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We participated in COP2 of the Escazú Agreement

On April 19, 20 and 21, we participated in Buenos Aires in the Second Conference of the Parties to the Escazú Agreement (COP2), of an extraordinary nature. The main objective was to elect the first members of the Support Committee for the Application and Compliance of the treaty, a body that will accompany the countries in the implementation of the Agreement.

“Below, we offer a google translate version of the original article in Spanish. This translation may not be accurate but serves as a general presentation of the article. For more accurate information, please switch to the Spanish version of the website. In addition, feel free to directly contact in English the person mentioned at the bottom of this article with regards to this topic”.

During those days, continuity was given to the work that had begun a year ago at COP1 in Santiago de Chile, where it was agreed to hold the extraordinary meeting of 2023 in order to reach certain “agreements” between the member countries that allow the effective application from Escazú as soon as possible. In this sense, different discussions took place around the existing challenges to strengthen access to information, public participation and access to justice in environmental matters.

The official Conference was held in the rooms of the Hotel Libertador and in parallel there were also a series of talks, workshops and meetings organized by the Ministry of the Environment and Sustainable Development of the Nation in conjunction with civil society organizations. civil. The parallel events were enriching since there were exchanges of experiences, knowledge and knowledge regarding the implementation of the Agreement in the different countries.

On the second day of the COP, the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC) presented the Implementation Guide, which provides information, guidance and different options for States to carry out the Agreement. pointing out Secretary Carlos de Miguel pointed out that “Escazú must be interpreted in an integral way, with a holistic approach and in good faith.” Some States also presented their implementation plans, Argentina communicated the actions that are being developed within the framework of the Fifth National Action Plan for Open Government.

However, the most significant exchanges and interventions occurred when addressing the Action Plan for Environmental Defenders, an instrument that will allow progress towards the full and effective implementation of Article 9 of the Agreement, which establishes that each State party must guarantee a safe environment for people who defend rights in environmental matters. This is essential since Latin America and the Caribbean are more dangerous regions for environmental defenders. There, the original peoples were the protagonists by manifesting the entire path that remains to be traveled and the innumerable existing needs, among them, having effective participation in environmental protection and justice measures, according to their realities.

The defenders of the province of Córdoba were also able to express their claims through the voice of a neighbor who was a member of Vecinxs Unidxs del Barrio San Antonio, who expressed the serious situation of the defenders who were charged with the cause of the Punilla Highway and the conflict with the company Porta Hnos, among others.

In addition, the defenders put on the table the need for the Agreement to contain a gender perspective. In this sense, they stated that it is necessary to make visible the differentiated risks that women defenders have, to vindicate and make visible the role of women as defenders of life and the environment.

Regarding the election of the Support Committee for the Application and Compliance with the Treaty, the States Parties were in charge of electing the seven members of this new instance: Andrés María Napoli (Argentina), Guillermo Eduardo Acuña (Chile), Mariana Blengio Valdés (Uruguay), Rita Leonette Joseph-Olivetti (Granada), Patricia Madrigal Cordero (Costa Rica), Carole Denise Angela Stephens (Jamaica) and Félix Wing Solís (Panama). For the election, criteria of experience in the subject, geographical distribution, gender parity and legal trajectory were taken into account.

The preparation of an Action Plan that establishes protection standards for human rights defenders in Environmental Matters in Latin America and the Caribbean was also presented. This plan is made available and considered through a Public Consultation available until June 21 on the ECLAC website.

It is essential to note that citizen participation, one of the strengths of the Escazú Agreement, has been a matter of discussion since the beginning of the conference, since many people could not participate in the event due to the accreditation system for official activities. We must express our annoyance and concern in this regard, given that many defenders were unable to enter the sessions even when there was space in the room. On the other hand, we welcome Brazil’s commitment to be part of the Agreement in the short term, and we urge the other States of the region to ratify it.

We highlight, once again, that Escazú constitutes an essential tool for the protection of the environment in the region, strengthens the work that local communities are carrying out and provides concrete tools to achieve the human right to a healthy environment. For these reasons, we consider it essential that spaces for discussion continue to be generated and fostered so that the Agreement is implemented as soon as possible in all the countries of the region.

 

More Information

 

Authors

Ananda Lavayén

Carrizo Maria Laura

Contact

lauracarrizo@fundeps.org

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IDB Annual Meetings were held with limited civil society participation

Within the framework of the Annual Meeting of the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), held in Panama, a group of civil society organizations met with the president of the Institution, Ilan Goldfajn, in an attempt to strengthen the link between the parties.

