President Luis Abinader affirmed that within the context of a crisis administration and its consequent effects, the government has made significant progress in favor of Dominican women on issues such as their care, cases of femicide, domestic violence, legal framework with some laws passed for their protection, economic empowerment and inequality.
He said he was convinced that in the coming months, in a situation of greater normalization of the economy, the issue of equality and equity in social and economic terms for women should be a national objective.
The mandatary He assured that employability in the female sector has improved significantly and that despite the limitations with which he began his administration, he is on the way to continue advancing.
He argued that the elimination of the gap in economic terms between men and women is a fundamental aspect for the economic development of the country.
He added that a great difference can be made with these actions and that is why he promotes special degree programs, Promipyme and the strengthening of those engines of the economy that greatly favor employment in the female sector.
On the approach of some sectors that propose the elimination of the Ministry of women, He said he did not agree and highlighted that in 2021 and 2022 this institution has increased its budget by 56%.
For the protection of women victims of violence, she explained, that when she arrived at the Government there were 3 shelters and with the resources assigned to the Ministry of Women it has risen to 15, which has helped improve the statistics in the complaints .
He urged women affected by violence from their partners to denounce their aggressors.
He also reported that the number of provinces where line 212 works has been taken from 7 to 14, for complaints against domestic violence and that for the first time in the Dominican Republic, women affected by violence are granted an aid of 10,000 pesos in two specialized games.
Basic SeNaSa Insurance
President Abinader pointed out that when he arrived in government one of the first measures he took was to deliver nearly two million two hundred thousand Basic SeNaSa insurance cardssince with this system many hospitals receive three to four times more insurance income than the subsidy given by the national health service.
“That has been a great advance, those two million two hundred thousand that we have given mostly to women, I think that it imitates and improves the issue of equity,” said the president.
Likewise, he emphasized that this is an issue of equity in general in the social and economic sector where the comprehensive public policies that this issue means, the government that presides over is organizing them, since they had never been done in the country.
He said that all public policy actions are limited by the crisis that has existed since the pandemic.
But at the same time, he clarified that with the decrease in the spread of COVID-19, other hospitals are being allowed to become specialized in maternity or in other specialized areas of medicine.
Infant maternal mortality
The president specified that if the Dominican statistics are separated from those of the Haitian ones, this significantly reduces infant and maternal mortality, since these indices are affected by more than 30% of Haitian parturients.
He added that these statistics have risen for two reasons, the first is because pregnant women stopped going to hospitals for fear of COVID and given prior treatment, and the second is that they do not have any prior consultation and present in serious conditions.
He stated that this issue is being addressed and for a year there has been a commission that meets weekly studying these cases.
On the subject of Sisalril, he argued that special contributions have been sent from the government so that no medical plan is suspended and that if it is not resolved, they must be in the process of being resolved.
I affirm that the budget of the National Health Service has increased by 7% in real terms and around 70 second and third level hospital infrastructures are being improved.
He also revealed that the government has a program this year to have clinics for oncology services in ten hospitals in the country and two have already been opened in the interior of the country, as well as expand hemodialysis in many head municipalities.
revealed that A trauma room unit will be started at the Taiwan Hospital in Azua since in the south there was no trauma hospital and another for the northwest line.
He expressed that everything that has to do with the amount of medicines, in 2021 increased by 14% more than in previous years.
“And so we have been advancing, in many other areas. I repeat, I would have liked to advance in all orders, faster, but under these circumstances, I think we have done everything possible, “she said.
For the Dominican women victims of violence abroadthe head of state reported that the Ministry of Women, together with the Institute of Dominicans Abroad (INDEX)have implemented information and orientation initiatives on the different possibilities to report and help alternatives that they have in their respective localities.
As a prevention policy, he explained that for the first time a Plan for Life without Violence was made, through which 150,000 families have been visited throughout the country, with special attention to the provinces with the highest incidence.
Through the visits, he specified, he educates and explains about life without violence, which he said has to be a national objective, where the talks and communications reach the factories, companies and businesses, and for the strengthening of education in the elementary schools, high schools and universities.
