Argentina's Justice Ministry Dismisses 85% of Workers from Former Women’s Ministry

In a significant move by President Javier Milei’s administration, Justice Minister Mariano Cúneo Libarona announced the dismissal of 85% of the workforce at the former Women, Gender & Diversity Ministry. The remaining staff will be reassigned to the Family Protection Directorate. This decision marks a substantial reduction in personnel following the dissolution of the Ministry, initially established in 2019 under former president Alberto Fernández's government and later downgraded to a secretariat by Milei upon his assumption of office in December.

Cúneo Libarona revealed the layoff details via his X social media account, emphasizing that the remaining employees will focus on assisting Argentines facing violence and risk situations. This announcement has ignited immediate backlash from former workers and advocacy groups who argue that the cuts dismantle crucial public bodies dedicated to combating gender-based violence.

The ATE state workers’ association publicly criticized the libertarian administration's decision, asserting that the government will struggle to meet the needs of those requiring assistance. They claim that more than 80% of the Ministry's employees were informed that their contracts would not be renewed, effectively dissolving the body and undermining national and international commitments to gender-related issues and diversity. This, they argue, represents a significant regression in human rights.

In a press release, the ATE highlighted inconsistencies in the Justice Ministry's statements, pointing out that while authorities claim no more layoffs will occur, the dismissal of specialized workers hinders the implementation of necessary public policies. They also stressed that the Ministry's plans to address violence and risk situations ignore the specifics of Law 26.485 on gender-based violence.

The statement noted that the 144 telephone helpline, established under Law 26.485 to provide comprehensive protection against violence towards women, has been severely impacted, with only two workers remaining to handle calls nationwide. This drastically reduces the helpline’s effectiveness and undermines compliance with the law. Specialist interdisciplinary teams dealing with femicide, transvesticide, transfemicide, and crimes against sexual integrity are also affected by these layoffs.

The ATE further reported that over 7,000 victims of gender-based violence, categorized as Extremely High Risk/Emergency, are currently awaiting assistance through the Acompañar Programme. These teams, already reduced by previous layoffs in December and March, have now been cut by an additional 50%.

In conjunction with these personnel cuts, the Milei government extended a decree prohibiting the hiring of new staff by state bodies and authorizing the reorganization of various sectors. Decree 551/2024, published in the Official Gazette, extends Decree 426 from July 2022, which restricts the hiring of temporary, fixed-term, part-time, and professional services staff across the public sector.

Why This Matters: The dismissal of 85% of the staff from the former Women, Gender & Diversity Ministry signifies a substantial shift in Argentina's approach to addressing gender-based violence and diversity issues. It raises concerns about the country's ability to meet its national and international obligations and maintain essential services for vulnerable populations.

Key Takeaways:

• The Milei administration has dismissed 85% of the former Women, Gender & Diversity Ministry's workforce.
• The remaining staff will be transferred to the Family Protection Directorate.
• The ATE workers' association has condemned the layoffs, citing a failure to meet demands for assistance.
• The dismissal has severely impacted services such as the 144 helpline and interdisciplinary teams dealing with gender-based violence.
• The government has extended a decree prohibiting new hires in the public sector, further complicating the reorganization.