High number of femicides raise experts´ concern

Santo Domingo.- AbusedWomen Assistance Association (PACAM) president Soraya Lara on Sunday said they´reconcerned with the number of women killed by their partners or former partnersjust this year which impacts society.

"We express ourdeep concern with the fact that once a woman decides to denounce her aggressor rightat the time of a perceived increased risk of death from the history of domesticviolence, the authorities fail to appreciate the danger and appropriate vigilance,"Lara said.

She said it´sunderstood that once a woman decides to denounce her aggressor, the criteriathat her life is in danger should be taken into account, or even the aggressor himself,which can lead to femicide-suicide, and also that of their children.

"It is extremelyimportant that these risk factors are considered by the actors in the system ofcare and protection to the victims of the scourge of domestic violence."

"Not taking intoaccount the allegations and whether judicial or therapeutic, to the complaintof physical, psychological or economic aggression by the victim, is theunfortunate result of the increase in femicide statistics," she said.

The expert in partnerviolence said numerous, specialized studies by psychologists and psychiatrists revealconcern with the murders of couples. “It´s agreed that certain variables andrisk factors must be taken into account, among them the long history ofphysical abuse and psychological threats and concrete experiences of moreviolence with physical injury or death; pathological jealousy and intense levelof attachment as cornerstones of femicide.”