Senator Ramon Rogelio Genao announced new amendments to the Penal Code bill. Genao had made headlines for defending the amendment introduced during the Dominicus beach resort work session that set much reduced penalties for marital rape.
An uproar primarily among women led the legislators to do an about-face. Genao had defended the lenient charges saying there was a big difference between rape and forced sexual relations between spouses. Genao announced that those found guilty of marital rape would be subject to the previous penalties. Law 24-97 had established a penalty of 10 to 20 years for any kind of sexual violation.
Meanwhile, local media shared the video in which ruling party La Romana deputy Eugenio Cedeño (PRM) argues to remove the penalties for marital rape from the Penal Code. It is now said that Cedeño was the source for the past reduction in penalties for marital rape.
Read more in Spanish:
Hoy
El Caribe
Law 24-97
YouTube – Eugenio Cedeño
Hoy
21 October 2021