Dominican Republic: Information on state protection for persons who are victims of violence or criminality at the hands of government officials who have parliamentary immunity
| Publisher | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada |
| Author | Research Directorate, Immigration and Refugee Board, Canada |
| Publication Date | 1 March 1995 |
| Citation / Document Symbol | DOM18913.E |
| Cite as | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, Dominican Republic: Information on state protection for persons who are victims of violence or criminality at the hands of government officials who have parliamentary immunity, 1 March 1995, DOM18913.E, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/3ae6ac9464.html [accessed 20 May 2023] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
According to a representative from Montréal-based Carrefour des amitiés interculturelles Québec-République dominicaine, a non-governmental organisation involved in health and educational development projects in the Dominican Republic and a collaborator with Canadian organisations facilitating integration of Dominican and other Latin American immigrants into Canadian society, members of parliament and senators of any political allegiance are protected by parliamentary immunity (20 Feb. 1995). However, their immunity is limited, and judges in the Dominican Republic have the power to summon members of parliament or senators to court in the instance of complaints filed against them (ibid.). In theory, anyone threatened by a member of parliament or senator can file a complaint through a public prosecutor (ibid.). The representative also stated that the existing multi-party system in the Dominican Republic offers some guarantees against the abuse of parliamentary immunity. If threats were to originate from a member of parliament or senator belonging to the party in power, the opposition could denounce such a behaviour (ibid.). If any such threats were to originate from the opposition, one could count on the protection of the state (ibid.). No corroborating information on the above-mentioned topic could be found in the sources consulted by the DIRB. Please find attached a document on corruption in the Dominican Republic.
This response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the DIRB within time constraints. This response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum.
Reference
Carrefour des amitiés interculturelles Québec-République dominicaine, Montréal. 20 February 1995. Telephone interview with representative.
Attachment
Rudel, Christian. 1989. La République dominicaine. Paris: Editions Karthala, pp. 165-68.
Other Sources Consulted
Critique : Review of the Department of State's Country Report on Human Rights Practices. Yearly. New York: Lawyers Committee for Human Rights (LHRC).
Foreign Broadcast Information Service (FBIS) Reports. Daily.
International Commission of Jurists. Bi-annual. The Review. Geneva: International Commission of Jurists.
On-line searches of news articles (NEXIS).
Oral sources.
