A/HRC/13/3 economy is six times larger than the Haitian economy. There is a situation where the population of the country with a lower level of development has to move towards the country where the economic level is better; this is a universal phenomenon. The Dominican Republic does not encourage immigration towards its territory. Documented migrant workers come voluntarily into the Dominican Republic. In 2008, the Dominican Republic issued 76,000 visas to Haitians visitors. This figure is higher than the total number of visas issued by the United States of America and the European Union to Haitians citizens in the same year. The fact is that when these migrant workers come to the Dominican Republic they find themselves in a situation where more than 40 per cent of the people are living below the poverty line as defined by the United Nations. An effort is being made; more than 13 per cent of the budget of the Ministry of Health is allocated to the care of Haitian nationals residing in the Dominican Republic. In fact, the Dominican Republic is one of the countries that provide major assistance to Haiti, in terms of health and education assistance to Haitian nationals residing in the country. 49. It is also important to highlight that the Dominican Republic has taken measures, interpreted by some as being restrictive, concerning the recognition of the rights of the Haitian people and the civil registry system. The system in the Dominican Republic has had shortcomings in the past, which the Central Electoral Board (CEB) has tried to correct. For example, the Dominican Republic has put forward a resolution aimed at detecting documents that are falsified. As of 2007, 2,416 false identity documents had been identified, of which only 72, or 3 per cent, corresponded to nationals of Haiti. The measures taken by CEB are general measures in their nature and do not target any segment of the population in particular. 50. Switzerland applauded the long consultation process involved in the drafting of the report. Switzerland noted with concern that despite the fact that freedom of expression is enshrined in the Constitution, there are allegations of intimidation of journalists and human rights defenders and these actions are on the rise. With regard to violence against women, Switzerland took note of the willingness expressed by national authorities to eradicate this phenomenon and to adopt a national plan for equality. However, physical violence against women has increased drastically in recent years. Domestic violence has reached point where the media speak of it with horror. Switzerland made recommendations. 51. Venezuela commended the efforts made by the Interagency Commission on Human Rights. Venezuela recognized the actions undertaken by the Dominican Republic to ensure the right to education, which was given highest priority in the Dominican annual budget. Venezuela particularly praised the high enrolment rate in the school system in the Dominican Republic. It welcomed the positive prospects of the ten-year plan for all educational levels. Venezuela made recommendations. 52. While recalling the rate of population living below the poverty line, Azerbaijan commended the national measures taken by the Government to reduce poverty and food insecurity, especially the Solidarity Programme. Showing understanding with the huge immigration flow the state is facing, Azerbaijan praised the will of the Dominican Republic to accede to ICRMW. Azerbaijan made recommendations. 53. The United States noted the Government’s nationwide efforts to improve civil registration access and procedures. It remained concerned however by the major barriers Dominicans of Haitian descent faced in establishing their citizenship. Dominicans who lacked citizenship or identity documents faced obstacles in travelling both within and outside of country. In addition, persons who were undocumented could not obtain a national identification card or a voting card. Those without a national identification card had limited access to formal-sector jobs, public higher education, marriage and birth registration, formal-economy services such as banks and loans, courts and judicial procedures and ownership of land or property. The United States made recommendations. 9