Dominican Republic moves to ease abortion ban, challenges remain: rights group

By Anastasia Moloney BOGOTA (Thomson Reuters Foundation) – A presidential decision to ease the Dominican Republic’s ban on abortion is a landmark victory for women’s rights, but ensuring women can access legal and potentially life-saving abortions remains a challenge, a rights group has said. President Danilo Medina recommended that lawmakers amend the criminal code to allow abortion in cases of rape, incest, a deformed fetus or when a woman’s life is in danger. Lower chamber lawmakers accepted part of Medina’s recommendation last month, allowing abortion in cases when a women’s life was in danger. “It’s definitely a victory and historic step that President Medina has spoken in a statement in favor of women’s rights and said the old criminal code violates a woman’s right to life, health and autonomy,” said Monica Arango, regional director for Latin America and the Caribbean at the Centre for Reproductive Rights.