Dominican Republic Penal Code excludes abortion exceptions

The Dominican Republic's new Penal Code, which underwent approximately 20 years of congressional debate, was promulgated in 2025 without including the 'three causes' for legal abortion. These exceptions, recognized in many Latin American and international jurisdictions, typically allow for the procedure in cases where the mother's life or health is at risk, the fetus is medically determined to be non-viable, or the pregnancy results from rape or incest.

Critics argue that the exclusion of these grounds reflects a failure by legislators to prioritize the health and life rights of pregnant women. While the Code is currently in a waiting period before entering into force, a constitutional challenge has already been filed with the Constitutional Court.