Sabrina Espinal
Professor Aisha Sidibe-Leyva
September 12, 2018
FEMICIDE IN THE DOMINICA REPUBLIC
The massive wave of femicide in the Dominican Republic keeps raising every single day, placing the country under a worldwide spotlight. For a better understanding of this problem, we should first define Femicide. Its concepts it is understood as, the intentional killing of women by a male, where its principle lays down directly on her gender. Violence toward women has been recognized as an increasing problem in today’s society. Despite the progress that has been done to prevent gender-based violence, it still very common in various countries of Latin America and the Caribbean, is a constant reality to women under the Dominican society.
Officials believe that most women are often killed by a male acquaintance such as a friend, family members, and ex-partner or their formal partner; with the influence of men hate, pleasure and or disrespect. Indeed, it has also been proved that femicide in the Dominican Republic and other Latin American countries has been related to historical patterns such as “patriarchy” norms; the belief of woman being a property of men. In her essay “Victims of Femicide in Latin American,” Janice Joseph states how femicide can be linked to organized crimes. Moreover, she mentions how “during gang disputes, women are frequently targeted for revenge killings by rival gangs members.” Further showing the unequal power of men and a deeply rooted sexism.
In August 2017, a teenage girl named Emely Peguero disappears when she was only 16 years old and five months pregnant. No one had seen or heard from her since the last time Emely went out with her boyfriend, Marlon Martinez. Martinez is the son of a very powerful and well-connected woman in the Dominican Republic, his mother, Marlin Martinez. According to the authorities, his mom wanted to help her son out, since he was dating a minor and she wasn’t happy with him becoming a father so young. The Dominican Police reported, founding “blood spotters on a mattress” and later caught on tape, Marlon carrying out a sack from his apartment; Buzzfeed News confirmed. Several days later, Pegueros’ family received a call from a police precinct located an hour away from their province, declaring finding a suitcase by the side of the road with Emelys’ decomposing body inside. Forensic reports about her death reported, Marlon taking Emely to his mom’s apartment and forcing her taking a liquid which caused the abortion (illegal in the DR) and internal bleedings, later he killed her by hitting her on the head. Marlon and his Mom are held in preventive detention till they face trial deliberations; if found culprits they can face up to 30 years in prison, for murdering and abortion charges. (Rossalyn Warren, Buzzfeed. News).
According to UN Women, Latin American and the Caribbean have the highest rates of femicide in the world, and with the 3rd place, is the Dominican Republic. In a study by The Economic Commission of Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC), 40% of women have been victims of violence at some point in their life. The World Health Organization stated that “perpetrators see femicide as a way to protect family reputation, to follow tradition or to adhere to wrongly interpreted religious demands.” They also share studies that reported, “honor murders being committed through stabbing, strangulation, firearms, forcing women to take poison or throwing them from a window.” Emely Peguero brutal murder case was the last drop that broke the glass. Several civic organizations like “The Center of Solidarity for Development of Women” and “The Institute of Investigation and Studies of Gender and Family of the Autonomous University of Santo Domingo” are demanding the authorities and educational institutes to call out the Machista violence on the country.
To prevent gender discrimination and violence, in 1997 the Dominican Republic ratified laws that prevent, punish and eradicate violence against women. Nevertheless, women still haven’t seen any change. In 2010, 66 out of 476 offenders received judgment from being violent toward women. The UN recommended strengthening institutions and policies in the region to allocate resources to empower women; also the UN advised, that “patriarchal” cultural norms that keep gender inequalities needed to be addressed. In her essay, Yuribel Espinal communicates that the issue generally comes from “the Dominican women not knowing their rights and because of their life’s circumstances end up taking dangerous paths,” also clarifying that violence toward women “has also been defined by history, culture, tradition, and experience.”
All this femicide in the country and Latin America had raised thousands of people across the continent to join the protest demanding the end of this plague. Social Movements such as the Hashtags #NiUnaMenos (#NoOneLess) and National Women Strike have also been a great help to bring light to this issue across the whole world.
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