Mother of pregnant teen with cancer who died challenges Dominican Republic's strict abortion ban Challenging the Strict Abortion Ban in the Dominican Republic The mother of a teenage girl who died after being denied cancer treatment due to her pregnancy has sparked a challenge against the Dominican Republic’s strict abortion ban. Civil society groups, including a Christian organization, have joined the challenge, arguing that the ban violates the rights to life, health, dignity, and equality. A Personal Tragedy Sparks a Larger Movement Rosa Herminia Hernández, the mother of 16-year-old Rosaura Almonte, who died in 2012 from leukemia while three weeks pregnant, is speaking out against the ban. “My daughter died because she was denied the medical care she needed. No other mother should have to go through this,” Hernández said in a statement. The challenge was filed in the country’s Constitutional Court, seeking to allow abortions in cases of rape, incest, or when the life or health of a woman or girl is in danger. TheStrict Abortion Ban in the Dominican Republic The Dominican Republic has one of the strictest abortion bans in the region, criminalizing it without exception and regardless of circumstance. Women face up to two years in prison for having an abortion, while doctors or midwives could face five to 20 years. This ban has led to a significant number of clandestine abortions, with at least 67,455 abortions recorded from 2019 through late 2024 in the public health sector. The Consequences of the Abortion Ban The challenge argues that the ban worsens existing inequalities, as women with resources can seek private medical care in or outside the country, while those who are impoverished face higher health risks and are more exposed to criminal prosecution. Human rights activists note that it’s often health providers who report women to authorities, leading to detentions and inadequate medical care. In one case, a woman with three children, one of whom was the product of a rape, was detained for 10 days in inhumane conditions after having an incomplete and spontaneous abortion. A Call for Change Attorney Patricia Santana Nina stated, “This action seeks something very simple: that no woman or girl should have to choose between her life, her health, and the law.” The challenge seeks to allow abortions in specific circumstances, including rape, incest, or when the life or health of a woman or girl is in danger. With at least 585 girls from 11 to 14 years old becoming mothers in 2024, and at least 681 rapes reported from January to July 2025, the need for change is urgent. The challenge asks, “Is it legitimate to maintain a permanent criminal threat against women in medical emergencies solely to legally express a moral stance?” Source: WorldNewsAPI | Read original
