Dominican Feminists Mobilize Against Criminalization of Abortion

The Investigation Center for Feminine Action (CIPAF) in the Dominican Republic is calling for public support for its bid to legalize abortion when a mother's life is at risk, when a fetus is deformed, or when a pregnancy is caused by rape.

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The CIPAF's demands have been heard by lawmaker Magda Rodriguez, head of the legislative commission on gender equality, and representatives of the Women Ministry, who have previously "showed interest" in the campaign.

On Sunday, the organization of sex workers in Dominican Republic (Otrasex) organized a sit-in in front of the National Congress to protest against the criminalization of abortion, on the International Day of Human Rights.

“In the name of what is the Dominican state — which fails to protect women from rapes — claims to compell a woman to bear the child of her rapist?” said the sex workers in a statement.

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Otrasex spokesman Soranyi Martinez said that forced pregnancy resulting from a rape is considered "cruel" and "inhumane" under human rights laws.

In 2015, the Attorney General's Office registered more than 6,700 complaints about sexual crimes, including more than 1,200 rapes.

About 13 percent of maternal deaths during birth occur during illegal abortions, according to the movement's spokesman Arelis Ferrer. An estimated 35,000 abortions are carried out every year in the Dominican Republic.

In December 2015, the constitutional court decided to reinstate a total ban on abortion, meaning that any woman or doctor found carrying out an abortion can be sentenced to between two and 10 years in prison.