The United States Government, through its Agency for International Development (USAID), supported the launching of a program to improve and adapt the gender-based violence victims’ assistance unit in Santo Domingo West.
The renovation of the unit is part of the National Plan Against Gender Violence, which includes improvements to the nineteen units that existed before its implementation.
Speaking during the event, Attorney General Jean Rodríguez announced that “under this program personnel training activities will also be carried out and technical assistance will be provided to improve investigation processes. In addition, the management model of the unit will be reviewed, in order to streamline the processing of cases and reduce waiting times, all to prosecute gender violence more effectively and forcefully.”
Ambassador Robin S. Bernstein said, “We all have a responsibility to end family and gender-based violence. We must all work together to report what we see and what we hear.”
In addition, she noted that “The U.S. Government stands ready to assist the Dominican Republic to help promote democratic institutions that protect and respect the human rights of its most vulnerable citizens. The U.S. Government stands ready to assist in the strengthening of the justice sector to better prevent and prosecute crime and violence. The U.S. Government stands ready to assist the Dominican government in increasing the security of all Dominican citizens.”
