Child Abuse Crisis Grips Dominican Republic as Senate Approves Major Government Overhaul

Dominican Republic Grapples with Surge in Child Abuse Cases Amidst Government Restructuring The Dominican Republic is facing a concerning rise in child abuse cases, as reported by CDN's "Despierta con CDN" news summary. The report highlights the urgency of the situation, with experts calling for immediate action to protect children. A social worker from INASIF, who chose to remain anonymous, warned about the need for alert adults and trained professionals to identify and prevent such incidents. "The country needs alert adults, trained teachers, and systems in place to detect the danger," the social worker stated. Simultaneously, the Dominican Senate approved the merger of the Ministries of Finance and Economy, a move aimed at streamlining government operations and strengthening economic planning. This initiative, passed with 19 votes in favor, will now move to the Chamber of Deputies. The proposal, declared a national emergency, seeks to create a new Ministry of Finance and Economy, enhancing the government's ability to implement public economic policies. On a more positive note, Banco Popular Dominicano received a gold award from Fintech Americas for its digital financial inclusion program. This recognition underscores the bank's commitment to expanding financial access to young people, small businesses, and remittance recipients. The award-winning ecosystem comprises three mobile applications designed to promote financial inclusion in historically underserved sectors. The events of the day highlight both the challenges and progress within the Dominican Republic, emphasizing the need for societal vigilance and innovative solutions.