December 10th marks the celebration of International Human Rights Day, commemorating the adoption, by the United Nations General Assembly, of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights on 10 December 1948 in Paris. In Argentina, we also celebrate the restoration of democracy after one of the darkest periods in our history.
Since regaining our democracy, Argentina has incorporated the promotion and protection of human rights as a fundamental pillar of its foreign policy, a reflection of a consolidated national policy. The promotion and protection of human rights is cross-cutting in all public policy and takes on the concerns of Argentine society.
Our country’s leadership in the region and globally is reflected in numerous initiatives, with substantive contributions for the progressive development of international human rights law and international humanitarian law, such as the Right to Truth, the protection of persons against forced disappearances, the use of forensic genetics for cases of violations of human rights, the expansion of rights for vulnerable groups, the prevention of genocide and other mass atrocities, the protection of schools and educational establishments during armed conflicts, and the validity of economic, social and cultural rights, among others matters.
This broad human rights agenda has been possible thanks to the process of eradication of impunity for crimes against humanity perpetrated during the period of State terrorism, which has given our country legitimacy and renewed leadership, placing us at the Forefront of important initiatives.
With regard to the global system, Argentina is a member of the United Nations Council on Human Rights and Works, through its organs and procedures with the objective of achieving societies which are more just, inclusive, diverse and with full possession of human rights. We have recently presented our candidacy to renew our term for the 2022-24 period.
At the regional level, our country supports the Inter-American Human Rights System, which has played a key role for the victims of State terrorism and their families in the search for justice. Argentina considers the Inter-American Human Rights System as an early-warning mechanism which is useful inwards for the State to carry out institutional improvements, as well as development in legislation and jurisprudence, favouring the mechanism for amicable solutions as the preferred tool for the resolution of cases and petitions.
Argentina’s human rights agenda in every forum where we participate includes the fight against all types of discrimination through the promotion and protection of human rights of vulnerable and/or historically discriminated persons and groups, such as children, LGBTIQ people, people of African descent, indigenous people, older people, people with disabilities, migrants and refugees, among others. Additionally, policies of social inclusion centred on the respect of economic, social and cultural rights have a predominant place in the agenda.
La creation of the Ministry of Women, Gender and Diversities in December 2019 highlights our country’s commitment to move forward on the pending issues related to gender equality and equity, through the broadening of rights for women and LGBTI people, and applying a gender perspective in a cross-cutting manner in the design and implementation of national public policies.
It is worth noting that with regard to the recognition of human rights for women, genders and diversities our country has achieved great advances. With regard to legislation, we can highlight: the law of humanized birth (2004), the law on surgical contraception (2006), the law on comprehensive sex education (2006), the law for the comprehensive protection to prevent, punish and eradicate violence against women (2009), law for equal marriage (2010), law on gender identity (2012), law on gender parity in spaces of political representation (2017) and the Micaela law (2018).