The Ministry of Women’s position is that the absolute penalization of abortion creates a serious social problem, one of public health and violence against women. Women’s Minister Mayra Jiménez joined supporters of exceptions being left up to physicians and patients to decide. Jiménez said the present absolute ban on abortion fundamentally affects poor women, those in high vulnerability and subject to gender violence. She backed the recent statement by President Luis Abinader in an interview with El Pais that he favors the three exceptions to the absolute ban on abortion. These are when the woman’s life is in danger, in the case of rape and invest and when there is a fetal malformation incompatible with the life of the fetus.
“President Luis Abinader Corona is committed to a government of change, which begins by responding to the problems in a context of institutionality and respect for the rights and health of women, without delay. There is enough evidence that the absolute criminalization of abortion does not reduce its occurrence. This is why the highest rates are precisely in the countries with more restrictive laws, as is our case”, pointed out Mayra Jiménez, Minister of Women, in an official statement.
According to the Ministry of Women, each year approximately 25,000 women, adolescents and girls are treated for complications related to spontaneous or induced abortions, causing between 8% and 13% of maternal deaths. The data is from the Ministry of Public Health.
“We are facing a problem of health and rights. As a government, we must assume the responsibility to answer, not to continue postponing the decision,” added Jiménez. She said a public opinion poll conducted in June 2018 revealed that 79% of people surveyed consider that abortion should not be criminalized when the life or health of the woman is at risk, 76% when the pregnancy is not viable and 67% when the pregnancy is the result of rape or incest.
The Ministry of Women understands that the government at all levels must focus on working to ensure universal access to modern contraceptive methods, education in comprehensive health, promoting a culture of responsible parenthood and working to promote public policies to eliminate child marriage and early marriages, prevent teenage pregnancies, and strengthen social protection for pregnant women and early childhood care.
The incorporation of the exception clauses is seen by conservative religious sectors as a way to give green light to abortions in the Dominican Republic.
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Ministry of Women
28 December 2020