The Dominican Republic’s top judicial official, Supreme Court Chief Justice Luis Henry Molina, sounded the alarm over the nation’s high rates of domestic violence, stating that laws alone are insufficient to solve what he termed a “grave problem,” as reported in Hoy.
Molina affirmed, underscoring that the fight against violence extends far beyond the courtroom and requires decisive action from the family, school, community, media, and society at large.
Speaking at an event marking the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, Chief Justice Molina revealed that a staggering 55% of all new criminal cases entering the justice system are related to violence. Of these, 36% are specifically classified as gender and domestic violence.
The event was organized by the Judicial Branch’s Gender Equality Commission, coordinated by Magistrate Nancy Salcedo and featured guest speakers from Puerto Rico: Judge Raiza Cajiga and Dr. Elithet Silva Martínez.
“Violence against women is a manifestation of inequality and a violation of human rights; it is a wound that cuts across generations, demanding a firm, humane, and constant response from the state and the justice system in particular,” Molina stated, urging a transition from mere promises to tangible actions.
While acknowledging the country’s progress, including the enactment of Law 24-97 and the inclusion of gender and domestic violence crimes in the Penal Code, Molina insisted that these legislative steps are not enough due to a deeply rooted cultural problem.
“No country that considers itself democratic can achieve full stability and development if violence against women is normalized in its culture,” he warned. “Until laws are enforced in daily life, they are only a promise.”
Judiciary ramps up response
Chief Justice Molina affirmed that the Judicial Branch (PJ) is fulfilling its role by implementing significant improvements. He highlighted a 72% reduction in the response time for protection orders—from 12 hours down to just three.
Other improvements include constant training for staff on gender perspective and human rights, digitizing processes, and an enhanced early warning system.
However, Molina stressed that the fight against this scourge “neither begins nor ends in the courts.” He advocated for the commemorative act to be more than a symbolic remembrance of the Mirabal sisters, but rather a “seal of a living and firm pact between institutions and citizens, for life, for equality, and for peace, assuming the individual responsibility to end misogynistic violence.”
Supreme Court of Justice presiding judge emphasized that these figures are not merely statistics but serve as a crucial “map” that allows the judiciary to quantify the magnitude of the problem. This “map,” he noted, facilitates informed decision-making and the execution of constant actions to improve justice services.
Molina stressed: “Each of us has the responsibility to educate to prevent, to challenge the cultural patterns that have normalized violence, and to break the silence when any form of mistreatment occurs.”
Read more in Spanish:
Hoy
Listin Diario
El Caribe
26 November 2025