“Below, we offer a google translate version of the original article in Spanish. This translation may not be accurate but serves as a general presentation of the article. For more accurate information, please switch to the Spanish version of the website. In addition, feel free to directly contact in English the person mentioned at the bottom of this article with regards to this topic”.

Between March 16 and 19, the Annual Assembly of Governors of the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) and IDB Invest was held in Panama City. It is a debate forum in which the members of the institution, together with those who preside over the central banks and other high-level authorities, discuss and address issues on issues considered to be a priority.

In the opening speech, the current president of the IDB, Ilan Goldfajn, outlined some of the institution’s priorities, which revolve around social issues such as food security, poverty, inequality, health, and education. In turn, he emphasized the mitigation of climate change and adaptation to it, stressing the need to deal with the increasingly frequent natural disasters in the Latin American and Caribbean region. The importance of preserving the biodiversity through the elaboration of an Amazon Regional Program.

The Board of Governors commissioned the preparation of a capital increase proposal for IDB Invest in order to implement a new business model that increases its impact on development through the private sector. In addition, he reiterated the importance of preparing a new Institutional Strategy proposal for the IDB Group, whose approval is scheduled for the next annual meeting in 2024.

The limited participation of civil society

After repeated requests made by a group of civil society organizations, the Bank authorized their participation in the event, although in a limited manner and closed to those who received an invitation. In addition, it was possible to arrange a meeting with the president of the IDB on March 17. In said meeting, the need to generate spaces for dialogue and express the demands of civil society in relation to the bank was raised. Both the possibility of participating in the event and the possibility of meeting with the president represent positive developments, although it remains to be seen if these are real changes in the institution. For now, the bank has invited to continue the dialogue in the coming months to achieve a more effective participation in the annual meetings of 2024.

From Fundeps we have been following and participating in this process together with organizations in the region that make up the IDB Working Group, and we will continue actively in the dialogue processes proposed by the bank.

 

More Information
– Governors endorse the vision, priorities and plans for the IDB Group | IADB
– Open letter from civil society organizations to IDB President Ilan Goldfajn – Fundeps
– The Brazilian Ilan Goldfajn is the new president of the IDB – Fundeps
– Open letter to the IDB for the election of a new presidency – Fundeps

 

Authors
Candela Jauregui
Valentina Rasso

Contact
Gonzalo Roza – gon.roza@fundeps.org

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We presented amicus curiae before the Inter-American Court in the case “Beatriz vs. The Savior”

On April 4, we appeared as amicus curiae before the Inter-American Court of Human Rights, in the case “Beatriz vs. El Salvador”, in which the violations of the rights of Beatriz and her family are denounced due to the absolute prohibition of voluntary interruption of pregnancy in that country.

“Below, we offer a google translate version of the original article in Spanish. This translation may not be accurate but serves as a general presentation of the article. For more accurate information, please switch to the Spanish version of the website. In addition, feel free to directly contact in English the person mentioned at the bottom of this article with regards to this topic”.

Beatriz was 22 years old in 2013, when she demanded access to a therapeutic abortion before the courts of El Salvador, since her life was at risk due to having an anencephalic pregnancy (without a brain), with no chance of survival, added to a series of previous illnesses. The abortion request was finally denied by the Salvadoran courts.

Given this refusal from the Constitutional Chamber of that country, the organizations that accompanied the young woman took the case to the Inter-American Human Rights System, and both the Commission and the Court respectively granted precautionary and provisional measures. On June 3, Beatriz began labor, so she had to undergo a cesarean section. The anencephalic fetus died five hours later. The event had wide international repercussions due to the tragedy and violation of rights it meant.

The Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) determined that El Salvador was responsible for the violation of Beatriz’s rights and recommended that the State adopt measures to guarantee real access to abortion in situations where the fetus is not viable with extrauterine life. and risk to the health and life of the mother. In January 2022, the case was elevated to the Inter-American Court of Human Rights.

One of the axes of our work is the promotion of the human rights of women and other identities, such as the right to health. In addition, we have actively participated through communication campaigns and political advocacy activities in the process of legislative discussion and subsequent sanction of the national Law 27,610 on Voluntary Interruption of Pregnancy in Argentina.

Through our amicus, in addition to maintaining that there has been an impact on the human right to health in light of international law, we seek to contribute our experience as an organization that works on the issue in Argentina, maintaining that the criminalization of abortion is a form of violence against women, and that the criminalization of abortion is a deficient response by States. Therefore, there is a need to review the restrictive legislation that still exists in other countries in the region.

In this sense, it has been shown that laws that prohibit abortion do not reduce the number of abortions that are performed. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), nearly 6.5 million abortions are performed annually in Latin America and the Caribbean, despite the fact that in most countries in the region abortion is illegal or strongly restricted. . The criminalization of abortion only makes the procedures clandestine and unsafe, which puts women’s health and lives at risk.

