Foreign Minister Andres Navarro argues that people who are misinformed about the situation in the Dominican Republic are judging the country in the international arena. With a view to improving information for critics of the Dominican Republic’s immigration policies, Navarro is leading a series of consultations with civil society organizations in preparation for the 2015-2020 National Human Rights Plan.
“The Dominican Republic is being watched by many sectors in the international arena and we concluded that many of the statements that have been issued are based on misinformation and lack of knowledge of our situation. Therefore, President Danilo Medina’s political will is clear and suggests that this process of strengthening mechanisms for the promotion and protection of human rights is irreversible,” said Navarro, speaking to civil society organizations in Barahona yesterday, Thursday 7 May 2015.
This was the fourth consultation session in preparation for the plan, with representatives of more than 150 non-governmental organizations.
A fifth and final session is scheduled for San Cristobal, with civil society organizations in Peravia (Bani), San Cristobal and San Jose de Ocoa provinces in early June. This will be followed by a national consultative conference to prepare the final draft that will support the human rights plan.
The consultations are being held with ongoing monitoring by the United Nations, Organization of American States (OAS), European Union, United States Agency for International Development (USAID), and the Spanish Agency for International Cooperation for Development (AECID).