CEJIL voices sorrow and grief at the passing of human rights defender Sonia Pierre

Washington D.C., December 5, 2011.- ‘‘We have lost an extraordinary human being, a human rights defender who never faltered in her fight for equality, even when persecuted and threatened. Sonia Pierre was a tireless defender of the rights of Dominicans of Haitian descent in the Dominican Republic and never gave up her fight against discrimination and violence. She paved the way for future generations of Dominicans to celebrate their cultural heritage without having to deny their right to nationality and equal treatment in their homeland, the Dominican Republic,’’ stated Viviana Krsticevic, Executive Director of the Center for Justice and International Law (CEJIL).

Sonia Pierre was the founder and Executive Director of the Movimiento de Mujeres Dominico-Haitianas (MUDHA) organization, which alongside CEJIL represented victims who had been denied the right to nationality in the Dominican Republic.  She did so at the highest level, including the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights and the Inter-American Court of Human Rights, where she achieved one of the most important precedents in the realm of international law on the recognition of nationality, the protection of children, and the right to education, in the case Yean and Bosico Children v. Dominican Republic. Unfortunately, the Dominican government has not yet fully implemented the Inter-American Court´s decision, which concluded that the migratory status of parents cannot be inherited by their children.

Given the nature of her role as a human rights defender, Sonia Pierre was subjected to constant threats and harassment that endangered her life and that of her family. As a result, the Inter-American Court released a number of precautionary measures demanding the Dominican government protect her life.

Sonia Pierre leaves an invaluable legacy to Dominican society, as she became one of the most internationally-renowned leaders in the defense of the rights of women and ethnic minorities. Today we celebrate her life, grateful for the privilege of having worked by her side in the struggle to eliminate unequal or discriminatory treatment against minorities and vulnerable populations, and pay tribute to her legacy for being a prime example of how human rights defenders can create a more just and equal society.