II. Recommendations made to the Dominican Republic under the First and Second Cycles of the Universal Periodic Review 3. The right to a nationality, statelessness, and the Dominican Republic’s non-compliance with its international obligations have been sources of concern during the country’s reviews in previous UPR cycles. The Dominican Republic was subject to review under the first cycle of the UPR on December 1, 2009, and subsequently under the second cycle on February 5, 2014. 4. During the interactive dialogue at the Dominican Republic’s first review at the Thirteenth Session of the First Cycle in 2009, many States expressed concern about the discrimination faced by individuals of Haitian descent. Bosnia and Herzegovina inquired about the General Law on Migration’s effect on vulnerable groups including Dominicans of Haitian descent; Canada noted reports of discriminatory denial of the right to a nationality for Dominicans of Haitian descent; the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland emphasized the importance of equality in access to healthcare, education and freedom of movement for Dominicans of Haitian descent; and the United States expressed concern about the barriers faced by Dominicans of Haitian descent in establishing their citizenship and the resulting impact this has on their opportunities for employment, education, marriage, and land ownership, as well as their access to judicial and financial services.4 Three States made five recommendations to the Dominican Republic regarding statelessness, the right to a nationality, and citizenship5 (see Appendix A). 5. In response to these recommendations, the Dominican Republic accepted Canada’s recommendation to accede to the two UN Statelessness Conventions, but did not accept any other recommendations, including several which related directly to the discriminatory treatment and deprivation of nationality for Dominicans of Haitian descent.6 6. During the interactive dialogue at the Dominican Republic’s second review at the Twenty-Sixth Session of the Second Cycle in 2014, 16 States expressed concern regarding the restrictive interpretation of nationality laws following a 2013 Constitutional Court ruling, the disproportionate impact this decision had on Dominicans of Haitian descent, and the ensuing risk of statelessness for those born in the Dominican Republic.7 During the second cycle, 20 States made 26 recommendations regarding statelessness, the State’s obligations to respect the right to a nationality for all, the issuance of identity documents without discrimination, and the prevention 4 General Assembly. Draft Report of the Working Group on the Universal Periodic Review: Dominican Republic. A/HRC/WG.6/6/L.2 (3 December 2009) https://www.uprinfo.org/sites/default/files/document/dominican_republic/session_06__november_2009/a_hrc_wg.6_6_l.2_dominican_republic.pdf. Paragraphs 36, 39, 53 and 66. 5 General Assembly. Report of the Working Group on the Universal Periodic Review: Dominican Republic. A/HRC/13/3 (4 January 2010) https://www.upr-info.org/sites/default/files/document/dominican_republic/session_6__november_2009/ahrc133dominicanrepublice.pdf. 6 UPR Info. Responses to Recommendations: Dominican Republic. Dominican Republic’s responses to recommendations (as of 01.04.2010) https://www.upr-info.org/sites/default/files/document/dominican_republic/session_6__november_2009/recommendationstodominicanrepublic2009.pdf. 88.11, 89.1, 89.2, 89.4 and 89.5. 7 General Assembly. Report of the Working Group on the Universal Periodic Review: Dominican Republic. A/HRC/26/15. (4 April 2014) https://www.upr-info.org/sites/default/files/document/dominican_republic/session_18__january_2014/a_hrc_26_15_e.pdf. Paragraphs 45, 50, 52, 54, 56, 57, 58, 59, 64, 65, 68, 79, 80, 83, 84 and 85. 3