Buenos Aires, June 8 (RHC)-- The Government of Argentinian President Javier Milei has dissolved the Under Secretariat for Protection against Gender Violence, the only public entity that carried out comprehensive policies to prevent and assist victims and relatives, reported an official statement from the Ministry of Justice.

Despite the worrying increase in sexist violence, the ministry confirmed the closure of the entity.  Through a statement, the now-closed agency expressed: “In line with President Javier Milei's mandate to reduce the size of the State and eliminate politicized organizations, in December 2023 - the date on which the new authorities took office - the National Government ordered that "The Ministry of Women, Gender and Diversities will be transformed into an Undersecretariat while its closure is completed."

This news had already been previously announced by the head of that department, Claudia Barcia, who reported that the decision was transmitted to her through a telephone call and after that she presented her resignation from her position.

“On Wednesday, 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 Under Secretariat for Protection against Gender Violence will cease to exist.  Therefore, I present my unwavering resignation,” she stated in her resignation letter.

According to Barcia, the Milei administration had planned to dissolve this area of ​​the Government of Argentina, a country in which, on average, a woman dies every 35 hours due to sexist violence.

According to the Adriana Marisel Zambrano feminicide observatory, which directs the NGO La Casa del Encuentro, to date, in 2024, Argentina has registered 127 cases of sexist violence, of which 114 cases were femicides, three lesbicides, one transvesticicide, in addition of nine related deaths of adult males and children.

Last Monday, thousands of people participated in the "Ni una menos" march and demanded that the Government declare a national emergency due to sexist violence.

Feminist organizations rejected Milei's changes in the Executive, as they directly restrict policies to address gender-based violence.  In addition to accompanying and protecting victims of sexist violence, the nearly 800 people who were part of the Under Secretariat and carried out actions for reparation and access to Justice are now unemployed.