Government and Congress unite behind “Let Her Go” anti-violence reform

Santo Domingo.- President Luis Abinader reaffirmed his commitment to combating gender-based and domestic violence, expressing full support for the “Let Her Go” Comprehensive Reform and the National Pact for Life. The initiative, presented by senators and representatives from all political parties, establishes coordinated measures for the protection, prevention, and prediction of femicides and filicides.

Abinader highlighted key advances made under his administration, including expanding the number of shelters from three to 18, creating a specialized unit within the National Police, and achieving a reduction in femicides from 233 in 2011 to 51 between January and November 2025. Despite progress, he stressed that “one death is one too many” and pledged to review the proposed reforms and allocate the necessary resources for implementation.

The “Let Her Go” reform proposes an investment of RD$5 billion for prevention and protection efforts and calls for a stronger legal framework to ensure continuity across governments. Representative Kinsberly Taveras noted that the initiative received support from 95% of legislators and emphasized the growing leadership of women in Congress, which now includes 71 female deputies and 4 female senators.