Organizations denounce that Sentence 168-13 has increased poverty twelve years after its issuance.

Santo Domingo.– The Dominican@s por Derecho (DxD) Platform warned this Tuesday that, twelve years after Constitutional Court Ruling 168-13, the measure has increased poverty and deepened inequality in the Dominican Republic, affecting thousands of Dominicans descended from migrants who were stripped of the full recognition of their nationality.

In a statement, the organization noted that the lack of access to identity documents has cemented a cycle of systemic poverty that extends across more than ten provinces, limiting the economic and social development of entire communities.

“The persistence of obsolete and discriminatory schemes in public administration, based on the origin and social condition of Dominicans, denies opportunities for progress to people, their families and communities, and creates not only citizens, but second-class provinces,” the platform denounced.

According to DxD, the monetary poverty data published by the former Ministry of Economy, Planning and Development (MEPyD) support these claims. The provinces most impacted by the ruling are among the poorest in the country, with higher unemployment rates, low educational attainment, and a lack of basic services.

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The organization highlighted that the lack of an identity card, the main instrument of civil recognition, triggers a chain of exclusion that prevents those affected from accessing formal employment, quality health services, affiliation to the social security system, and opening bank accounts. Furthermore, they warned that during 2024, detention operations based on racial profiling have intensified, creating a climate of uncertainty and threat even for Dominicans who have their identity documents. Although Law 169-14 sought to mitigate the effects of the ruling, DxD affirmed that thousands of people remain trapped in limbo due to the administrative paralysis of the Central Electoral Board (JCE) and the Ministry of Interior and Police (MIP). “A particularly worrying case is that of the 8,000 Dominicans who, having exhausted the process before the MIP ten years ago, are still waiting for the delivery of their definitive documentation. The delay not only frustrates the citizens, but also devalues the public investment, going around a solvable problem”, said the organization. Faced with this situation, the platform called on the government to implement genuine inclusion policies and fulfill outstanding commitments.

“The fight against documentary exclusion is, in essence, the fight against poverty and inequity. It is imperative that the Dominican State close this circle of exclusion and open a real path towards integration, guaranteeing full rights and effective access to citizenship for all its inhabitants”, concluded DxD.