1
high 0.7-1.0
mid 0.4-0.7
low 0.0-0.4
Annual value

Factors of Democratic Performance Over Time

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