Between 2021 and 2025, the Dominican Republic has recorded 41 child femicides, according to official figures from the National Statistics Office (ONE), which draws on information from the National Police Administrative Records based on data provided by the Citizen Security Data Analysis Center (CADSECO).
In 2025, the Caribbean country reached the highest annual figure of the period with 11 victims under 14 years of age, surpassing the 10 cases reported in 2023, the 8 in 2024, the 7 in 2022, and the 5 in 2021.
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The family environment appears repeatedly as the space where the majority of child femicides occur. In 2025 alone, statistics show that 4 girls were murdered by their fathers, 2 by their mothers, 1 by their brother, 1 by their cousin, and 1 by their stepfather. The same pattern has been observed in previous years, with the presence of fathers, mothers, and stepfathers as direct perpetrators of the crimes.
Regarding the methods used, the document reveals that extreme physical violence is common in these incidents. In 2025, 3 girls died from blows with blunt objects, 3 from strangulation or asphyxiation, 2 from poisoning with toxic substances, 1 from a firearm, and 1 from a bladed weapon. Data from 2024 indicate 4 deaths with blunt objects and 3 with firearms, while in previous years cases of asphyxiation and strangulation have also been recorded.
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Overview of child femicides in the Dominican Republic
The geographical distribution of the cases shows critical and persistent areas. The Ozama Region, which encompasses Santo Domingo and the National District, recorded 2 child femicides in the year 2025. Provinces such as Espaillat, Santiago, Duarte, Monte Cristi, Baoruco, and El Valle have reported incidents, evidencing that the problem affects both urban and rural areas.
The nationality of the victims adds another relevant dimension. Although the majority of the murdered girls are Dominican, the official compilation indicates that in 2025, 5 out of the 11 victims were of Haitian nationality. In 2024, 1 Haitian victim was also reported among 8 cases. This presence of migrant girls underscores the importance of public policies that contemplate protection without distinction of nationality and cross-border coordination regarding children’s rights.
Official data also detail the times of the crimes. In 2025, 3 child femicides occurred between 00:01 and 08:00, 5 between 08:01 and 16:00, and 3 between 16:01 and 24:00. The variability in times and days of the week, with peaks on Fridays and Saturdays, suggests the need to strengthen prevention on days and in spaces considered to be at higher risk.
The compendium uses the definition from the Latin American Model Protocol, which considers the death of a girl under 14 years of age committed by a man in a context of power, trust, or responsibility to be child femicide. This definition, adopted in the Dominican Republic, allows for comparison with other countries in the region and the monitoring of international commitments.
Femicides in the DR: a violence that persists
Femicides continue to represent one of the most serious problems of gender-based violence in the Dominican Republic. Each case exposes not only the loss of a life, but also the social and institutional failures that can allow situations of violence to escalate to irreparable consequences.
Behind many femicides there is a history of violence, threats, control, harassment, or conflicts within the couple. However, the phenomenon cannot be reduced solely to problems between individuals. It is a social issue that requires prevention, education, and effective mechanisms to protect women who are in at-risk situations.
One of the main challenges is ensuring that victims can identify and report violence without fear of retaliation. Fear, economic dependence, family pressure, and a lack of support networks can make it difficult for a woman to leave a violent relationship or seek help in time.
The response from the authorities is also fundamental. Attention to reports, protective measures, and case follow-up must work in a coordinated manner to reduce risks. A report should not become the last step before a tragedy, but rather an opportunity to intervene and protect the victim.
The problem also requires a cultural shift. Combating femicides involves questioning patterns of machismo, possessiveness, and the normalization of violence that still persist in different sectors of society. Prevention must begin with education and promote relationships based on respect and equality.
As cases continue to be recorded, the challenge for the Dominican Republic is to move from reacting to tragedies to a permanent prevention strategy. Each femicide represents an affected family and a sign that there are still gaps that must be addressed with greater urgency.