The Inter-American Court has the opportunity to establish an important precedent in this case, confirming that the absolute criminalization of abortion is a violation of human rights and that States have the obligation to guarantee access to safe and legal abortion in certain circumstances. We hope that the Court gives rise to what was proposed by the Commission and sends a clear message to the States of the region about the need to protect the human rights of women and other identities with the capacity to bear children.

Access the complete Amicus

 

Author

Vanina Piccardo

Contact

Mayca Balaguer, maycabalaguer@fundeps.org

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Lithium and Transparency in Argentina

Throughout this report we will discuss, first of all, a series of data on the current situation of Argentina in relation to lithium production that places it in a central role within the world concert. Then we will focus on the mining governance system, stating the laws that configure it, its main elements and those points that merit further analysis. Subsequently, we will address, from some indicators suggested by the Standard, the two projects that are in the lithium production stage in Argentina: the Fénix Project in the Hombre Muerto salt flat and Sales de Jujuy in the Olaroz-Cauchari salt flat. In particular, regarding whether or not to publicize their contracts, as a fundamental link in terms of publicity and transparency in the development of these projects.

Descargar Documento / Download File
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Justice resolves a preventive measure for Lake San Roque

Yesterday, March 30, 2023, the Court admitted the precautionary measure requested within the framework of the environmental protection presented last November. The Chamber resolves to partially grant the measure and orders the province of Córdoba to “Plan for Sanitation of Lake San Roque and Sustainable Development” within a period of 60 business days.

“Below, we offer a google translate version of the original article in Spanish. This translation may not be accurate but serves as a general presentation of the article. For more accurate information, please switch to the Spanish version of the website. In addition, feel free to directly contact in English the person mentioned at the bottom of this article with regards to this topic”.

Background of the case:

In the month of November, Fundeps presented a collective environmental protection action before the Córdoba justice system requesting urgent and definitive measures to be taken regarding the serious situation that the Lake San Roque basin is going through.

The Administrative Litigation Chamber 3A Nomination, on 12/12/2022, summoned all the defendants (the municipalities and communes that make up the basin and the Province of Córdoba), and stated:

“That it is public knowledge of the delicate situation in which the San Roque Lake basin finds itself, whose degradation has been going on for a long time; worsening year after year, with pollution peaks in the summer periods (effect of high temperatures and lack of precipitation, among other causes); all of which is periodically made visible by the different provincial or local journalistic media that graphically portray the state of the water mirror that supplies a large part of the provincial population.

Given this, it summoned the province of Córdoba – through the competent areas or agencies – so that within a period of 15 judicial business days they report, among other issues, whether the Sustainable Development Committee of the Basin is current and operational. of Lake San Roque, if there is a sanitation plan, a Strategic Plan for Sewage Sanitation Works in the area and also requested the Legislative Branch of the Province to inform if there are bills related to the sanitation of the Lake San Roque Basin .

Among the responses provided by the Province, the Chamber highlights that the “Sustainable Development Committee of the San Roque Lake Basin” is not in operation, created by Law 7773, and that there is effectively no Sanitation Plan, but rather isolated measures are adopted from the different departments.

Resolution of the Chamber on the requested precautionary measure:

In this context, the Court, through Order Number 33, in its resolution yesterday considers that, as we had stated in the lawsuit, the remediation of the basin is not possible without a plan that, based on the diagnosis of the current situation, define means and mechanisms to achieve sanitation and sustainable management.

Thus the Chamber resolves, making use of the broad faculties and powers it has in this type of process where collective interests are at stake, to partially grant the requested precautionary measure and order within a period of sixty (60) business days. to the Province of Córdoba the preparation of the project of a “Sanitation Plan for Lake San Roque and Sustainable Development”.

Its main objective will be the sanitation of Lake San Roque associated with the sustainable development of its basin, and must contain, among various requirements:

A. Actions aimed at achieving the objective, with express mention of fire prevention, and the impact of anthropogenic activities in the basin, the territorial planning of the Basin as appropriate to each municipality or commune;

B. goals;

C. methodology;

D. deadlines with milestones with partial stages with times and measures;

E. proposal of different alternatives for the solution of the identified problems and their possible causes, in addition the Chamber requires that these alternatives must be considered in terms of their acceptability, effectiveness, efficiency and quality; The selection of the alternatives taken to solve the different aspects of the problem must be adequately justified;

F. definition of mitigation and remediation measures;

G. Audit systems;

H. among others.

The Plan must be prepared jointly by the Secretariat of Water Resources, the Secretariat of Public Services, the Secretariat of the Environment, the Provincial Administration of Water Resources, with the special participation in said task of the INA-CIRSA.

