CONANI clarifies the reform process for Law 136-03 and reaffirms its commitment to constitutional values
The National Council for Children and Adolescents (CONANI) issued an official statement to clarify the current status of the preliminary draft for the reform of Law 136-03, which governs the System for the Protection and Fundamental Rights of Children and Adolescents in the Dominican Republic. The entity emphasized that the document currently circulating is exclusively a consultation draft, subject to constant modifications.
The institution emphasized that none of the provisions contained in said text are definitive. This update process is being carried out under a participatory scheme, in which more than 80 entities from the religious, social, public, and private sectors have collaborated, whose contributions are being weighed to strengthen the final articles.
Comprehensive protection for all family structures
Regarding the concerns raised about the types of families mentioned in the draft, CONANI clarified that the central objective is to guarantee the protection of minors regardless of the environment in which they develop. The mention of various family structures, such as nuclear, single-parent, reconstituted, extended, and composite, is merely enunciative in nature.
This classification seeks to recognize the Dominican social reality, ensuring that no child or adolescent is excluded from state protection due to the composition of their household. The institution reiterated that the entire proposal strictly adheres to the constitutional framework and the national and international legal system.
We are looking at a draft consultation and, therefore, a document under construction. The contributions from more than 80 entities are being studied and weighed. The purpose is to build a proposal that responds to the Dominican reality and the framework established by our Constitution and maximizes the protection of the rights of children and adolescents.
Ligia Pérez Peña, Executive President of CONANI
Clarity on adoption processes
In light of the doubts expressed by various sectors, CONANI also clarified the guidelines contained in the draft regarding the adoption process. The institution assured that the requirements for adoption remain aligned with current regulations, specifying that couples, both national and foreign, must consist of a man and a woman.
Finally, CONANI thanked the public for their interest in this reform process and urged the population to maintain a respectful and informed dialogue. The entity urged against the dissemination of erroneous information and made itself available to society to clarify any relevant point, reaffirming that the ultimate goal is to strengthen the protection of Dominican children.
