138 | Report on the Situation of Human Rights in the Dominican Republic and 16 percent black, which suggests that almost 90 percent of the population is dark-skinned.”317 335. The data collected during the visit indicates that the dominant perception among most Dominicans is that their mulatto skin tones distinguish them from the darkerskinned Dominicans and Haitians. 318 The widespread phenotypic perception in the Dominican Republic is that persons of Haitian origin are black with broad noses and black, generally short, frizzy hair, which is known as “bad hair.” 336. At the meetings during the visit and at the hearings before the IACHR, 319 the authorities emphatically denied the existence of racism and racial and ethnic discrimination in the Dominican Republic. Several authorities said that Haitians were fully integrated in the country, to the extent that some authorities said that their level of integration was such that people of Haitian origin worked for them, either as drivers, security guards, gardeners, or household help. Regarding this, the Commission observes that these jobs are usually associated with low incomes and a lower social stratum. Likewise, the authorities said that judgment TC/0168/13 did not have a discriminatory impact on persons of Haitian origin since it applied across the board to all children of undocumented migrants in transit. 337. For its part, the information the Commission received directly from persons it met with in Santo Domingo, as well as from the bateyes and border areas, showed the segregation and marginalization to which Dominicans of Haitian descent and Haitian migrants were subjected, as well as the tension and abuse they faced because of their own or their families’ national origin, the color of their skin, their phenotypic traits, or their linguistic ability to speak Spanish. 338. As regards discrimination in access to nationality, the information gathered during the visit enabled the IACHR to systematize the most frequent problems faced by those affected in trying to obtain Dominican identity documents, with the different types of differentiated treatment identified as follows: • • 317 318 319 Haitian migrant couples who were discriminated against when trying to register their children’s births. Consequently, their children who were born on Dominican soil never obtained a birth certificate and lack any form of identity documents. Dominicans of Haitian descent with valid Dominican identity documents who were discriminated against when registering their children’s births. As a result, their children were not issued Dominican birth certificates and do not have any identity documents. IACHR, Thematic Hearing “Racial Discrimination in the Dominican Republic.” 127th period of sessions, March 2, 2007. See: United Nations Human Rights Council, Report of the Special Rapporteur on contemporary forms of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance, Doudou Diène, and the independent expert on minority issues, Gay McDougall: Addendum: Mission to Dominican Republic. March 18, 2008, A/HRC/7/19/Add.5; A/HRC/7/23/Add.3, p. 2. IACHR, Thematic Hearing “Racial Discrimination in the Dominican Republic.” 127th period of sessions, March 2, 2007; IACHR, Thematic Hearing “The Constitution and the Right to Nationality in the Dominican Republic.” 140th period of sessions, October 28, 2010. Organization of American States | OAS