Argentina is facing a growing crisis of gender-based violence, with domestic violence reports rising significantly. Data from the Office of Domestic Violence (OVD) of Argentina’s Supreme Court show that at least 39 percent of cases involve severe or repeated abuse, frequent episodes, or injuries indicating a high likelihood of ongoing harm. Feminist observatories have also recorded an alarming increase in femicides, reporting 29 deaths in October alone, including cases of transfemicide.
The national ombudsman’s office highlights that a femicide occurs every 35 hours in the country. Recent high-profile cases, such as the triple femicide of Brenda, Morena, and Lara in Buenos Aires, have spurred feminist movements like Ni Una Menos to demand accountability and structural change.
Gender-based violence in Argentina is deeply rooted in structural inequality and entrenched patriarchal norms. Government budget cuts have exacerbated the crisis: thirteen gender-related programs were dismissed as ideological, and the national budget for prevention and response to gender-based violence fell by 89 percent between 2023 and 2024. Programs supporting survivors, such as Acompañar, lost 90 percent of funding, reducing coverage from over 100,000 people in 2023 to just 434 in 2024. Proposed budgets for 2026 threaten to eliminate these programs entirely and slash resources for violence prevention, sexual and reproductive health, and sexuality education by nearly 90 percent.
Meanwhile, government officials have undermined protections. Justice Minister Mariano Cúneo Libarona announced plans to remove femicide from the Penal Code, eliminating legal frameworks for preventing and punishing gender-motivated killings. Security Minister Patricia Bullrich attributed rising femicides to “excesses of feminism,” shifting blame from perpetrators to victims. President Javier Milei claimed femicide laws unfairly assign greater value to a woman’s life, reflecting a misunderstanding of the laws’ purpose to recognize gender-based violence as an aggravating factor.
The incoming legislature, taking office on December 10, has a critical opportunity to address this crisis. Lawmakers can draft new protections, prevent harmful measures, and ensure access to sexual and reproductive health services, including support for survivors of violence. Immediate action is essential to reverse the backsliding and protect women, girls, and LGBT people across Argentina.
