Mother challenges Dominican Republic abortion ban after teen’s death
9 reported
The mother of a teenage girl who died after doctors in the Dominican Republic delayed treating her for cancer because she was pregnant is challenging the country’s strict abortion ban. The challenge, filed Wednesday in the country’s Constitutional Court, was joined by civil society groups including a Christian organization. They argue the ban violates rights to life, health, dignity, and equality, and that protections should be extended to pregnant girls and women. The Dominican Republic has one of the strictest abortion bans in the region, criminalizing it without exception. The challenge seeks to allow abortions in cases of rape or incest, when the life or health of a woman or girl is in danger, or when a fetus has fatal abnormalities. At least 67,455 abortions were recorded from 2019 through late 2024 in the public health sector, according to government data, which did not differentiate between spontaneous and induced abortions. The challenge notes the ban worsens existing inequalities, with women who have resources able to seek private care while impoverished women face higher health risks and criminal prosecution.
What’s reported
Rosa Herminia Hernández is the mother of Rosaura Almonte, who died in 2012 from leukemia while three weeks pregnant at age 16.
The challenge was filed Wednesday in the Dominican Republic’s Constitutional Court.
The Dominican Republic criminalizes abortion without exception; women face up to two years in prison, doctors or midwives five to 20 years.
The challenge seeks abortions allowed in rape or incest cases, when life or health is in danger, or when a fetus has fatal abnormalities.
At least 67,455 abortions were recorded from 2019 through late 2024 in the public health sector, according to government data.
From June 2017 to October 2022, prosecutors filed 62 criminal cases for abortion and 16 for attempted abortion; the Prosecutor General’s Office stopped publishing such data since November 2022.
In 2023, a woman with three children, one from rape, had an incomplete spontaneous abortion and was detained for 10 days in inhumane conditions, according to the challenge.
In 2024, at least 585 girls aged 11 to 14 became mothers, according to government data.
At least 681 rapes were reported from January to July 2025, with activists noting unreported cases are much higher.
Key figures
Rosa Herminia Hernández: mother of the deceased teen
Rosaura Almonte: teen who died in 2012 from leukemia while pregnant
Patricia Santana Nina: attorney involved in the challenge
Sources: abcnews.com
