Dominican activists protest against a new criminal code that would maintain a total abortion ban

Activists in the Dominican Republic are protesting against a bill for a new criminal code that would retain a total abortion ban. The Dominican Senate gave initial approval to the bill in late June and lawmakers are expected to give it final approval in the next few days. The activists want abortion to be legal when the woman’s life is at risk, when a pregnancy is the product of rape or incest, and in cases of fetal malformation. The Dominican Republic is one of four Latin American nations that criminalizes abortion without exceptions.