Gender-based violence: Here are the emergency and support hotlines available nationwide

Every year, dozens of women in the Dominican Republic lose their lives as a result of gender-based violence. Behind every femicide lie stories marked by threats, assaults, fear, and, in many cases, silence.

In response to this situation, various institutions have established support mechanisms to guide and protect victims of gender-based violence and domestic violence.

One of the main tools for assistance is the Ministry of Women’s *212 emergency hotline, a confidential service available 24 hours a day. Through this hotline, victims receive psychological counseling, legal advice, and support to activate protection protocols when their safety is at risk.

According to one of the institution’s staff members, when a woman calls reporting that she has just been a victim of violence or that she is in a dangerous situation, a police unit is dispatched to assist her.

“If she is a victim of violence, we send a police unit so they can come to her rescue,” she explained.

She also noted that the Ministry of Women refers and guides women who are victims of gender-based and domestic violence, in addition to providing access to shelter homes when the situation warrants it.

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“We provide shelter; the prosecutor’s office determines whether the woman qualifies for shelter, and we, as the Ministry of Women, provide it. The shelters are for women who are victims of violence and do not have a safe haven. So, the woman stays there temporarily until the danger has passed,” she said.

For Dominican women living abroad, the Ministry of Women also provides the number 829-421-3242, through which counseling and therapy are offered via virtual telepsychology.

Other reporting channels: Línea Vida

Another assistance channel is the Línea Vida, operated by the Office of the Attorney General of the Republic, available at 809-200-1202 for reports related to gender-based violence and domestic violence.

As explained by Génesis Hackers, a telephone operator for Línea Vida, this service also handles reports of gender-based violence, domestic violence, child abuse, minors in conflict with the law, inappropriate behavior, and possible sexual abuse, among other situations.

Upon receiving a call, staff gather information about the reported incidents, including case details, the location where the events occurred, and other necessary details to document the situation.

Subsequently, the report is forwarded to the relevant prosecutor’s office, the entity responsible for investigating the facts, contacting the parties involved, and determining the next steps.

Once the report is formalized, the complainant is provided with a case number and the contact information for the prosecutor’s office to which the file was sent, to facilitate follow-up on the process.