The past 4 June 2024 workers from the former Ministry of Women were informed, Genres and Diversity of Argentina, current Undersecretary of Protection against Gender Violence, of the reduction of at least one 80% of the plant, leaving more than 500 personas, among them hundreds of women and unemployed LGBTI+ people. two days later, he 6 June, the official in charge Claudia Barcia resigned from her position and the Secretary of Human Rights, Alberto Baños, reported the total dissolution of the agency.
The elimination of the aforementioned Ministry, which was a product of the numerous feminist struggles and the sexual diversity of the country, It was already serious and constituted an enormous setback in the region. Now the dissolution of this Undersecretariat leaves in suspense the execution of important public policies such as the 144 psycholegal care in cases of gender violence, that takes more than 10 current years, the AcompañAr program of economic support to escape situations of violence, the Micaela Law on training for authorities and public employees on gender issues, among other programs aimed at protecting the lives and psychophysical integrity of women and LGBTI+ people in Argentina.
The decision made by the government of Javier Milei puts the well-being and safety of thousands of citizens at risk., citizens who benefited from the public policies led by this agency. But also from those who were working there, who with their contracts guaranteed the maintenance of gender policies, in addition to their own economic support and that of their families in the midst of a brutal economic crisis. We see with special concern the dismissal of transvestite and trans workers who, thanks to social inclusion policies for LGBTI+ people, found themselves in the former Ministry of Women, Genres and Diversity, and now in this Undersecretariat, his first formal job.
This decision goes directly against the article 26 of the American Convention on Human Rights on the progressive development of economic rights, social and cultural, from which derives the prohibition of adopting measures that are deliberately regressive¹. It is also openly contrary to the commitments to prevent gender-based violence assumed by Argentina when it ratified the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women. (CEDAW) and the Inter-American Convention to Prevent, Punish and Eradicate Violence against Women in Belem do Pará. Failure to comply with these obligations may lead to the international responsibility of the State..
From the Network of LGBTI+ Litigants of the Americas we urge the Argentine government to stop the massive cuts in gender and sexual diversity policies, to comply with international obligations regarding the protection of human rights and to respect the labor rights of people who were working in the Undersecretariat for Protection against Gender Violence.
