UNICEF: over 63% of Dominican children suffer domestic violence

Santo Domingo.- The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) reported Sunday that more than 63% of children aged 1 to 14 in the Dominican Republic experience some form of domestic violence, with the rate rising to 70% among 3- to 4-year-olds. The figures were released ahead of the National Day of Children’s Rights, noting that children and adolescents make up 31.7% of the national population.

UNICEF highlighted other persistent threats to children’s rights, including high rates of early marriage and teenage pregnancy, child labor—affecting 16.8% of minors not in school—and adolescent suicide, with 174 cases recorded between 2017 and 2022, mostly among those aged 15 to 17.

The agency emphasized the urgent need to strengthen public policies, allocate more resources for child protection, and foster a culture of respect for children’s rights. Anyoli Sanabria, UNICEF’s interim representative, stressed that violence and inequality must not continue to limit children’s present or future opportunities.