New Dominican constitution defends life from moment of conception

Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, Feb 1, 2010 / 12:59 pm MT (CNA).-

After seven months of congressional debate, the Dominican Republic has implemented a new constitution which defends life "from conception to natural death."

The new constitution which outlaws abortion took effect on January 26.  

Following the official announcement of the constitution, the country's president, Leonel Fernandez called the document the “Constitution of the 21st century."

The defense of life was one of the most controversial issues of the debate and was finally defined in article 37 of the constitution.  It reads, "The right to life is inviolable from conception to natural death. The death penalty shall not be established, decreed or applied in any case."