“We Cannot Be Silent: A Call for Justice and Dignity for Haitians in the Dominican Republic”
An Open Letter in the Spirit of Émile Saint-Lot
To: The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights
Member States of the United Nations
From: Pierre Richard Raymond, Human Rights Advocate
In the Spirit of Émile Saint-Lot, Haitian Signatory of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights
Haiti’s First Permanent Representative to the United Nations
Esteemed Members of the International Community,
With a heart heavy with sorrow and a voice fortified by history, I rise once again—not from a seat in the United Nations chamber, but through the enduring conscience of humankind. I speak today not as a figure of the past, but as a reminder of Haiti’s unwavering commitment to the principles enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR), principles to which I dedicated my life, and which are being egregiously violated against my own people in the Dominican Republic.
I denounce, unequivocally and with urgency, the systematic human rights violations perpetrated by Dominican authorities and police forces against Haitian nationals and those of Haitian descent. These violations defy the UDHR, an instrument to which the Dominican Republic is a signatory.
1. The Right to Life (Article 3)
Too many Haitians are dying—not by natural causes, but from state-sanctioned neglect, abuse, and violence. Consider the case of Yvens Michel, a 26-year-old Haitian construction worker, who died under suspicious circumstances while in the custody of Dominican police. His body was returned with visible signs of blunt trauma. No transparent investigation followed. His death, like many others, goes unacknowledged, unpunished, and unspoken.
To deny someone their life is to deny their humanity.
2. Freedom from Torture and Inhuman Treatment (Article 5)
Reports abound of Haitian detainees being held in overcrowded, unsanitary detention centers, suffering beatings, verbal abuse, and degrading conditions.
One such victim, Marie-Louise Paul, a pregnant Haitian woman, was beaten by officers while trying to retrieve her identification documents. She lost her baby in custody and was deported without access to medical care. These actions echo the darkest chapters of history—of brutality cloaked in law, of cruelty justified by nationalism.
To torture the vulnerable is to shame the very idea of civilization.
3. Freedom from Arbitrary Arrest and Deportation (Article 9)
Every day, hundreds of Haitians are rounded up—many without due process, identity verification, or legal counsel. Children born in the Dominican Republic, who know no other land, are being deported to a country they have never seen. Families are separated. Lives shattered.
Take the case of Jean-Baptiste Elie, a father of three, born and raised in the Dominican Republic. He was arrested outside his workplace, denied the chance to contact his family, and deported within 24 hours—his wife and children left without any support or legal recourse.
To deport without justice is to erase lives without consequence.
A Plea to the United Nations and the Global Community
The UDHR was not written to be an ideal on paper. It was born of the ashes of war and oppression. I, Émile Saint-Lot, cast my vote to ensure these rights extended to all peoples—especially the most vulnerable.
Today, I ask the United Nations to honor that promise:
- Launch an immediate investigation into human rights violations against Haitians in the Dominican Republic.
- Pressure the Dominican government to halt arbitrary arrests and mass deportations.
- Deploy humanitarian observers to monitor the treatment of Haitian detainees.
- Support civil society groups that document abuses and offer legal aid to victims.
To the Dominican Government
You are stewards of a beautiful, sovereign nation—rich in culture and history. But sovereignty must never be used as a shield for injustice. I urge you: Cease these atrocities. Dignity knows no border. Humanity knows no passport.
My Final Word, As a Haitian and a Human
When I sat at the table that birthed the UDHR, I believed that our world could rise above hate, above division. That we could remember what it means to belong to each other. Haiti, the first Black republic, once opened its arms to exiles and freedom seekers. Today, we ask the world to do the same for our sons and daughters.
We Haitians are not invaders. We are survivors. We are builders. We are your neighbors. We are human.
Let the world not be silent. Let justice not be delayed.
With unwavering resolve,
Pierre Richard Raymond, Human Rights Advocate Émile Saint-Lot
(As voiced through the Haitian conscience)
