Santo Domingo. The lawyer and leader of the Partido Revolucionario Moderno (PRM), Manuel Conde, questioned the low presence of women in the high state institutions, despite the fact that nearly 64% of the Dominican judicial system is composed of them. This reflection arises in the context of the recent International Women’s Day, when the country commemorated advances in gender equity.
Breach in the Judicial Power and key organs
Conde highlighted that in the Supreme Court of Justice, of 17 magistrates, only five are women. In the Constitutional Court, five of thirteen judges belong to the female gender, while the Electoral Superior Court has two of five. The Central Electoral Board reflects a similar proportion, with two women among five members. These figures demonstrate a low presence of women in positions of maximum hierarchy, despite the progress of female educational and professional achievements.
Low presence of women also in the Executive and private sector
In the Executive Power, only two ministries are led by women, according to the jurist. This disparity extends to the private sector, where Dominican women surpass male educational levels, but face barriers to leadership roles and persistent salary gaps. Data from the Central Bank confirms that women represent 52% of the workforce, but only 30% in management positions, according to recent reports from 2025.
Historical context and call to action
Historically, the Dominican Republic has promoted laws such as the 137-03 labor equality law and 40% parity quotas in political candidatures since 2018, driven by the PRM and other parties. However, Conde insists that true change requires opening real leadership spaces based on merit and preparation. “The country has a highly prepared generation of women. The challenge now is for that preparation to also be reflected in the spaces where decisions are made”, he expressed.
- Advances: Higher female enrollment in universities (55% according to the Ministry of Education, 2024).
- Challenges: Persistent low presence of women in corporate boards (25%, per Chamber of Commerce).
- Expert opinions: Sociologist Maribel Durán advocates for mentorships to break glass ceilings.
Conde emphasized that equity is consolidated with continuous education and meritocratic opportunities. This low presence of women in high state institutions invites a national debate on effective inclusion in leadership.
