Youth in the Dominican Republic

Higher education is free in the public sector, most notably at the Universidad Autónoma de Santo Domingo, which enrolls 44% of the total tertiary student population.

The country also has multiple governmental laws that protect minors younger than eighteen years old from being arrested, legally processed, and going to jail.

[3] The General Youth Law has a national education-based policy that requires high school students to complete sixty hours of service as a prerequisite of graduation.

[1] The electoral participation rate in the Dominican Republic is higher than the Latin America average, as over 77.3 percent indicated they had voted in the last election.

As of 2006, there were 17,000 children and youth who have been issued birth certificates, allowing them to attend school and vote in elections.

[9] Youth in the Dominican Republic tend to distrust government officials and institutions because they feel exploited.

[9] Young adults in the Dominican Republic say that they believe they have a negative image in society, but ultimately just want their voices heard by older members of the community.

[3] There are also set policies that help youth improve their creative and innovative skills for the workforce and reducing barriers that could limit their access to the labor market.

Youth face difficulties when entering the labor market and have unemployment rates considerably higher than adults.

[1] Over 75% of the youth labor force is concentrated in five activities: wholesale and retail trade, other services, manufacturing, hotels, bars and restaurants, and agriculture.

[12] The labor force participation is lower among young women due to gender stereotypes, which causes them to rely on self-employment.

[12] Another program available is Espacios para Emprender (EpE), which is designed to equip 14–17 year old adolescents with the strategies required to find a job or establish a micro-enterprise.

[1] The scarcity of resources may push young people into unsustainable and dangerous survival activities often creating violent neighborhoods.

In Latin America and the Caribbean, it is estimated that over 50% of the population between 12 and 24 years is at-risk in participating in illegal and dangerous activities.

[1] The General Law of Health ensures that these rights are preserved for youth, women, senior citizens, and the disabled.