Ethnic Discrimination and Statelessness (Dominican Republic)
Filed a petition before the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights on behalf of six clients from the Dominican Republic who represent hundreds of thousands of individuals who have been discriminated against because of their Haitian descent and have been left stateless.
Travelled to the Dominican Republic to interview clients, discuss legal strategies, and gather supplemental information for this case, and to follow-up on the precautionary measures ordered on behalf of human rights defenders who are risking their lives to defend the rights of others.
Participated in hearings before the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights to denounce discrimination against Dominicans of Haitian descent.
Mass Deportations (Dominican Republic)
Attended a hearing in Mexico City before the Inter-American Court of Human Rights in Fall 2013 and submittedan amicus curiaebrief (available in Spanish) in the case of Benito Tide Mendez v Dominican Republic (now known as “Case of Expelled Dominicans and Haitians v Dominican Republic”). The case highlighted the human rights violations suffered by thousands of Haitians and Dominicans of Haitian descent who have been forcefully expelled from the Dominican Republic without minimum due process guarantees.
LGBT Rights (Jamaica and Colombia)
Criminalization of Same-Sex Relations (Jamaica)
Drafted a sign-on letter to Jamaican Prime Minister expressing concern for recent violence against LGBT individuals in Jamaica and urging the decriminalization of consensual same-sex relations between adults.
Travelled to Jamaica during Spring Break 2013 to interview members of the LGBT community, as well as members of religious, academic, government, and civil society institutions.
Held a screening of the film “Abominable Crime” and discussed discrimination against LGBT individuals in Jamaica with the film’s director and a leading Jamaican activist and attorney.
