This approach has generated concern among feminist and human rights organizations, who see this decision as a step backward in the fight against gender-based violence

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The Argentine government, led by the Minister of Justice, Mariano Cúneo Libarona, has announced the elimination of the femicide figure from the Penal Code, a decision that has sparked intense debate in the country.

In a message published on the social network X, Cúneo Libarona argued that “no life is worth more than another” and that the current administration defends equality before the law, as established by the National Constitution.

The figure of femicide was incorporated into the Argentine Penal Code in 2012 during the term of Cristina Fernández, when Law 26.791 was amended to criminalize homicides motivated by gender violence.

Since then, femicide has been considered an aggravating factor in homicide cases, reflecting the country’s commitment to combating violence against women.

However, the current government, headed by President Javier Milei, has taken a critical stance towards this legal figure. Cúneo Libarona quoted a speech by Milei at the World Economic Forum in Davos, where the president said that feminism distorts the concept of equality and that the existence of femicide implies that “the life of a woman is worth more than that of a man.”

This approach has generated concern among feminist and human rights organizations, who see this decision as a step backward in the fight against gender-based violence.
These struggles have demonstrated over the years the deep structural differences perpetuated between women and men.

The minister also criticized the political use of femicide, saying that “for years they have used women to fill their pockets and discredit men.” This statement has been interpreted as an attempt to delegitimize feminist struggles and efforts to address gender-based violence in Argentina.

However, the femicide figures are alarming: according to data from the feminist organization Mujeres de la Matria Latinoamericana (Mumalá), Argentina recorded 255 femicides in the past year.
The elimination of this legal figure could have significant implications for the protection of women and for the recognition of gender violence as a structural problem in Argentine society.

The government’s decision omits the dangers of minimizing the severity of gender-based crimes.

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