President Abinader stressed that it is precisely towards women that the social programs that are promoted and carried out by the government are focused, of which 72% of the beneficiaries correspond to this sector.
“Women are the face of absolute poverty in this country and they are mostly single mothers, so that is where specialized programs are focusing,” she argued.
And he added that for these plans to be successful, they require fundamental aspects that attack poverty in women.
In detailing some of these aspects, he recalled that about 60% of the property titles delivered through the State Land Titling Execution Unit have benefited women, as heads of families.
They have also received a 67% of the loans granted through Promipymes, This means an increase of 21%. This increase is due to direct instructions from the central government to prioritize micro and small entrepreneurs.
In addition, in a year and a half, more than 800 cooperatives have been created and the majority are women.
Impact of Superate on women
Regarding the economic aid that is promoted through the Supérate program, the president indicated that the 300,000 additional cards preloaded with amounts of 1,650 pesos, announced in his speech on February 27, come from data offered by the SIUBEN that will impact those people who were not included but are in a situation of poverty.
improve yourself It also offers programs to create new skills in women “so that they can become small businesswomen or go to the labor market,” Abinader pointed out.
These study opportunities are also supported by Promipymes, the Agricultural Bank, the Feda or the INFOTEP, which allow them to pursue technical careers and be successful.
women in jobs
Referring to the recovery and creation of jobs after COVID-19, the President emphasized the participation of women in two of the country’s main economic sectors, which are the free zones and the hotel industry.
“From 130 myl pre-Covid jobs in Free Zones, we have taken it to more than 180 thousand and 75% are women”. While in the hotel they occupy 60% of employability.
In another order, the head of state also addressed the issue of prostitution of girls and women in some tourist areas of the country, about which he said special projects have already been initiated to substantially reduce this problem.
She stressed that in her mandate, women governors were appointed, who are exercising their function of being the representative of the president of the Executive Power in each of these provinces, so that the leadership would also come from their localities.
PRM support to women
President Abinader highlighted the support that the government party has given to women, among them he cited the first woman vice president of the Republic, the first woman president of a party, the only one with a general secretary, a woman deputy director of the National Police, and other actions.
And he added: We have to advance more and we are going to advance more.
“Although it is true that there is still a long way to go and I hope to improve that part in what has to do with the cabinet, when we go to the vice ministries, the general directorates and the general population of the government and the directorate we are talking already about 41% in general terms that have been occupied by women, 2% more than two years ago, “he said.
On the subject of the three grounds, she stated that she maintains her firm decision to support it because it is an advance in aspects related to women’s rights, although she said that progress must be made, explaining the confusion that exists in society and perhaps make an approach with some other sectors that do not really understand what the causes mean.
He specified that according to the causes that are conditioned to a series of situations, but not with free abortion.
He stated that he is committed to the application of ILO Convention 189, signed 10 years ago, and to the sexual harassment of women in the workplace.
Abinader said that regarding the agreement of the domestic workers have had several sessions and the Ministry of Labor is managing the way to apply, but at the same time also with the Ministry of Women, a special bill and it is a priority to give domestic workers the rights that they should always have.
Likewise, he explained that in terms of white slavery, to improve the fight against this serious situation, a bill is in process in Congress.
“Then in both cases, we are going to move forward, just as we moved forward when we approved in this government against child marriage, which is an advance that was many years old that I never thought, gentlemen, that there were people against it,” he said.
As far as gender equity is concerned, he argued that the National Education Council It can be an ideal scenario to perfectly define and advance this topic.
He considered that the best way to do it is through consensus, as has been the government’s actions, by discussion, although there is not unanimity on all issues.
On the occasion of International Women’s Day, the president spoke during the special program 8 women journalists, interviewing President Luis Abinader, hosted by Edith Febles, from the program El Día; Altagracia Salazar, Without Makeup; Marien Aristy, Today Newspaper; Zenaida Méndez, New York media; Martha Florián, EFE Agency; Esperanza Ceballos, Univision New York; Patricia Solano, The Question and Carolina Santana, The Big Question.
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