In a crucial effort to address the persistent gender-based violence (GBV) crisis in the Dominican Republic, the event "Building Transformative Alliances and Narratives: The Power of Partnerships and Communication in the Fight Against Gender-Based Violence" was held.

This initiative was promoted by the United Nations System in the country, through the UN Population Fund (UNFPA) within the framework of the Spotlight Initiative, with the support of the Kingdom of the Netherlands and the Universidad Iberoamericana (UNIBE). Gender-based violence is a structural crisis in the country, with alarming figures. Between 2015 and 2021, 473,884 cases of gender-based violence and domestic violence were reported, an annual average of 67,698 incidents. Although there was a slight decrease in femicides in 2023 (137) compared to 2022 (153), the Dominican Republic maintains one of the highest rates of femicides in Latin America and the Caribbean.

It is estimated that two out of three women in the country have experienced some type of violence throughout their lives, and the year-on-year growth rate of these cases is 3.82%. At the event, which sought to strengthen multi-stakeholder alliances and promote the construction of responsible narratives to prevent and eradicate GBV, experiences and best practices were exchanged among representatives of the government, civil society, the private sector, the media, academia, and international organizations.

In her remarks, Julia Sánchez, United Nations Resident Coordinator in the Dominican Republic, offered welcoming remarks and emphasized that the current situation requires not only impactful public policies, but also a profound shift in the social and cultural norms that perpetuate inequality: “Multi-stakeholder alliances are essential to comprehensively address this problem. No single actor can change such entrenched structures. It requires the commitment of the State, civil society, the media, the private sector, academia, and international cooperation.” She also emphasized: “In a country where more than 70% of the population uses social media, what we say and how we say it directly impacts how we understand and confront gender-based violence. Media outlets, journalists, influencers, and digital platforms have the responsibility not only to inform, but also to shape opinions.”

Juana Damaris José, Deputy Minister for Violence Prevention at the Ministry of Women, clarified that gender-based violence is a structural injustice that must be transformed through coherent public policies, committed institutions with political will, coordination, and education. “At the Ministry of Women, we firmly maintain that no woman should survive violence to have her story heard. Our commitment is to prevent rather than regret, to protect rather than punish, and to transform rather than normalize,” added José.

For Mario Serrano, UNFPA National Representative, the power of narratives to change minds and hearts is a key ally. He stated: “We must understand that the way the media addresses violence has a profound impact. It not only influences how society perceives this reality, but is also a fundamental catalyst for the transformation of social norms and, undeniably, a key factor in the creation of effective public policies.” Serrano also called for strengthening alliances between government, civil society, the private sector, the media, academia, and international organizations.

Meanwhile, Odile Camilo, Rector of UNIBE, shared that academia has an irreplaceable role in the generation of knowledge, understanding that shared and sustained work among different sectors of society will allow us to achieve the desired goal of achieving a just, supportive, and prosperous country for all people. "The topic addressed today constitutes a core focus of work that we promote from each of the university's substantive functions, including teaching and research. Our curriculum thoughtfully addresses the issues that convene us today in a cross-cutting manner, but also from a human rights perspective in the courses, workshops, and seminars that, with pedagogical intent, address gender perspectives and civic engagement," she stated.

For her part, Leonne Van Vlimmeren, Minister Counselor of the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in the country, affirmed that there is a common urgency to strengthen prevention and combating gender-based violence across contexts and cultures, requiring a strong and sustained commitment. “We recognize with deep respect the work of communicators, journalists, educators, public and private institutions, and every individual who, in their own space, contributes to changing the lives of many women, girls, and people in vulnerable situations. Today, more than ever, we need to unite voices, resources, and experiences to face this global challenge. No sector alone can eradicate gender-based violence; this is a task that requires a collective effort,” Van Vlimmeren added.

The keynote address was given by Dr. Sara Isabel Pérez, a specialist in discourse analysis, who spoke on “Building New Discourses and Narratives for Advocacy, Alliances, and Argumentation for Gender Equality.” Pérez clarified that when we talk about discourse, we refer to a set of meanings that not only communicate information but also construct realities and identities. She highlighted the importance of rethinking how we approach news, especially in contexts of gender-based violence, and called for the articulation of transformative narratives from educational spaces, the media, the private sector, civil society, universities, and the State.

The event also featured two panels. The first focused on "Transformative Alliances: Multi-Stakeholder Coordination for the Prevention of Gender-Based Violence," moderated by Carolina Alvarado, Director of the Cabinet of the Ministry of Women, and featuring Josefina Navarro, Senior Vice President of Corporate Communications and Social Responsibility at Banco BHD; Aída Mencía Ripley, Vice-Rector of Research at UNIBE; Patricia Santana, constitutional lawyer; and Melvin Asin, Head of European Union Cooperation.

The panel "Alliances that Communicate: The Power of Narratives to Raise Awareness and Prevent Gender Violence" then continued. The panelists included Claudia Montás, executive director of the Dominican Association of Commercial Communication Companies (ADECC); Fausto Rosario, director of the digital newspaper Acento; Desirée del Rosario, coordinator of the Center for Gender Studies at INTEC; and Paola Tejeda, director of El Mitin, moderated by journalist Stalin Montero.

This space for reflection and dialogue seeks to implement awareness-raising and prevention actions, moving toward a more just, equitable, and gender-based violence-free Dominican Republic through multi-stakeholder alliances. These include the State, civil society, the private sector, the media, academia, and international organizations. These alliances are essential for coordinating comprehensive responses and ensuring that our actions are coherent and effective in building consensus. Media and digital coverage of GBV influences public perception. In a country where more than 70% of the population uses social media, it is essential that journalists and content creators promote narratives that challenge stereotypes and highlight GBV as a human rights violation.