Ex-partners and domestic conflicts linked to 150 women’s deaths

Santo Domingo — Last Thursday night, a new victim of gender violence and violent deaths in the country was added. It was Aurelina Valdez, a young woman from the province of Monte Plata, where the event occurred.

Described by her relatives as well-loved and hardworking, Valdez was hit by several shots allegedly perpetrated by Inocencio Belén, known as “Cristian el Piñero” or “Rey,” whom they identified as her ex-partner. Although the perpetrators are often spouses or boyfriends of the victim, this pattern of ex-partners is increasingly common in the country.

According to data published by the National Statistics Office (ONE) in the “Compendium of statistics of women who died in conditions of violence, 2021-2025”, 40% of the deaths of women in conditions of violence last year were due to “intimate femicide”.

The document, published on August 18, classifies deaths committed by a man with whom the victim had or had had an intimate relationship or bond: husband, ex-husband, partner, boyfriend, ex-boyfriend or lover, person with whom children were procreated. It is important to note that this classification includes the case of a friend who murders a woman (friend or acquaintance) who refused to enter into an intimate relationship (sentimental or sexual) with him.

In 2025, the number of women whose deaths were attributed to their partners fell by 16 cases in one year, from 56 in 2024 to 40. In contrast, deaths committed by ex-partners increased by four, to 2

However, a few weeks ago the Attorney General of the Republic, Yeni Berenice Reynoso, reported that the Public Prosecutor’s Office already counted 59 femicides in the country in more than half a year.

The head of the criminal prosecution body against criminality added that, in 36 of these cases, the alleged aggressor was the victim’s current partner and in 18 it was an ex-partner, a number close to the preliminary figures with which it closed last year in these categories.

The total number of violent deaths of women increased to 150 in 2025, the second higthe five yearsive-year period 2021-2025, according to data provided by the ONE.

Urban areas are a focus

Almost 30 kilometers from the municipality where Aurelina died is Santo Domingo Norte, another municipality whose figures in 2025 were nearly double those of the previous year.

Santo Domingo Norte had been averaging 6 to 7 cases per year (7 in 2021, 9 in 2022, 6 in 2023, and 7 in 2024). However, in 2025, the figure rose to 13 deaths, representing an 86% increase in a single year.

Guaricano went from not reporting this type of death between 2021 and 2024, to accumulating four violent deaths of women in 2025, including Rosa María Roanes Polanco, 36, at the beginning of the year and María Cecilia Reynoso Gómez, 62, in May 2025, according to journalistic records.

The statistics include two deaths in Villa Mella, two in Sabana Perdida, and two in Licey. In addition, El Edén and San Felipe each have one death. Also, one death in the municipal district of La Victoria.

With 17 deaths in 2025 (15 in the main municipality and 2 in the municipal district of San Luis), Santo Domingo Este concentrated almost half (45.9%) of all cases reported in Santo Domingo.

Santo Domingo: This is the city that has historically remained at the top of the table. Except inrecordeden it presented 9 cases, the municipality 10 been above ten deaths and has been steadily rising: 13 deaths in 2021, 11 in 2022, a pea,k of 16 in 2023, and and to 17 cases in 2025.

Isabelita, Villa Faro, Prado Oriental and Las Canas registered 2 deaths each. Meanwhile, sectors such as Villa Duarte, Los Mina Sur and El Cachón de la Rubia reported one case each.

Foreign victims in 2025

Compared with previous years, there was an increase in foreign victims in 2025. Some 31 were from Haiti, at least two victims were from Germany, 1 from Colombia and 1 from Venezuela, for a total of 35 compared to the annual average of 23.5 victims with nationalities other than the Dominican.

In addition to deaths in homes, homes or residences and their parking lots, over the years deaths on public roads have predominated, including parks or inside vehicles.

The deaths of women in conditions of violence in the Dominican Republic also show a significant change in the circumstances surrounding these events.

Although family conflicts, domestic violence and gender-based violence continue to be the main category recorded, deaths associated with quarrels or disputes increased in 2025 and reached their highest level in the period 2021-2025.

Cases rose from 18 in 2024 to 48 in 2025, accounting for about a third of the deaths recorded in 2025.

The behavior contrasts with that of previous years. In 2021, 30 deaths linked to fights or disputes were recorded; in 2022 there were 40 and in 2023, 32. After falling to 18 cases in 2024, the figure grew strongly again in 2025.

Meanwhile, family conflicts, intra-family and gender-based violence fell from 88 cases in 2024 to 67 in 2025. Even so, this category remained the one with the highest number of cases in the last year.

The decline in this category is particularly notable when the entire series is considered. In 2021, it accounted for 87 of the 144 deaths registered. It then dropped to 83 in 2022 and 73 in 2023, before rebounding to 88 in 2024. The 67 cases in 2025 therefore constitute the lowest record for the period.

Other circumstances had a considerably lower impact. Cases related to robbery, attempted robbery or robbery totaled five in 2025, while deaths associated with police or military action, accidents and acts of rape or sexual assault registered three, three and two cases, respectively.