E/CN.4/2001/83 page 21 information that only 5 per cent of immigrants from Haiti in the Dominican Republic have identity documents. The Special Rapporteur therefore drew the Government’s attention to the vulnerability of the workers and their families. 86. The lack of documentation places immigrants in a very vulnerable position which prevents them from reporting the abuses to which they claim to be subjected. The Special Rapporteur requested the Government of the Dominican Republic to send her information on the measures taken to improve the situation of the immigrants from Haiti working in the Dominican Republic. 87. In a letter dated 13 December, the Government of the Dominican Republic sent the Special Rapporteur information on the Protocol between the Dominican Republic and the Republic of Haiti on Repatriation Mechanisms and the text of the declaration between the two countries on conditions for the employment of their nationals. In its communication, the Government of the Dominican Republic reports that the President of the Republic, Mr. Hipólito Mejía, is aware of the complexity of the issue and is committed to doing everything possible to help find a solution and that the Head of State has expressed his Government’s intention to continue an open and respectful dialogue with the Haitian authorities, mainly through the Dominican-Haitian Mixed Bilateral Commission, in order to reach agreements and formulate joint projects to improve the standard of living of both peoples. An objective assessment of the number of foreign citizens in the country has been called for. The Government reports that it has contacted experts from the International Organization for Migration (IOM) for the purpose of carrying out the survey, which will provide accurate data on the numbers of Haitian citizens in the Dominican Republic. It may be noted that, among other measures, the Supreme Court of Justice has decided that illegal workers employed in the sugar cane industry and claiming the benefits to which they are entitled are exempted from having to pay a security for costs, which is usually required at any stage in the proceedings from foreign citizens bringing an action in the Dominican courts. This measure has been taken to ensure conditions of equality in the workplace. C. Visits 88. The Special Rapporteur received invitations from the Canadian and Mexican Governments to visit their countries. She visited Canada from 17 to 30 September 2000. The report on the visit is contained in an addendum to the present document (E/CN.4/2001/83/Add.1) 89. In a letter dated 15 May 2000, the Special Rapporteur thanked the Mexican Government for its kind invitation, dated 28 April 2000, to carry out a mission to analyse the question of migrants who cross the border with the United States of America. The Special Rapporteur informed the Mexican Government that she was particularly concerned about the situation of migrants in the border area between Sonora (Mexico) and Arizona (United States), to which the invitation refers, and that she was closely following developments there. She said that her concern extended to other parts of the territory and that, in order to analyse the problem from all points of view referred to in her mandate, she would be interested in extending her future visit to other areas, as well as to the southern border. She accepted the invitation and intends to visit the country in early 2001.