Santo Domingo.— The tightening of sanctions against femicide contemplated in the new Dominican Penal Code will not be enough, on its own, to reduce violence against women, experts warned during a debate on the subject.
Lawyer Edward Moya explained that the new legislation strengthens the prosecution of crime by defining femicide and incorporating aggravating factors that allow the Public Prosecutor’s Office and the courts to have greater tools to prosecute and punish these acts.
In accordance with what was stated during the program, article 93 establishes the crime of femicide, while article 94 contemplates circumstances that may influence the qualification of the act and the imposition of a more severe penalty.
However, psychologist Amaury Ramírez questioned whether toughening penalties can be considered a solution to the problem.
“Introducing an article 93 for femicide will not solve the problem,” stated Ramírez.
The specialist maintained that the Dominican Republic maintains a culture focused primarily on punishment and prosecution, while prevention does not receive the same level of attention.
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Ramírez also pointed out that aggravated homicide and femicide contemplate, according to his analysis of the new Penal Code, similar prison ranges, between 30 and 40 years, which is why he questioned what the real effect of increasing the penalties will be on the incidence of these crimes.
Moya agreed that the new penalties do not constitute a definitive solution. When asked if the aggravating factors established in the legislation will contribute to reducing femicides, he responded directly: “No”.
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The lawyer argued that the State must complement the criminal response with a public policy that allows for intervention before family conflicts lead to violent acts. To this end, he proposed the creation of institutions capable of integrating the Police, the Prosecutor’s Office, psychologists, health personnel, and judges into a single system.
The discussion also brought to the table the need to identify the factors that precede violence. Ramírez mentioned among them pathological jealousy, alcohol and drug consumption, emotional dependency, low self-control capacity, and difficulties in managing frustration.
The experts also stated, during their participation in the radio program “Esto No Tiene Nombre,” that prevention must begin before an emergency occurs, through actions in communities, schools, and families. The central idea of the debate was that the response to femicide cannot rest solely on the Penal Code, but rather requires a broader institutional and social intervention.
