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Yantie Joseph

WHRD, Doctor
Asociación de Médicos Mixto Internacional (AMNI), Movement for Human Rights Peace and Global Justice (MONDHA)

Yantie Joseph is a woman human rights defender in Haiti and Dominican Republic, a doctor President of the Asociación de Médicos Mixto Internacional (AMNI), and the Director of the Movement for Human Rights Peace and Global Justice (MONDHA). In these roles, her work places emphasis on the protection of Haitian women and girls. For the last five years, Yantie Joseph has led health programs in vulnerable communities in Haiti and Dominican Republic, and has organised campaigns for the prevention of child marriage, gender equality and equity.

Through her role as Director of MONDHA, Yantie Joseph has established alliances with Dominican institutions with the aim of strengthening the network between the Haitian and Dominican Republic populations. By creating these relationships and networks, the woman human rights defender has helped to provide opportunities and protection for Haitian migrants who have been severely affected in the last three years by the crisis in Haiti and mass deportations of Haitians from Dominican Republic.

Dominican Republic

In the Dominican Republic, Haitian descendants are widely seen as second class citizens. In 2010, a new constitution rendered stateless anyone who was born to an undocumented foreign parent. The ruling was implemented retroactively and thousands of people found themselves without valid documents overnight. Since then, many have been living in limbo: they are denied access to education, employment, health services and the right to vote. Human rights defenders who advocate for the rights of Haitian descendants have been subjected to threats, smear campaigns and attacks.