July, 24, 2025 — Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic — On July 10, 2025, dozens of activists gathered outside the Dominican Republic’s congressional building to protest a proposed penal code that would maintain the country’s total abortion ban, permit discrimination based on sexual orientation, and exempt certain entities, including churches and municipalities, from criminal liability.
The demonstration reflects growing tensions over the country’s outdated legal framework, which activists argue fails to protect fundamental human rights.
The Dominican Republic, one of only four Latin American nations—alongside Nicaragua, Honduras, and El Salvador—that criminalizes abortion without exceptions, imposes severe penalties: up to two years in prison for women who undergo abortions and five to 20 years for medical professionals who perform them.
The proposed penal code, which updates an 1884 law, has sparked outrage for its failure to decriminalize abortion in cases of rape, incest, or when the pregnancy threatens the woman’s life or involves fatal fetal abnormalities.
Activists, including Sergia Galván Ortega of the Coalition for Women’s Lives and Rights, have called the proposed code a significant setback for human rights.
“It’s a code that has many setbacks in terms of rights,” Galván stated, emphasizing the need for legal abortion in specific circumstances.
Other concerns include the code’s lack of recognition for marital rape, reduced penalties for child sex abuse cases without penetration, and provisions allowing physical violence against children if it does not form a pattern.
“That’s terrible,” said Natalia Mármol, a member of the women’s coalition, highlighting the code’s failure to address critical issues of violence and discrimination.
The proposed penal code also excludes sexual orientation from protected characteristics, potentially enabling discrimination against the LGBTQ+ community.
Rosalba Díaz of the Dominican Inclusive Lesbian Community noted, “The penal code that the Senate approved does not represent us,” underscoring the risks of increased discrimination for those with diverse sexual orientations or gender identities.
Political Fallout and Sentiment
The Dominican Senate approved the bill in its second reading on July 21, 2025, rejecting amendments, including one by Senator Ginnette Bournigal to include the “three causales” (exceptions for abortion in cases of life-threatening pregnancies, rape or incest, and fatal fetal abnormalities).
The legislation, which introduces over 80 new penal provisions, now awaits approval from the Chamber of Deputies before reaching President Luis Abinader.
President Abinader, who won a second term in May 2024, has previously expressed support for decriminalizing abortion in certain cases.
However, activists like Galván report that Abinader has backtracked on campaign promises to support the three causales, leaving many feeling betrayed.
In 2014, former President Danilo Medina vetoed a similar penal code for its failure to include abortion exceptions, a precedent activists hope Abinader will follow.
The Dominican Republic’s total abortion ban has dire consequences.
According to the World Health Organization, unsafe abortions are the third leading cause of maternal mortality in the country, accounting for eight percent of maternal deaths.
An estimated 90,000 unsafe abortions occur annually, often in clandestine settings, posing severe health risks.
Human Rights Watch has criticized the ban as a violation of international human rights obligations, arguing it discriminates against women and endangers their lives.
Despite the legal restrictions, underground networks persist.
Some medical professionals discreetly provide abortions using medications like misoprostol, while “acompañantes” networks support women seeking terminations.
However, these options remain risky and insufficient, particularly for women in rural and low-income areas who face greater barriers to access.
The debate over the penal code has polarized the nation, with religious groups, bolstered by the country’s strong Catholic influence—evidenced by the Bible on its flag—opposing any relaxation of the abortion ban.
In contrast, feminist movements and human rights organizations, including the Center for Reproductive Rights and IPPF Americas, continue to advocate for reform, citing the ban’s devastating impact on women’s health and autonomy.
As the bill moves to the Chamber of Deputies, activists vow to continue their fight.
“We continue to fight,” said Galván, echoing the resolve of protesters demanding a penal code that respects women’s rights and ensures protections for all citizens.
The outcome will test the Dominican Republic’s commitment to balancing its cultural and religious identity with its international human rights obligations.
Also Read: Planned Parenthood Now Wins a Temporary Injunction Over Funding
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