Women demand a penal code that guarantees the life, health and dignity of women.    | Photo: Hoy

Santo Domingo, July 26 (RHC)-- Feminist organizations in the Dominican Republic gathered this Monday in front of the National Congress to demand the inclusion of three grounds for abortion in the Penal Code.

The feminist sit-in takes place as a result of the presentation last week of a new Penal Code bill in the Dominican Congress, which does not include the rights of women and LGBTIQ+ people.

For its part, the cuir and feminist collective RD es de Todes denounced the elimination of protections for the LGBTIQ+ community, including the recognition of gender discrimination.

Likewise, they rejected a postulate they added in said bill that exempts from criminal liability anyone who discriminates for conscientious objection, worship or preservation of "good customs."

"We are appealing to Congress not to put it on the agenda," said RD de Todes, and criticized the position of a block of anti-rights deputies present in the parliamentary structure.

When the life or health of the mother is in danger, when the pregnancy is unviable and was the result of rape or incest, these are the three grounds for abortion in many countries, although in the Dominican Republic these procedures are not even decriminalized.

"Likewise, we have to be on the side of the LGBTIQ+ community because it cannot be that in the 21st century, in the year 2022 we are still justifying that killing a person or attacking for their sexual orientation or gender identity is okay," said activist Sergia Galván.

On the other hand, women demand and demand a Penal Code that guarantees the life, health and dignity of women and guarantees zero discrimination against all people.

Another of the arguments raised by women and feminists in the country is based on the fact that it is not possible for the Dominican Republic to remain out of time and to deny rights that have already been won by other women in the world.

They also questioned the Partido Revolucionario Moderno (PRM) who had committed to the inclusion of the three grounds for abortion in the Penal Code. For this reason, the activists also pronounced the slogan "No rights, no reelection."