Mrs. Robert F. Kennedy and The Board of Directors
of the Robert F. Kennedy Memorial
INVITE YOU TO HONOR
Sonia Pierre, OF THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC
AT THE PRESENTATION OF THE
23rd Annual Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights Award
WITH SPECIAL GUESTS
The Honorable Edward M. Kennedy
Kerry Kennedy
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 17, 2006 • 10:30AM
CAUCUS ROOM • US SENATE
WASHINGTON, DC
More on the 2006 Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights
Award Winner:
Sonia Pierre serves as the Director of the Movement
for Dominican Women of Haitian Descent (MUDHA).
Under Sonia's leadership, MUDHA has become a driving
force for change to protect the rights of the
Dominican Republic's Haitian immigrants and their
descendants and to empower women and children facing
human rights violations.
Sonia grew up in one of the country's migrant worker
camps, called a batey. Her family left Haiti in
search of economic opportunity working in the
state-owned sugarcane fields of the Dominican
Republic. In 1976 at the age of 13, Sonia began
working on human rights issues.
Dominicans of Haitian descent, though they may come
from families that have lived in the country for
generations, are often denied their constitutional
right to citizenship and the necessary documents for
a legal identity. Many Dominicans of Haitian descent
remain virtually stateless and are deprived of
rights to education, adequate housing, water and
other fundamental human rights. Sonia has become a
vocal leader against such policies and practices.
The Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights Award was
established in 1968 to honor creative individuals
from around the world who have dedicated their lives
to overcoming serious human rights violations. The
RFK Center for Human Rights engages in partnerships
with our laureates to help them achieve the change
they are seeking.