OBMICA Newsletter Editorial March 2022
March 8 is celebrated globally as International Women's Day. In the Dominican Republic, as in the reflections of women themselves in many countries around the world, civil society organizations report both light and shadow in progress toward women's rights, including migrant women and their families.
International Women's Day is celebrated globally on March 8. In the Dominican Republic, as reflected in women's own analyses in many countries around the world, civil society organizations report both light and shadow in progress toward fulfilling women's rights, including the rights of migrant women and their families. Especially noteworthy in 2022 was the March 8 program on the southern border, recognizing that these binational exchanges have important precedents. A CIPAF diagnosis of women's organizations at different points along the border more than a decade ago documented a Women's Federation in Pedernales bringing together 24 mothers' associations with 600 members (CIPAF 2010). "The associations and the Federation commemorate every March 8 and November 25 through marches and events in which they speak about violence against women, together with the Secretariat of State for Women. On these dates, they also share with Haitian women's organizations" (emphasis in the CIPAF 2010 report).
Other positive developments in 2022 include the availability of two important books related to women's rights. Particularly noteworthy is the reissue of the book Lucrecia, by Dominican author Bernarda Jimenez, which traces the struggle against discrimination toward migrants in Spain following the murder of Dominican woman Lucrecia Perez 30 years ago. Also available in Spanish is a book by anthropologist Raul Zecca Castel compiling the testimonies of bateyera women (see page 7 of this bulletin). All these initiatives help make visible the persistent gaps that stand in the way of realizing the rights of migrant women and their families in the country, as well as Dominican women migrants in the Dominican diaspora.
It is timely that the UN system and the inter-American human rights system held important meetings on the country in February and March 2022. The publication of the country report prepared by the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) in late February 2022 underlines significant deficits affecting migrant women and their families (see page 3 of this bulletin). Its recommendations should serve as meaningful input for improving public policies. Likewise, two thematic hearings relevant to the country were held before the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) in March: one hearing on Haitian mobility in the region, including the Dominican Republic, and a second hearing on migration and nationality in the country. Among other things, the IACHR proposed technical support for the Ministry of Women. Hopefully the competent authorities will take advantage of the technical support available from both the UN and the inter-American human rights system on migration issues from a gender perspective.
Bridget Wooding
competence.