The Haitian Foundation "Zanmi Timoun" expresses its deep concern about the increase in cases of deportation from the Dominican Republic of unaccompanied minor Haitian children in recent months.

From October 1st to 27, 2023, the Transit Center of the 'Zanmi Timoun' foundation in Belladère received 89 unaccompanied children (77 boys and 12 girls), an increase of 32.7% compared to the previous month when 58 unaccompanied minor children accompanied had been repatriated (47 boys and 11 girls).

'These deportations reflect the hardening of the migration policy of the Dominican Government towards Haiti since the start of the construction of the Irrigation Canal in Haiti with water intake on the Massacre River.

'This behavior also expresses the non-respect of the current Dominican Government for the international agreements and treaties signed by its country, more specifically, the international convention on the rights of the Child of 1989 and the memorandum of understanding on repatriation mechanisms signed between the two governments in 1999.

Articles 9 and 22 of the International Convention on the Rights of the Child clearly stipulate that signatory states must ensure that children are not separated from their parents against their will. Unfortunately, this situation is commonplace in the majority of cases of child deportations carried out by the Dominican Republic.

"Moreover, the children arrived at the Zanmi Timoun transit center in humiliating and unimaginable conditions: barefoot, torn clothes, hungry. Which is condemned by this Convention and other international instruments relating to human rights."

"The Foundation invites all stakeholders concerned to comment on this situation, because there are too many children separated from their parents. According to the testimonies of some returnees, children were arrested and detained by the Dominican authorities while their parents were repatriated to Haiti. The Haitian authorities must ask the Dominican authorities to suspend these deportations carried out in non-compliance with international conventions relating to human rights.

Learn more about the "Zanmi Timoun" Foundation :

The "Zanmi Timoun" Foundation was created on February 13, 2001 after a reflection organized by young people from Port-Au-Prince, Belladère, Savanette and Lascahobas.

The "Zanmi Timoun" Foundation is an organization that promotes and defends the rights of children in Haiti. Its mission is to contribute to the social and economic change of the country with the support of disadvantaged children and young people, to promote the Rights of the Child, to work towards the eradication of “Restavèk” domesticity in Haiti, to advocate for the care of street children in the capital, the country's major cities and border points.

The Foundation is made up of a team including: lawyers, social workers, psychologists and social communicators.

HL/ HaitiLibre