Dominican Republic debates transparency and freedom of expression

In the Dominican Republic, discussions regarding transparency and freedom of expression have taken center stage through recent institutional and civil society events.

During the I National Adocco Seminar, panelists expressed concerns regarding the proposed New Penal Code. Participants, including journalist Odalis Castillo, warned that criminalizing speech could lead to self-censorship and intimidate journalists performing their role of oversight. The panel emphasized the need to distinguish between personal privacy and information relevant to public officials, suggesting that rectifications or fines might be more appropriate than imprisonment for protecting honor.

Separately, the General Directorate of Ethics and Government Integrity (Digeig) hosted an international conference focused on strengthening access to public information. Director Milagros Ortiz Bosch reported that institutional compliance with transparency standards in the country has risen from approximately 40% to 93%. The event, which included participation from the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC), highlighted the transition toward a more modern, data-driven administration to facilitate citizen and journalistic scrutiny.