First lady supports referendum to let the people decide about abortion

The first lady of the Dominican Republic Raquel Arbaje considered that the discussion on the decriminalization of abortion in three causes should be submitted to a referendum for people to decide.

“I agree with what the president said, that a referendum is held”, said Arbaje when interviewed this Saturday by local journalists from SIN.

The first lady respects life and understands the problem of the three causes, but she preferred not to comment on whether abortion should be decriminalized in those circumstances demanded by various sectors of society because she is not a legislator.

“I respect, yes, I respect life, but at the moment, as I told you, I prefer not to express my opinion, because I am not a legislator, I do understand that there should be a referendum and that it is the people who decide”, she emphasized.

Arbaje said that as honorary president of the Cabinet for children and adolescents, she would like them to give them some time to see the unified work of the State in this regard, “in 20 years our childhood and teenagers were not prepared.” “In other words, the authorities kept children and adolescents out of public policies”, she argued.

In the Dominican Republic the modification of the Penal Code is currently being discussed, and whether the decriminalization of abortion should be included in three circumstances: when the life of the mother is in danger, when it is the product of incest or rape, or when the fetus has malformations incompatible with life.