Journalist pensions approved and judicial reforms continue

The Dominican Republic continues to address media harassment and judicial reform. Following discussions at the Dominican College of Journalists (CDP) National Assembly, President Luis Abinader has reportedly approved a proposal to provide pensions for journalists based on age or illness, though the official decree is currently pending publication.

During the CDP’s Ordinary National Assembly, Luis Pérez, president of the organization, announced the approval of the pension initiative, which was presented by the CDP and the Instituto de Previsión y Protección del Periodista (IPPP). The assembly also included reports regarding the bidding and awarding of a contract for the remodeling of the CDP’s main building.

Legal debates regarding the new Penal Code persist, specifically concerning the tension between defamation laws and freedom of expression. Jurists continue to advocate for progressive economic sanctions, such as fines, rather than imprisonment to mitigate the risk of self-censorship.

Regarding judicial stability, Milton Ray Guevara, former president of the Constitutional Court, has reiterated his warning that a collapse of the Judicial Power would have ‘terrible consequences’ for the nation. He maintains that the head of the Supreme Court of Justice should possess management capacity and that the role does not strictly require a career judge. In a related development, the Judicial Power has implemented a new protocol designed to prevent violence, discrimination, and harassment within its own institutions.