Introduction
On 16th August 2024, Luis Abinader was officially sworn in for his second term as the President of the Dominican Republic following his re-election in May 2024. It reflects continued public support for his administration, which is expected to focus on national security measures and barring migrants from neighbouring conflict-hit Haiti.
Peaceful Assembly
Feminist activists rally against new bill to uphold Dominican Republic’s total abortion ban
On 18th and 25th July 2024, activists in Santo Domingo protested a bill for a new criminal code that would uphold the country’s total abortion ban. Protesters asked for legal abortion when the woman’s life is at risk, when a pregnancy is the product of rape or incest, and in cases of foetal malformation incompatible with life. “We continue to fight,” said feminist activist Sergia Galván.
The Dominican Senate gave initial approval to the bill in late June, with lawmakers expected to finalise the approval process in the coming weeks, threatening to perpetuate the abortion ban, which significantly impacts the lives of women, girls and gender-diverse people across the country.
This continued criminalisation severely restricts bodily autonomy, reproductive rights and life choices, particularly for those facing life-threatening pregnancies or those who have survived sexual violence. The Dominican Republic is among the few countries in Latin America and the Caribbean that still uphold an absolute abortion ban, criminalising voluntary termination under all circumstances.
Human Rights Watch and other human rights organisations expressed serious concerns regarding the bill. The proposed changes include significant alterations to existing legal protections related to sexual violence and LGBTQI+ rights. Key concerns raised by these organisations involve the reduction of penalties for sexual violence within marriage and the removal of sexual orientation as a protected characteristic under anti-discrimination laws.
Teachers march for better wages and conditions
On 1st May 2024, the Dominican Teachers’ Association (Asociación Dominicana de Profesores, ADP) organised a nationwide march to demand an increase in salaries, improved working conditions, and the fulfilment of previous agreements reached with the Ministry of Education (Minerd). The mobilisation came as part of the ADP’s continued efforts to secure better terms for Dominican educators following the government’s perceived failure to honour commitments made in prior negotiations.
In a public statement, the ADP’s president expressed concern over what the association described as the government’s attempts to discredit teachers. The ADP president called for dialogue with the Ministry of Education to address the long-standing issues faced by the education sector in the Dominican Republic.
On 2nd May 2024, in response to the teachers’ mobilisation, the Ministry of Education announced an eight per cent increase in the basic salary of all teachers. The government positioned this salary adjustment as a step toward addressing the teachers’ concerns. However, the ADP criticised the measure, describing it as unilateral and insufficient. The association argued that the increase fell significantly short of the 20 per cent salary increase agreed upon for 2023.
Local communities protest thermoelectric pollution
On 12th May 2024, residents of Playa Los Negros, in the south of the Dominican Republic, protested the thermoelectric barges operated by the Turkish company Karadeniz Holding. These barges were installed in Los Negros after receiving approval from the Ministry of the Environment in 2022. They are intended to increase thermoelectric power generation from 180 MW (megawatts) to 400 MW.
Civil society organisations are raising awareness of the environmental issues resulting from the barges' operations. Residents have expressed concerns about air and water pollution, citing smoke emissions and waste discharge into the sea. They report that these actions harm the local population and the surrounding ecosystem.
Expression
A congress member insults journalist amid drug trafficking allegations
Following a report linking Nelson Marmolejos, a Deputy from the ruling Modern Revolutionary Party (PRM), to a high-profile drug trafficking and money laundering investigation, Marmolejos insulted Diario Libre journalist Edward Fernández via WhatsApp on 24th May 2024.
According to media reports, Marmolejos reacted strongly to the report, sending a message that read: “The trash you should be writing as a mercenary journalist is that in 2020, supposedly financed by drug trafficking, I got 10,977 votes, and now in 2024, I’ve got 12,495 votes, after you scrap journalists talked so much nonsense. I was re-elected after three years of ruthless attacks. Ask yourself why, after three years, the prosecuting body hasn’t called me for questioning or charged me. THAT'S WHAT TRASH JOURNALISTS LIKE YOU SHOULD BE ASKING (sic).”
On 27th May, the Dominican Journalists’ College (CDP) and the Press Workers’ Union (SNTP) held a press conference to condemn actions that undermine freedom of expression and the dissemination of information. They also condemned any form of aggression aimed at intimidating or silencing journalists. The organisations characterised Marmolejos’ actions as censorship and aggression following a Diario Libre article that reportedly offended him. Journalists at the press conference stressed that the severity of the verbal assault represents “an unnecessary and repulsive attack, posing a serious risk to the practice of journalism, the media, and democracy itself.”
Dominican Republic climbs to 35th in World Press Freedom Index, but journalist safety concerns remain
In 2024, the Dominican Republic improved its position in the World Press Freedom Index, ranking 35th out of 180 countries, as compiled by Reporters Without Borders (RSF). This represents an eight-place improvement from the previous year when the country was ranked 43rd. The index, which evaluates the situation of journalists globally, awarded the Dominican Republic an overall score of 73.89 per cent, compared to 71.88 per cent in 2023.
RSF highlighted that there has been a noted decrease in both verbal and physical attacks on journalists in recent years. This progress underscores the government’s commitment to upholding fundamental rights.
Despite these advances, the country’s score on the Safety of Journalists indicator dropped significantly. The report revealed a decline from 82.50 per cent in 2023 to 74.24 per cent in 2024. Although the Dominican Republic remains a country where journalists work in relatively safe conditions, the report pointed to a pervasive fear among journalists of being under surveillance by the government or large corporations. This concern has contributed to a sense of insecurity within the profession despite improvements in other areas.