The Minister of Women of the Dominican Republic spoke up again on the issue of abortion in the country. At present, an estimated 70,000 abortions are carried out covertly in the country, yet the pressure of religious groups keeps mostly low-income women from receiving adequate medical attention. The Dominican Penal Code is radical and bans abortion without exceptions.
“It is an issue that will always be present because women will never give up the sacred right to have a criminal code that guarantees our human rights,” were the words of Minister of Women Mayra Jimenez when referring to the issue of the three exceptions to abortion, which has returned to the forefront with the ongoing process to replace five judges of the Constitutional Court. A revision of the Penal Code is on hold as legislators fear losing the vote of pro life or pro 3 grounds advocates.
The Minister of Women’s Affairs affirmed that the Dominican Republic needs a Congress that understands that women need a penal code that guarantees the human rights of women and that this is not possible with legislation that does not recognize that we have the power to decide when our lives are at risk.
Jimenez criticized that the Dominican Republic continues to be one of only four countries in the world that does not allow the three grounds for abortion. The exceptions are for incest, rape or when the life of the mother is in danger.
Jimenez made the remarks when attending the forum “Towards a legal frameworks for the protection against violence against women,” held at the Catalonia Hotel in Santo Domingo.
She said that violence against women has declined 10% compared to 2022. The provinces with the highest incidence of violence against women are Greater Santo Domingo, Puerto Plata and San Cristobal. She said that violence against women is a situation that has aggravated over the past two decades.
During the forum, panels were held to discuss topics such as the perspectives and legislative advances in the comprehensive approach to protection systems and violence against women.
Mayra Jimenez made her observations given that the three ground position has been one of the questions presented to the candidates for judge in the Constitutional Court. The abortion debate is again making headlines now that the Constitutional Court is assessing 115 persons for the five positions. The new judges are expected to be announced in December 2023. The National Council of the Magistry will also choose the presiding judge and two substitutes once the five judges are appointed to complete the 13-person court. The appointment of a pro grounds judges could tip the balance in favor of passing the three grounds and enable the country to move ahead on the passing of the revised Penal Code.
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El Caribe
29 November 2023