Police reform under the Abinader administration has brought with it an increase in the interest of women joining the force. President Luis Abinader seems to think so as he appointed a woman to be his Minister of Interior and Police. The Ministry of Interior and Police heads the program to transform the Police. Several leading academicians have been appointed to key roles in the program.
Minister of Interior and Police Faride Raful last week announced a significant surge in interest among young women for careers in the National Police, citing the development as proof of the institution’s increasingly inclusive transformation process, Diario Libre reports.
Speaking at a launch event for auxiliary police officers in Santo Domingo Este, Raful revealed that more than 15,000 young women have applied to join the force.
This massive interest comes despite an initial call for only 2,000 new cadet slots, which separately drew 6,000 young applicants in addition to the 15,000 women.
“This means we are transforming the Police,” Raful stated. “It means we are being more inclusive, more participatory, and that we are honestly taking on the work of this police reform that our President has so strongly desired.”
The Minister stressed that this transformation is aimed at building a force that citizens can trust. “Many dignified, hardworking, and educated men and women are laboring every day to guarantee citizen security,” she added.
Raful also highlighted the recent output from the auxiliary police program, noting that more than 1,300 young people have been trained this year to provide essential street-level authority and assistance in parks and public spaces.
The Minister underscored the broader benefits of a successful police reform and increased public safety.
“With this, not only the President or the government wins, but the country wins because a safer country guarantees everything for all of us,” Raful asserted. She argued that enhanced security leads to “more tourism, more development, more job opportunities, more security, more spaces to enjoy our healthy leisure, play basketball, do ballet, do public painting. That is security, and that is what we want to achieve.”
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Diario Libre
6 October 2025