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Feminists protest Penal Code changes
Women's groups protested outside Congress yesterday, Thursday 15 November demanding changes to the Penal Code bill passed in a first reading by the Chamber of Deputies. The Chamber of Deputies Justice Commission is currently reviewing the codes. The items being questioned by the women's groups include a modification to the Penal Code that penalizes even therapeutic abortion with a jail sentence. The recent case of a young girl who required chemotherapy but was refused the life-saving treatment by doctors because she was pregnant is one example of the absurdity of the provisions in the Penal Code. Former Vice President Milagros Ortiz Bosch and leading women's rights campaigners like Sergia Galvan took part in the protest. The deputies have also changed the present Penal Code to reduce the charges for sex abuse of minors. In the past several legislators have been accused of having sex with minors.
Dozens of protestors dressed in black and with symbolic coffins protested outside Congress on Thursday, 15 November. They object to the approval in a first reading to reduce penalties for violence against women. "Here lie women's rights that are victims of the Penal Code," said one of the coffins carried by the protestors. Women's groups say that the revision to the Penal Code would cover up for cases where minors are taken from the parental home for sexual relationships by reducing the maximum jail sentence to three years, putting it on a par with "simple robbery." At present, the penalty for having sex with a minor, even when it is a consensual relationship, is five years in jail, but this could be increased depending on the circumstances. Two legislators were recently processed for having sexual relations with minors.
Colectiva Mujer y Salud coordinator Sergia Galvan said that the changes approved also reduce penalties for violence against women by narrowing the definition of domestic violence that has been categorized as a crime since 1997. The changes also mean that domestic violence will only be treated as a serious crime when the victim dies or is incapacitated. At present the legislation penalizes physical aggression, psychological aggression, verbal aggression, intimidation and persecution with five years in jail even if there is no death. Galvan stressed that the number of murders of women by their spouses has increased in recent years. The Attorney General Office said that in 2011 there were 230 femicides, the highest number since 2005. As of the beginning of October, 150 women had been murdered by their spouses in 2012.
Lorena Espinoza, also of Colectiva Mujer y Salud, said that the legislators have also approved a reduction of penalties for incest with minors. The bill in place establishes a maximum penalty.
The bill needs to be approved in a second reading before passing to the Senate
Demostenes Martinez, president of the Justice Commission defended the Penal Code revisions saying that it was the result of 12 years of debate with different sectors of Dominican society.
Vice President Margarita Cedeno reportedly sent a Twitter message @margaritcedf that she would ask President Medina to veto the changes to the Penal Code.
Vicepresidenta asegura pedir? al Presidente?Medina vetar el C?digo Penal - Hoy Digital
Feministas protestan contra reducci?n de sanciones a agresores de mujeres - Hoy Digital
Feministas protestan contra reducci?n de sanciones a agresores de mujeres - Hoy Digital
Feminists protest Penal Code changes
Women's groups protested outside Congress yesterday, Thursday 15 November demanding changes to the Penal Code bill passed in a first reading by the Chamber of Deputies. The Chamber of Deputies Justice Commission is currently reviewing the codes. The items being questioned by the women's groups include a modification to the Penal Code that penalizes even therapeutic abortion with a jail sentence. The recent case of a young girl who required chemotherapy but was refused the life-saving treatment by doctors because she was pregnant is one example of the absurdity of the provisions in the Penal Code. Former Vice President Milagros Ortiz Bosch and leading women's rights campaigners like Sergia Galvan took part in the protest. The deputies have also changed the present Penal Code to reduce the charges for sex abuse of minors. In the past several legislators have been accused of having sex with minors.
Dozens of protestors dressed in black and with symbolic coffins protested outside Congress on Thursday, 15 November. They object to the approval in a first reading to reduce penalties for violence against women. "Here lie women's rights that are victims of the Penal Code," said one of the coffins carried by the protestors. Women's groups say that the revision to the Penal Code would cover up for cases where minors are taken from the parental home for sexual relationships by reducing the maximum jail sentence to three years, putting it on a par with "simple robbery." At present, the penalty for having sex with a minor, even when it is a consensual relationship, is five years in jail, but this could be increased depending on the circumstances. Two legislators were recently processed for having sexual relations with minors.
Colectiva Mujer y Salud coordinator Sergia Galvan said that the changes approved also reduce penalties for violence against women by narrowing the definition of domestic violence that has been categorized as a crime since 1997. The changes also mean that domestic violence will only be treated as a serious crime when the victim dies or is incapacitated. At present the legislation penalizes physical aggression, psychological aggression, verbal aggression, intimidation and persecution with five years in jail even if there is no death. Galvan stressed that the number of murders of women by their spouses has increased in recent years. The Attorney General Office said that in 2011 there were 230 femicides, the highest number since 2005. As of the beginning of October, 150 women had been murdered by their spouses in 2012.
Lorena Espinoza, also of Colectiva Mujer y Salud, said that the legislators have also approved a reduction of penalties for incest with minors. The bill in place establishes a maximum penalty.
The bill needs to be approved in a second reading before passing to the Senate
Demostenes Martinez, president of the Justice Commission defended the Penal Code revisions saying that it was the result of 12 years of debate with different sectors of Dominican society.
Vice President Margarita Cedeno reportedly sent a Twitter message @margaritcedf that she would ask President Medina to veto the changes to the Penal Code.
Vicepresidenta asegura pedir? al Presidente?Medina vetar el C?digo Penal - Hoy Digital
Feministas protestan contra reducci?n de sanciones a agresores de mujeres - Hoy Digital
Feministas protestan contra reducci?n de sanciones a agresores de mujeres - Hoy Digital
