OBMICA Bulletin December 2021

We share the final OBMICA Bulletin of 2021, reviewing the most relevant issues from the October-December quarter. For online reading, visit www.obmica.org. To download the publication in PDF format click here.

On the cover: The issue of so-called "parturients", that is, pregnant Haitian women, came to the forefront because new restrictive policies regarding access to public health in the Dominican Republic in 2021 alarmed defenders of migrants' rights. (Photo: Hillary Petrozziello).

Below is a summary of the content of our quarterly publication. To continue reading the articles, click read more.

Editorial, OBMICA Bulletin December 2021

The narrative of the Haitian pregnant woman crossing the border into the Dominican Republic to give birth has been mobilized to militarize maternity hospitals, justify restrictions on access to reproductive health, and prohibit entry for women who are "visibly pregnant." Read more...

IACHR expresses concern over expelled pregnant women in the Dominican Republic

It calls on the State to guarantee access to protection mechanisms and reproductive health services (December 1, 2021). Read more...

Five issues to retain from 2021

We review highly relevant topics for understanding migration in 2021: Barbados' prime minister received the highest-level UN environmental award while drawing attention to island states and climate change; Colombia and the Dominican Republic pursued efforts and good practices to welcome Venezuelan populations; Haitian migrants received more rejection and less protection than other mobile groups; the scarcity of legal channels for labor migration increased smuggling networks and dangerous incidents; and UNHCR Goodwill Ambassador Maha Mamo visited the Dominican Republic. Read more...

Discussing migration control policies, gender violence, and the rights of migrant women

On December 3, 2021, OBMICA and CEDESO launched the dialogue series "Migration Control Policies, Gender Violence and the Rights of Migrant Women," an exchange among civil society actors focused on arbitrary deportations and recent operations violating the rights of pregnant foreign women in the Dominican Republic. Read more...

Launch from the Dominican Republic of a new book on statelessness

We share details of the webinar launching the book "Statelessness, Governance and the Problem of Citizenship," edited by researchers Tendayi Bloom and Lindsey Kingston, an event organized by OBMICA in November. With contributions from activists, lawyers, artists, and affected people, the book frames statelessness as a citizenship issue. Read more...

Toward journalism that is more respectful of migrants' rights

The study Study on Dominican media and migration at the island scale: the case of the southern border, supported by OBMICA and CEDESO within the "Trato Digno" project, identified different patterns used by newspapers. Read more...

Meet Maha Mamo

The human rights activist, public speaker, and writer answered OBMICA's questions in an interview conducted in Santo Domingo. Read more...