Thousands marched from Av. Máximo Gómez Avenue east along Av. Mexico and then south passing by the Presidential Palace on the way to the Independence Park in the Colonial City. Among the protestors was one of three daughters of President Luis Abinader, Adriana Margarita.
The March for the Life and Dignity of Girls and Women took place this Sunday, 23 May 2021 to demand that legislators, and President Luis Abinader, approve a Penal Code that includes the three grounds — rape, incest and women’s lives. The three grounds are accepted by all but five countries around the world. The protestors called for Dominican legislators to protect the fundamental rights of more than half of the population.
The manifesto read once the march reached Independence Park called for Dominican women to decide for themselves.
The protestors demand that President Luis Abinader veto the Penal Code if it is passed without the three grounds. Past President Danilo Medina (2012-2020) had vetoed the approval of the Penal Code on three occasions for the same reason.
President Luis Abinader has favored that a referendum be held so that Dominicans can express their stand on the issue. The referendum is contemplated in the Constitution but experts say it cannot rule on fundamental rights. Likewise, Congress has not yet passed the ruling on referendums, and the high cost of a referendum has yet to be explained to the Dominican people.
After the success of the march, the organizers of the protest camp in front of the Presidential Palace announced the camp site would be closed.
23 May 2021