Chamber of Deputies Forms Commission to Study the Ley Mirabal
The Dominican Chamber of Deputies has formed a 16-member commission to study the Ley Mirabal, a bill aimed at combating violence against women.
Key points
- The special commission has 16 lawmakers and will be chaired by Jesús Manuel (Sandro) Sánchez.
- The bill was proposed by Kimberly Taveras and has the backing of more than 130 deputies.
- The proposal adds new categories such as vicarious violence, political violence and obstetric violence.
- The commission must submit its report to the full Chamber to continue the legislative process.
The Dominican Chamber of Deputies has formed a special commission of 16 lawmakers to study the draft Organic Law on Comprehensive Response to Violence against Women, known as the Ley Mirabal. Chamber President Alfredo Pacheco announced the appointments during the Wednesday, October 28 session.
The commission will be chaired by Deputy Jesús Manuel (Sandro) Sánchez, with Selinée Méndez as vice chair. Other members include Ydenia Doñé, Mayobanex Martínez, Patricia Núñez, Nurca Nieves, Soraya Suárez, Ycelmary Brito, Mirna López, Margarita Tejeda, Maribel Almánzar, Jacqueline Fernández, Eugenio Cedeño, Diomedes Rojas, Brenda Ogando and Altagracia de los Santos.
The bill's sponsor is Deputy Kimberly Taveras. According to her, the initiative has the support of more than 130 deputies from several parliamentary blocs, who joined as co-sponsors under the Déjala Ir Comprehensive Reform.
The draft incorporates input from civil society organizations and from other branches of the state, channeled through the Ministry of Women, led by Minister Gloria Reyes. Taveras said the text brings together the work of more than five Déjala Ir initiatives developed over more than two years.
Among the new provisions are vicarious violence, political violence, obstetric violence, the inclusion of social workers in schools, early warning systems, and a national plan to prevent and reduce violence against women. Taveras described the law as a broad consensus built inside and outside the National Congress, with the participation of lawmakers, public institutions and organizations defending women's rights.
The commission will now study the bill and present its report to the full Chamber of Deputies to continue the legislative process.
Why it matters
If approved, the law would create new protections and a national plan to prevent and reduce violence against women.