Just three days after the massive and critical marches throughout the country within the framework of Ni Una Menos, the government of Javier Milei dissolved the Undersecretary of Protection against Gender Violence, the area that had been left standing after the dissolution of the former Ministry of Women, Gender and Diversity. After learning of the decision, the head in charge Claudia Barcia presented her resignation from the position this Thursday. So far this year, Argentina registered 89 victims of femicidesaccording to the National Registry of Mumalá (Women of the Latin American Motherland).
The undersecretary in charge of Barcia had passed to the orbit of Human Capital, in charge of Sandra Pettovello, and then to the Ministry of Justice whose head is Mariano Cúneo Libarona. He had under your responsibility compliance with current regulations as a Comprehensive Protection Law to prevent, punish and eradicate violence against women in the areas in which they develop their interpersonal relationships (Law 26,485), the Law of Access to Formal Employment for Transvestites, Transsexuals and Transgender People «Diana Sacayán-Lohana Berkins », the Gender Identity Law (Law 26,743) and the Micaela Law (Law 27499), among others, based on international agreements that the Argentine State signed such as Belén do Pará and Cedaw.
Through a presentation addressed to the Minister of Justice Cúneo Libarona, Barcia announced her unwavering resignation after being notified by the Secretary of Human Rights Alberto Baños that his undersecretary will cease to exist.
«I am writing to you in order to let you know that yesterday I received a WhatsApp call at 7:57 p.m. from the Secretary of Human Rights Alberto Baños through which he informed me that the Undersecretariat for Protection against Violence of Gender, which is under the hierarchical orbit of the Secretariat of Justice of the Ministry of Justice in accordance with decrees n° 450 and 451/24, will cease to exist“said the former official in the document. In that sense, he added that he presents his “unwavering resignation” as of today.
They denounce the total emptying of gender violence prevention policies
For their part, workers from the former Ministry of Women, Gender and Diversity had already denounced this Tuesday a «emptying of the area» and they assured that “next June 30, 80% of the workforce will be laid off.”
“One day after Ni Una Menos filled the streets of the entire country again, we found out from directors of the Undersecretariat for Protection against Gender Violence of the Ministry of Justice (former MMGYD) that on June 30, 80% of the workforce will be laid off”, reported from the Communication Secretariat of the former Ministry of Women, Gender and Diversity.
“More than 500 people will be out of work and, the only area that has remained after the dissolution of the Ministry of Women, Gender and Diversity of the Nationit would remain operational with around 100 workers,” they continued.
“After the first 5 months of government, we found a total emptying of the prevention policies of the gender-based violence, a product of the brutal adjustment that the Milei government “it wants to continue perpetuating in pursuit of the disappearance of the national State and to deepen its policy of confrontation with women, LGBTI+ and feminisms in general,” the statement continues.
Nine years of “Ni Una Menos”: no income and reduced programs in Nación and Neuquén
As in previous years, on average, almost every Sunday in 2023 a femicidal attack occurred somewhere in the country: 3 out of 4 were inside a home. The data, practically lost in the last report of the registry carried out by the Supreme Court of Justice of the Nation, measures the magnitude of the issue. The libertarian government, which took office last December 10, does not recognize the urgency of this agenda, the president degrades it every time he can and reduces any type of accompanying program to a minimum.
“We have a lot of uncertainty about how we are going to continue”said lawyer Celina Fernández, who is part of the team that provides legal support to victims of gender violence from Nación in the province. They recently changed departments: they went from the Ministry of Human Capital to Justice.
He stressed that “There is an economic need that is very very palpable” and that it has become difficult to coordinate with provincial assistance programs. RÍO NEGRO published that Rolando Figueroa’s management went five months without paying the contribution for the rents that the victims receive.
89 femicides were recorded so far this year in the country
So far this year, Argentina registered 89 victims of femicides, according to the National Registry of Mumalá (Women of the Latin American Motherland). This report reveals the most extreme forms of gender violence that occurred from January 1 to May 30 in the country, based on the analysis and monitoring of digital and graphic media, search engines, alert systems, monitoring of organizations, portals specialized in gender, feminism, human rights and police.
According to the data, from January 1st to May 30th, there was a femicide every 40 hours in the country. Some 87 children and adolescents were left without mothers. In addition, they registered 216 attempted femicides.
