Haitian child victim of abuse rescued in Sosúa; mother and sister to be prosecuted

Puerto Plata. – The authorities of the Children, Girls, and Adolescents Court of Puerto Plata rescued a Haitian national child who was at high risk of maltreatment, after being kept tied with a rope by his mother and a sister in a sector of the municipality of Sosúa. Both women were arrested and will be brought to justice for violating Law 136-03, which protects the fundamental rights of children and adolescents in the Dominican Republic.

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The authorities intervened following a complaint filed by lawyer Fabio García, who alerted about the minor’s situation. This case adds to a series of recent events that have shocked the country, linked to physical and emotional abuse, sexual abuse, and even homicides of minors perpetrated by parents, guardians, or close relatives. In less than two weeks, five minors have tragically died at the hands of direct relatives.

According to figures from the Public Ministry, from the year 2000 to date, the following have been registered:
• More than 13 thousand reports of physical abuse.
• Nearly 19 thousand reports of psychological abuse.
• More than 16 thousand 600 reports of sexual abuse.
• More than 2 thousand additional reports related to child abuse in other categories.

The rescue in Sosúa revives concern about the need to strengthen the protection of children in the Dominican Republic and the rapid response of authorities to cases of domestic violence.