Santiago.- The former Attorney General of the Republic, Francisco Domínguez Brito, stated that the fight against gender-based violence is not limited to punishing aggressors, but requires transforming the sexist culture that, according to him, continues to reproduce behaviors of physical, psychological, and emotional violence against women.
During a reflection on the issue of femicides and domestic violence, Domínguez Brito maintained that in the Dominican Republic and other countries, cultural patterns persist that normalize inequality between men and women, even in aspects as everyday as the professional or economic success of a partner.
“There are men who still get upset because their wives or partners have better salaries. Instead of feeling proud and supporting them, they react with attitudes of rejection that reflect a deeply rooted machismo,” he/she expressed.
The former official highlighted that one of the most frequent and least visible forms of aggression is psychological violence, which manifests itself through gestures, attitudes, and behaviors that affect the dignity and self-esteem of women.
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In his view, prevention should begin from childhood, through education in homes, schools, and the media, to promote responsible and respectful models of masculinity.
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Domínguez Brito recalled experiences from his time managing the prison system that demonstrate the social impact of domestic violence. He cited the case of a child who visited his parents in prison: he would bring food for his incarcerated father and a flower for his mother, the victim of the violence that led him to prison.
“These are stories that reflect the enormous damage that violence causes to families and children. We have to work to prevent these events before they happen,” he/she pointed out.
Likewise, he indicated that although criminal sanctions are necessary to deter aggressors, the real challenge consists of modifying the cultural patterns that originate violence, in order to prevent the continued occurrence of cases that bring mourning to Dominican society.
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The former attorney general concluded that building a culture of respect and equality is a collective task that involves families, educational institutions, the media, and the State.
