The Chamber of Deputies received 143 proposals for amendments of the Penal Code that recently passed in the Senate. The Chamber of Deputies also held a public hearing for citizens to air their viewpoints on the bill’s 419 articles. President of the Chamber of Deputies, Alfredo Pacheco (PRM-National District) led the passing of a first reading without the actual reading, sending the bill to a special committee that is reviewing the proposals received and the bill received from the Senate. Pacheco expects the bill to return to the floor in time for the 25 July 2024 deadline, when the legislature closes.
Alexis Jimenez (PRM-Santo Domingo province), who presides the Penal Code Special Committee, said that 19 deputies, including six women, are serving in the review committee.
The Senate bill excludes the three grounds for abortion – rape, incest and non-viable fetus or great danger to the mother. Public demonstrations were held in many places including Santiago de los Caballeros and in several of the municipalities of Greater Santo Domingo.
On Tuesday, 16 July, the Dominican Medical Association (CMD), came out in agreement with those who advocate for the including of the three exceptions for abortion. CMD president Waldo Ariel Suero said that in situations where there is risk for the mother or a badly formed fetus, the mother in consultation with her doctor should have the opportunity to decide what happens. According to N Digital, Suero said that “to force a woman to continue a pregnancy that has no possibility of being born, healthy, is a psychological and physical form of torture.”
Read more in Spanish:
El Caribe
Listin Diario
Diario Libre
N Digital
17 July 2024