Dominican Republic

In the Dominican Republic, hospital staff are responsible for deciding who gets a ‘pink certificate,’ a birth declaration given to children of foreigners deemed to be “in transit.” This documentation process creates obstacles for registration of births and acquisition of nationality for children of foreign mothers and those of Haitian descent. The CRC (2008, 2023), CERD (2008), and CEDAW (2013) have all expressed concern and/or made recommendations about this practice. CERD (2008) expressed concern that children of foreign mothers born in the Dominican Republic are provided with pink birth declarations by hospitals or clinics, and are registered in the Foreigners’ Book, which hampers their access to nationality, a birth certificate and subsequently a national identity card. Giving this responsibility to hospital staff brings migration control into healthcare settings.