Attorney General Francisco Dominguez Brito has issued a resolution aimed at ending the practice by some nightspots that deny admission on unclear grounds. He ordered prosecutors to identify locations where there have been complaints of persons being denied admission on grounds of color, race, no pre-established dress code, hairstyle or physical appearance. He said the Prosecutor General Office’s Human Rights Unit would supervise the resolution.
Dominguez Brito said that centers that post signs indicating they reserve the right to admission without specifying the conditions could be prosecuted. He said that owners of restaurants, bars, hotels, discotheques and other recreational centers should remove the signs. Businesses may establish clear dress code rules, according to the Attorney General, but they cannot violate constitutional principles.
In addition, lawyer and councilor for the National District, Julian Roa has announced that he proposes to close the Santo Domingo venue that is being accused of discriminating against dark skinned people.
He said that Article 39 of the Constitution says that everyone is born free and equal as far as the law is concerned, and they should receive the same protection and treatment by institutions, authorities and people and they all have the same rights, freedom and opportunities with no discrimination for reasons of sex, color, age, disability, nationality, family ties, language, religion, political or philosophical views, or social or personal circumstances.
He was referring to a recent complaint by two young women doctors, Jazmin Izquierdo and Yokasta Carmona, who were not allowed to enter the Chismosa restaurant on Av. Gustavo Mejia Ricart in the Piantini neighborhood, and were given no explanation. The two doctors, graduates of the Unibe medical school, said they were formally dressed and were planning to attend their Puerto Rican colleague Anderis Castillo’s birthday party when they were denied admission. They claim they were excluded because of their dark skin.
Roa said that there is a local government resolution that prohibits any form of discrimination in places where there is public access within the National District.
www.hoy.com.do/el-pais/2013/5/15/480544/Propondran-cierre-denegocio-que-impidio-entrada-a-jovenes-por-ser-de-piel
www.diariolibre.com/noticias/2013/05/15/i383760_procuraduria-combatira-discriminacion-lugares-diversion.html