The Chamber of Deputies has approved, in its first reading, the proposed Civil Code of the Dominican Republic, submitted by the Justice commission.
Speaking yesterday Tuesday 12 March the president of the justice commission, Demostenes Martinez, said that this legislation would take account of the new reality of the country, and that it includes significant changes linked to the socio-political reality of the country, while still adhering to the traditions.
The innovations include the rights to a private life, rights of images and physical integrity, none of which were in the original French Code.
It also includes marriage, in that civil marriage is to be seen as an equivalent to canonical marriage, and incorporates the recognition of other religious marriages, not only Catholic. It also includes the rights of partners and states that children born outside marriage will have inheritance rights.
Martinez said that the Civil Code has been in existence in the country for 209 years and has more than 500 articles, each one of which has been checked and modified.