Argentina Plans to Remove Legal Recognition of Femicide, Sparking Outrage

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The government of President Javier Milei announced plans to eliminate the legal recognition of femicide from Argentina's penal code. Justice Minister Mariano Cúneo Libarona stated that this move is part of a broader initiative to uphold equality under the law, arguing that feminism distorts the concept of equality.

Femicide, defined as the murder of a woman by a man in the context of gender violence, was incorporated into the penal code in 2012 as an aggravating factor for homicides, punishable by life imprisonment. This announcement follows Milei's controversial comments at the World Economic Forum in Davos, where he claimed that existing legal frameworks already ensure equality before the law and that naming specific cases as femicide privileges women's lives over men's.

Activists in Argentina have expressed deep concern regarding the government's stance. Mariela Belski, executive director of Amnesty Argentina, emphasized that removing the femicide category could increase the danger for women and girls, given that many femicides occur at the hands of intimate partners or family members. Data from the national ombudsman indicates that 295 femicides were recorded in the previous year.

Since taking office, Milei's administration has already dissolved the ministry focused on women's issues and cut funding for gender violence support programs. The administration's actions reflect a broader cultural push against policies supporting gender protections, which activists argue could reverse years of progress in women's rights.

The decision has prompted strong reactions from feminist groups, who fear it heralds a new wave of misogyny in Argentinian politics.

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