Mirabal Law Promoted: The ambitious project to unify the fight against gender-based violence in the DR
In an unprecedented joint effort, the Family and Gender Equity commissions of the Chamber of Deputies and the Senate, together with the Ministry of Women, have begun work to consolidate 19 legislative initiatives into a single legal piece: the Mirabal Law. This project seeks to transform the legal framework of the Dominican Republic to comprehensively combat violence against women.
Brenda Ogando, president of the Chamber of Deputies’ Gender Equity Affairs Commission, highlighted that the main objective is to put an end to legislative dispersion and offer the country a robust and coherent instrument. The proposal aims to be a forceful response to the various manifestations of violence that affect Dominican society.
What we want is to work on them unified so as to give the country a single law, which we are going to title the Mirabal Law.
Brenda Ogando, congresswoman.
Legislation adapted to modern times
The Minister of Women, Gloria Reyes, emphasized that this process requires a deep and measured analysis, given the complexity and sensitivity of the issue. The official stressed that the new regulations must be in full harmony with the updates to the Penal Code and the Code of Criminal Procedure, in addition to integrating the new technological realities that facilitate various forms of harassment and violence.
- Comprehensive approach: It seeks to cover everything from prevention to effective sanctioning.
- Digitalization: The law contemplates addressing new forms of violence exercised through digital environments.
- Priority protection: The shelter system will be strengthened to guarantee the safety of victims and their families.
Political consensus in the face of an urgent crisis
For her part, Senator Aracelis Villanueva highlighted the importance of political unity to achieve this goal. The creation of the Mirabal Law, which honors the legacy of the sisters Patria, Minerva, and María Teresa on the centenary of their tragic assassination, represents a historic opportunity to strengthen the State’s response.
The urgency of this measure is supported by alarming figures provided by the Attorney General’s Office, which records 62 femicides so far in the year 2026. A critical piece of data analyzed by the authorities is that 89% of the victims never filed a prior complaint, which underscores the need for the state strategy to transcend the toughening of penalties and focus on deeper cultural and social prevention.
We are united to seek a consensus and be able to draft a law that definitively eradicates violence against women.
Aracelis Villanueva, senator.
The discussion process will extend over the coming weeks, maintaining the commitment to reach an agreement with all sectors of society to ensure that the Mirabal Law is an effective tool that changes the current landscape of gender-based violence in the country.
