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SANTO DOMINGO (AP) — What are you thinking? Activists Who requested Decriminalization of abortion In the Dominican Republic, this is worrisome.
After the Senate approved for the first time in late June a draft criminal code retaining a comprehensive ban on termination of pregnancy, dozens of people took to the streets on Wednesday to demand the protection of the rights of women, children and LGBTQ people, including – according to Various human rights organizations — may be violated by changes made to the documentation.
“We continue to fight,” prominent Dominican activist Sergia Galván said before the protest.
For decades, Galván and other feminists have called for abortion to be legalized for three reasons: when a woman’s life is in danger, when the pregnancy is the product of rape or incest, and when the fetus has a deformity that is incompatible with life.
The Dominican Republic is one of four Latin American countries that criminalizes abortion without exception. The current penal code provides that anyone who performs an abortion faces up to two years in prison. For doctors, midwives or nurses, the penalty ranges from five to 20 years in prison.
Dominican President Luis Abinader He was re-elected last May.Said he was willing to support decriminalization during both presidential campaigns, but he did not voice his support again after winning both elections.
Galvan said: “Women’s groups met with him and he said he agreed with the three objectives and that he would work to get his party a favorable position, which is really a deception of the citizens and women and the people.”
Galván and other members of local and international organizations have decried the consequences of an absolute ban on abortion. About 30 percent of adolescent girls lack access to contraception, there is no comprehensive secular sex education, seven in ten women are subject to gender-based violence such as incest, child marriage and sexual exploitation, and poverty levels increase the risk of an unwanted pregnancy.
“We want a code that respects women and girls, allows them to make their own decisions, respects the profession and standards of doctors to decide whether to have an abortion, but we also want a code that sanctions impunity and deep corruption” Minority Leader Nicole Pichardo said at the protest: “The future lies with many young people.”
In addition to decriminalization, organizations such as Human Rights Watch They warned that the draft criminal code would bring more violations to the LGBTQ community by reducing penalties for sexual violence within marriage and excluding sexual orientation from the list of characteristics exempt from discrimination.
“We are here, in front of the president of the Dominican Republic, because the penal code approved by the senators and about to be approved by the representatives does not represent us,” added Rosalba Díaz, a member of the lesbian community from Wednesday’s demonstration. “What does this mean? Now people with different sexual orientations, gender identities will be at constant risk of discrimination.”
Other issues have also been added to the list of concerns for citizens and activists. For example, Article 14 exempts the church from criminal responsibility, which activists such as Galván believe will allow crimes such as pedophilia, money laundering or religious leaders concealing crimes to go unpunished.
Religion is fundamental on the Caribbean island. It is the only country in the world with a Bible printed on its flag and its national motto is “God, Country and Liberty”.
According to conservative activists who oppose decriminalization, he has close ties to some lawmakers and is a key voice in the debate over Lifetime 40 days They said they prayed lawmakers would keep a lock on laws preventing abortion or providing comprehensive sex education.
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AP’s religion coverage is supported through a partnership with The Conversation US, with funding from the Lilly Endowment Inc. The AP is solely responsible for all content.
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