Senate approves in second reading the Penal Code without including the three grounds

Santo Domingo.- After intense debates and months of opposing positions, the Senate of the Republic approved this Monday in second reading the project of the new Penal Code, leaving out the three grounds for abortion. The vote took place during an extraordinary session, which now allows the sending of the legislative piece to the Chamber of Deputies, which must know it before July 26th.

During the session, the president of the Senate, Ricardo de los Santos, urged lawmakers to approve the bill without further delay. He pointed out that controversial aspects, such as citizen recordings during raids, should be addressed later in a possible reform of the Criminal Procedure Code.

The new Penal Code introduces the classification of crimes that were not previously contemplated in Dominican legislation, such as genocide, femicide, forced disappearance, contract killing, torture, terrorism, illegal arrest, and crimes against humanity. It also incorporates figures such as administrative corruption, harassment, bullying, non-consensual sexual activity, identity theft, incitement to suicide, and infractions committed by digital means.

Despite legislative progress, the exclusion of the three grounds has reignited the public debate on sexual and reproductive rights in the country. Social sectors and feminist organizations have expressed their rejection of the approval of the code without including exceptions for abortion in cases of rape, incest, or risk to the mother’s life.