The Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) reviewed Argentina and expressed concern over a series of institutional, regulatory and budgetary setbacks affecting the protection of the rights of women and girls in the country.
The CEDAW Committee monitors States parties’ compliance with their international obligations under the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women. On 9 and 10 February, the Committee held its constructive dialogue with civil society and the Argentine State. On the basis of those exchanges and the reports submitted by all parties, it has issued its concluding observations.
The Committee acknowledged previous legislative advances — such as the Voluntary Termination of Pregnancy Act (No. 27,610), the Micaela Act (No. 27,499), the Gender Parity Act (No. 27,412) and the Travesti-Trans Employment Quota Act (No. 27,636) — and noted with concern that, since 2024, public policies aimed at promoting gender equality have begun to be weakened.
Among the policies identified as being in a critical situation, the Committee highlighted:
The institutional dismantling resulting from the dissolution of the former Ministry of Women, Genders and Diversity, including the fragmentation of its functions and the loss of policies, along with significant budget cuts to gender equality, gender-based violence prevention and sexual and reproductive health policies.
The weakening of access to justice following the closure of 81 Access to Justice Centres (CAJ), the reduction in legal aid services, and the adoption of migration reforms that restrict due process guarantees and particularly affect migrant women.
Setbacks in the prevention of and response to gender-based violence, reflected in the operational and budgetary reduction of the Acompañar Program and the 144 hotline; the suspension of integrated data systems; the absence of a comprehensive National Plan to Combat Violence; and the weak implementation of the Olimpia Law on online violence.
Obstacles in the area of sexual and reproductive health, including persistent barriers to effective access to voluntary termination of pregnancy due to a lack of supplies, trained personnel and adequate regulation of conscientious objection. This is compounded by the weakening of Comprehensive Sex Education (ESI) and the ENIA Plan, through budget cuts, the dismantling of territorial teams and reduced teacher training.
Regressive labor reforms, adopted without gender impact assessments, which may deepen precariousness and disproportionately affect women. The Committee also warned of the absence of a comprehensive national care framework, which weakens public policy in this area and increases the disproportionate burden of unpaid care work. This context has direct implications for women’s unequal position in the labour market.
A hostile environment for women human rights defenders, marked by stigmatizing discourse and criminalization, particularly targeting community caregivers. In response, the Committee called on the State to adopt comprehensive legislation for the protection of women human rights defenders that incorporates risk assessment mechanisms.
An increase in incarceration linked to the excessive use of pretrial detention, and the need to adopt alternatives such as house arrest or electronic monitoring. The Committee also drew attention to allegations of ill-treatment in places of detention.
The absence of adequate public policies has a disproportionate impact on Indigenous women, migrant women and women with disabilities, exacerbated by regulatory reforms and budget cuts. In order to address this situation, the Committee recommended that the State:
Establish a high-level federal institutional mechanism, with sufficient resources, to advance gender equality policies.
Ensure implementation of the Micaela Act and strengthen mandatory gender training within the judiciary.
Adopt a comprehensive National Plan to Combat Gender-Based Violence, with adequate funding, measurable targets and accountability mechanisms.
Restore and strengthen the Acompañar Program (without making the filing of a complaint a requirement), the 144 hotline and public data systems on violence.
Strengthen maternal and child health services nationwide, and reinstate and fund the ENIA Plan.
Ensure effective and nationwide access to legal and safe abortion, including the availability of misoprostol and mifepristone.
Review labour and migration reforms to ensure their compatibility with the Convention and prevent retrogression in rights.
Strengthen the protection of women human rights defenders and combat stigmatizing discourse.
Today, cisgender and transgender women, adolescents and girls are being left to fend for themselves. Aside from complying with its international protection obligations, the State has a responsibility toward the actual women and girls living in the country today.