The Dominican Republic is one of four Latin American countries that criminalize abortion with no exceptions. Activists, organizations, and community leaders campaign against that law, as well as hold sex education classes for adolescents to address sexual and reproductive rights, gender-based violence, self-esteem and other related topics. Dominican law has prohibited child marriage since 2021, but activists say the practice is still common. UNICEF reports that more than a third of Dominican females married or entered into a free union before turning 18 as recently as 2019.
Compiled from: Maria Teresa Hernandez, "How Dominican women fight child marriage and teen pregnancy while facing total abortion bans," Associated Press, Jan. 2, 2024.