In an interview with Telemundo Channel 47 in New York City, Vice President Margarita Cedeño confirmed her aspiration to be the ruling PLD presidential candidate for the 2020 general elections. She told the reporters the time has come for a woman to take on the leadership in a country where male politicians dominate.
The Vice President had aspired to be the PLD candidate in the 2016 election. She sees herself as an alternative to those who back President Danilo Medina seeking second reelection and her husband, former President Leonel Fernandez who is a running pre-candidate and seeks a fourth term in office. Cedeño was First Lady from 2004-2008 and 2008-2012, and has served as Vice President under the two terms of President Danilo Medina.
The Vice President was in New York to speak on 11 March 2019 at the open Arria-formula meeting of the UN Security Council’s Women, Peace and Security Agenda. The meeting took place in the midst of the 63rd session of the Commission on the Status of Women that was convened from 11-22 March 2019 at the UN headquarters.
During her presentation, Cedeño urged nations to fight the impunity of gender crimes against women and girls. She called for the drafting of norms to address this discrimination. She says to do so contributes to peace and security. She urged the struggle encompass rape in armed conflict areas and female genital mutilation.
Also participating in the meeting was former President of Chile Michelle Bachelet, UN adjunct secretary general for juridical affairs Miguel Serpa Soares and judge Theodor Meron, president of the International Penal Court of Yugoslavia.
Previously, Cedeño had met with Jose Singer, Dominican ambassador to the United Nations Security Council.
The Vice President also spoke on Tuesday, 12 March 2019 on “Scenarios and Costs for Social and Gender Protection in the Dominican Republic” at the meeting on Social Protection for Gender Equality and Women Empowerment. Proposals for their adequate financing.
On her New York agenda also was a bilateral meeting with former Chilean President Michelle Bachelet at the United Nations and meetings with the Dominican community. She had a scheduled meeting with Phumzile Mlambo, former Vice President of South Africa and executive director of United Nations Women.
She also was scheduled to meet with the regional director for Latin America and the Caribbean for the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), Luis Felipe Lopez. And with the President Kersti Kaljulaid, of Estonia, known for the digitalization of his country. Cedeño seeks collaboration for the 103 Community Technological Centers (CTCs) that run under a program funded by her office.
The Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) is the principal global intergovernmental body exclusively dedicated to the promotion of gender equality and the empowerment of women. A functional commission of the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), it was established by Council resolution in 1946.
Vice President Cedeño is next scheduled to continue on to Panama on 13 March 2019 after accepting an invitation by Vice President and Foreign Minister Isabel de Saint Malo de Alvarado. She will participate in an activity of the secretariat of Secretaría de la Integración Social Centroamericana (SISCA), in a panel sponsored by UN Women, Banistmo Bank, and the InterAmerican Development Bank, and the Mac Gala 2019, a benefit for the Panama Contemporary Arts Museum.
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13 March 2019