President Luis Abinader dedicated time on Tuesday, 22 September to call for increased awareness on femicides. He called for all to join the government in a renewed effort to end this national tragedy. He announced the installation of 12 new shelters and the renovation of three others. He announced women in conditions of social and economic vulnerability that have been victims of gender violence will receive the assistance of RD$10,000 a month.
The Abinader administration focuses on preventing, caring, respecting the rights of the victims and penalizing violence against women, as it takes firm steps to implement new programs. The new programs to be developed contemplate a commitment to zero tolerance to violence against women. Abinader said violence against women here is a manifestation of the macho culture.
President Abinader spoke about government efforts to strengthen and expand the mechanisms responsible for responding to violence against women to ensure their lives and those of their children.
He announced a forthcoming media campaign to prevent and combat feminicides and gender violence in all its manifestations.
He said a Council of Ministers is scheduled for 25 November, the Day of Non-Violence Against Women to approve new policies against gender violence and femicides.
He promised that he will submit a bill within a month to eliminate underage marriage to Congress. AlPais deputy Jose Horacio Rodríguez has introduced a first bill to ban child marriage.
Women Minister Mayra Jiménez assured that 68% of women have been victims of violence throughout their life cycle. The country is among the first seven in the Latin American region with the highest rates of femicides.
Jimenez revealed that in the first seven months of this year, there were 27,157 reports of violence against women.
She lamented that the indicators place the Dominican Republic in a critical situation that requires an urgent response. She said the Ministry of Women is working on the problem from a comprehensive perspective.
Also present for the announcements were: First Lady Raquel Arbaje, Vice President Raquel Peña, Youth Minister Kimberly Taveras, Economy Minister Miguel Ceara Hatton, and Milagros Germán, Presidency Communications director.
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Presidency
23 September 2020