Abinader enacts Alertas RD Law to accelerate search for missing persons

Santo Domingo.- President Luis Abinader enacted Law 25-26, creating the National Alert for the Search for Missing Persons (Alertas RD), a new system designed to provide a rapid and coordinated response to disappearance cases across the Dominican Republic.

The legislation establishes a legal framework for the immediate and mass dissemination of information about missing individuals, bringing together government agencies, media outlets, and civil society organizations. Under the law, the National Police and the Public Ministry must activate alerts jointly within a maximum of 24 hours after a disappearance report or imminent danger is identified.

The system introduces four specialized alert categories: Amber Alert for missing or abducted children and adolescents, Silver Alert for adults over 65, Blue Alert for people with physical or mental disabilities, and Pink Alert for women at risk due to gender-based violence or human trafficking. Alerts will be distributed through social media, traditional media, transportation terminals, digital platforms, and police bulletins.

Law 25-26 also creates the National Registry of Missing Persons, a centralized database managed by the National Police that will include photographs, physical descriptions, medical information, and search status updates while safeguarding privacy rights. In addition, the law establishes the National Council for the Search for Missing Persons to oversee implementation and coordination among key government institutions.

The legislation includes penalties for public officials who fail to report disappearance cases or obstruct established protocols. With the enactment of Alertas RD, the Dominican government aims to strengthen citizen security, improve search efforts, and enhance the protection of vulnerable individuals throughout the country.