Dominican Republic held responsible for extrajudicial killings

The Dominican Republic has been held internationally responsible for extrajudicial killings carried out by state security forces. This legal determination follows patterns of law enforcement killing suspected criminals during alleged shootouts, a practice that has resulted in more than one death per day.

In 2026, deaths attributed to these practices have exceeded 200 people. According to Manuel María Mercedes, representative of the Human Rights Commission in the Dominican Republic, 31 deaths were recorded in September alone.

The Inter-American Court of Human Rights previously ruled in 2012 in the case of Nadege Dorzema and others against the Dominican Republic, finding the state in violation of human rights. That specific case originated from actions taken during the management of Haitian migration, involving incidents that occurred in the year 2000.