President Luis Abinader was back in Santo Domingo after attending the Trump administration Shield of the Americas Summit in Miami, Florida on 7 March 2026 and made it in time to be present for the 41st edition of the Medal of Merit for Dominican Women. This is the government’s annual event to recognize female leadership and contributions to national development.
During the ceremony held at the National Theater’s Carlos Piantini Hall, 22 women were distinguished for their impact across sectors including science, politics, sports, and community service. The event marked the celebration of International Women’s Day on 8 March 2026 and the Minerva Mirabal centenary. Minerva Mirabal was one of three sisters murdered during the Trujillo dictatorship. The murder served as that last drop of water that filled the glass and motivated the assassination of Dictator Trujillo in 1961.
The 2026 honorees
The 22 medalists represented a diverse cross-section of Dominican talent. Angie Chakira Martínez Tejera, the current Dominican ambassador to South Korea, spoke on behalf of the awardees, expressing that the recognition serves as a powerful motivator to continue serving the country.
Established by Decree 3013-85 in May 1985 during the last administration of the late President Salvador Jorge Blanco, the Medal of Merit event over four decades has placed the spotlight on women driving the Dominican Republic forward. This year saw record interest, with 250 nominations submitted across 22 distinct categories, reflecting the deepening bench of female leadership in the country.
Key category awardees included:
• Science & Technology (STEM): Alba Carolina Vásquez Almonte. She is a 27-year old aspirant to be chosen for the Blue Origin space mission and is recognized for her efforts to inspire Dominican youths through AstroQuisqueya program.
• Journalism: Cleotilde Margarita Cordero Guerrero. Known professionally as Margarita Cordero, she has a vast and storied career, (Diario Libre, 7dias.com.do) and had already won the National Journalism Award in 2015.
• Sports: Yudelina Mejía Peguero. The greatest sports achievement of Yudelina Mejía is becoming the first Dominican weightlifter, regardless of gender, to win a gold medal at a Senior World Weightlifting Championship when she did so at the 2025 Weightlifting World Championship in Norway in October 2025. She won the gold medal (snatch) lifting 122 kg on her third attempt.
• Diplomatic Service: Angie Chakira Martínez Tejera, ambassador in South Korea, former ambassador in Jamaica.
• Politics: Puerto Plata senator Ginette Bournigal
• Business: Luisa Marisela Valdez Aguasvivas. She is recognized for her leadership in establishing Laboratorio Clínico Valdez Aguasvivas as the first clinical laboratory in the Dominican Republic to achieve the ISO-9001 certification (specifically ISO-9001:2000).
• International Achievement: Ertuania Jorge Mencía. Ertuania Jorge Mencía. She is recognized for her extensive work as a community leader and advocate for the Dominican diaspora.
The state also issued special recognitions to figures such as Peggy Cabral and Nuria Sallent Surribas, as well as posthumous honors for human rights defender Zobeyda Alejandrina Cepeda Peña and Enerolisa Núñez.
A posthumous tribute to Minerva Mirabal
The evening’s most prestigious honor, the Grand Recognition, was awarded posthumously to María Argentina Minerva Mirabal. Her daughter, Minou Tavárez Mirabal, accepted the award on her behalf. The ceremony served as a double tribute, as the nation also commemorates the centenary of Minerva Mirabal’s birth this year. Minerva remains a definitive symbol of resistance against the Trujillo dictatorship and a global pillar for freedom and democracy.
Strides in political participation
Minister of Women Gloria Reyes used the platform to encourage more women to get involved in politics. She used the moment to highlight what she described as significant progress in female political representation. She noted that in the 2024 elections, women comprised 43% of all candidates (9,167 individuals), with 1,226 eventually winning office, occupying nearly 49% of elected positions. Gloria Reyes was appointed to the position in January 2026.
Minister Reyes reminded the audience that these gains are historic, considering Dominican women only gained the right to vote 84 years ago. However, she emphasized that challenges remain, particularly regarding general disparities in pay, the need for more women in executive leadership roles and the disproportionate burden of domestic and care work. She also reaffirmed that eradicating violence remains a national priority and a collective societal commitment.
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Presidency
9 March 2026