Unicef is warning that the Dominican Republic’s draft Penal Code under study in the Chamber of Deputies endorses child abuse at home. The United Nations Children’s Fund (Unicef) office in the Dominican Republic has raised concerns about a provision in the draft Penal Code that suggests that violence against children and adolescents in the home is permissible as long as it is not a pattern and is not repeated, Diario Libre reports.
During his participation in the public hearings on the controversial bill last week, the Unicef director in the DR called for the protection of children’s integrity in all aspects.
“We understand that the Special Committee studying the draft Penal Code of the Dominican Republic has a recognized interest, openness, and commitment to addressing issues of protection of the rights of girls, boys, and adolescents in the country, a nation that has ratified the Convention on the Rights of the Child on two occasions. This was demonstrated by the invitation to public hearings that the Commission made to society, our organization being one of the entities invited to participate in this meeting,” expressed Anyoli Sanabria, Unicef deputy representative.
Unicef called for ensuring compatibility between Article 19 of the Convention on the Rights of the Child and the Penal Code since the article urges signatory states to use all their efforts to protect girls, boys, and adolescents from all forms of violence.
The organization’s concerns highlight the potential for the draft Penal Code to undermine child protection efforts in the Dominican Republic. Unicef’s recommendations provide a valuable framework for ensuring that the new code aligns with international human rights standards and protects the well-being of all children.
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Diario Libre
Diario Libre
22 July 2024