In an alarming move, Argentina's President Javier Milei has dismantled significant state structures aimed at combating gender violence, sparking backlash from both national and international feminist and human rights organizations. The far-right administration's decision to shut down the Ministry of Women, Gender, and Diversity, with the latest closure of the undersecretariat for Protection against Gender Violence, has been criticized for undermining efforts to address the rising cases of feminicide and gender violence in the country.
Argentina has witnessed a harrowing increase in gender violence, with reports indicating that a feminicide occurs every 35 hours. The Women's Office of the Supreme Court of Justice recently revealed that 272 people died due to gender violence in 2023 alone, including cases of transvesticide/transfemicide. Additionally, 22 linked feminicides, targeting women to harm another individual, were reported. These statistics mark an 11% rise in gender-violence-related deaths compared to the previous year.
Lamenting the government's stance, several civil society entities, including Amnesty International and the Center for Legal and Social Studies, have issued a joint statement stressing, 'Fiscal regulation cannot be done at the cost of deaths and other forms of discriminatory violence against the population.' These organizations emphasized the Argentine State's historical commitment to combatting gender violence under international agreements and urged the government to establish a suitable structure to address the issue immediately.
International bodies like the Organization of American States (OAS) have also voiced deep concerns. For instance, Mesecvi, the OAS committee of experts, highlighted that the government's actions 'directly impact state capacities already affected by previous cuts, seriously compromising the State's obligation to protect women.'
Adding to the controversy, Milei's government has faced various criticisms for other domestic and international policies. Economically, Argentina's devaluation of the peso by over 50% and inflation rates reaching nearly 300% have placed the country with the highest inflation worldwide. Although a recent decrease in inflation to 8.8% in April is a glimmer of hope, it contrasts sharply with the rising poverty levels, reported to have increased from 44.7% to 55.5% within months.
Simultaneously, Milei's administration has created international ripples. His harsh remarks about global leaders—calling Mexico's President Lopez Obrador 'ignorant' and accusing Colombia's President Gustavo Petro of being a 'terrorist murderer'—have strained diplomatic relations. Milei's declaration supporting Israel and moving the Argentine Embassy to Jerusalem drew severe condemnation from Hamas.
The government's track record is further marred by domestic scandals, such as the recent revelation by El Destape of 5,000 tons of undistributed food by the Ministry of Human Capital. This scandal has led to public outrage and judicial interventions, with accusations spanning from misuse of resources to severe neglect.
- Economic measures implemented by Milei have led to widespread discontent. Inflation, interannual inflation rates peaking nearly at 300%, and labor reforms that elongate the trial period and reduce severance pay have amplified public frustration.
- Significant backlash also arose from Milei’s coherent alignment with far-right international ideologies, creating friction with global leaders and organizations. His support for controversial figures and extreme statements against those like Pope Francis have sparked global discussions about Argentina's new political direction.
- Milei's ambiguous relationships with international figures, such as former U.S. President Donald Trump and business magnates like Elon Musk, have also garnered international media attention. Despite these high-profile meetings, he has refrained from engaging with current sitting U.S. government officials.
- Domestically, the restructuring of the Argentine government has seen significant resignations and departmental revamps. The resignation of Chief of Staff Nicolás Posse and the merging of the Ministry of the Interior into the Chief of Staff's office illustrate the ongoing administrative turbulence.