At Fundeps, we feel very optimistic about this resolution, appropriate and timely regarding the serious water crisis that we are experiencing and particularly the critical situation of the San Roque Lake basin. We consider that this is also an important precedent in environmental judicial matters, and a hopeful resolution for the group of people who defend the environment in the province of Córdoba.

More information

Presentamos un amparo ambiental por la contaminación del lago San Roque

Diagnóstico Situacional de los Recursos Hídricos de Córdoba: Río Suquía 

Diagnóstico Situacional de los Recursos Hídricos de Córdoba: Lago Los Molinos y Dique San Roque 

 

Autors

María Laura Carrizo Morales

Ananda Lavayen

Contacto

lauracarrizo@fundeps.org

 

*Photo taken from the digital newspaper El Independiente

What did we do in 2022 for human rights?

Last year was a very significant year for Fundeps and we reflected it in the presentation of our 2022 Yearbook. During that time, we grew, we strengthened our actions and the work team. Above all, we redouble our commitment to a more just, equitable and sustainable society.

“Below, we offer a google translate version of the original article in Spanish. This translation may not be accurate but serves as a general presentation of the article. For more accurate information, please switch to the Spanish version of the website. In addition, feel free to directly contact in English the person mentioned at the bottom of this article with regards to this topic”.

During 2022 we worked very hard to consolidate processes and our team of more than 75 members, including the Board of Directors, Coordination and Volunteering, which continue to grow alongside our advocacy actions.

We take on new challenges to continue promoting the activities in all the thematic agendas that we work on and Fundeps as an institution. We provide information and tools for citizens and for those who are guarantors of rights, we carry out investigations, promote political advocacy actions and judicial presentations, among other activities. In addition, we built networks with different civil society organizations, which allowed us to achieve great achievements. This year he also met us again. We held face-to-face events and meetings that allowed us to interact, exchange and share moments side by side.

Throughout 2022 we fight for the right to live in a healthy environment. To health and proper nutrition. For lives free of violence and for gender equality. For access to justice, public information and citizen participation in the problems and issues that affect us, with a special focus on groups in vulnerable situations.

In short, we go through challenges and collective learning, always motivated by the same vision: a more just, equitable and sustainable society.

We are very excited about the steps taken and the ones to come! We thank each organization, volunteer and partner for the shared efforts that allow us to strengthen each activity.

With great pride we share our 2022 Yearbook!

VIEW YEARBOOK

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Workshops: How to access environmental rights? Escazú agreement for communities

In the month of March we will start the cycle of workshops “How to access environmental rights? Escazú Agreement for communities”, within the framework of the project “Escazú Agreement: What happens in Córdoba?”, which aims to promote capacities regarding the rights provided for in the Agreement in our province and strengthen community tools to demand its application.

“Below, we offer a google translate version of the original article in Spanish. This translation may not be accurate but serves as a general presentation of the article. For more accurate information, please switch to the Spanish version of the website. In addition, feel free to directly contact in English the person mentioned at the bottom of this article with regards to this topic”.

At the end of last year, we developed the first stage of the project through monitoring and diagnosis of compliance with the rights provided for in the Escazú Agreement (rights of access to information, participation and justice) in our province. The results we obtained aroused great concern about the limited access, by communities, to the rights and tools that the Agreement grants.

Based on the above, the objective of this second stage is to advance in the promotion and consolidation of capacities of the local community, through a cycle of empowerment workshops on the tools provided by this agreement, which was incorporated into our legislation. Within this framework, we will develop four workshops in different strategic locations in the province, with the following schedule:

  • Alta Gracia – March 18 (9 a.m. to 12 p.m. – Club Central)
  • Villa María – March 31 (5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. – Universidad Nacional de Villa María)
  • Cosquín – April 15 (9 a.m. to 12 p.m. – Sociedad Española)
  • Córdoba – April 28 (in the Amphitheater of the Siglo 21 University – Ituzaingó 484, Nueva Córdoba)

The content of the meetings is presented in 2 large modules:

  1. the first deals with environmental conflicts and essential notions of the human right to a healthy environment and environmental policy;
  2. while in the second it delves into the Escazú Agreement and the rights of access to information, participation and justice.

The speaker will be the lawyer and university professor María Laura Foradori, who is also a specialist in environmental education and a master’s degree in environment and sustainable development, member of ACACIA, a network of environmental lawyers.

We believe that these meetings are very important for the construction of networks and collective knowledge from the territories in struggle against environmental conflicts in our province. We hope that all interested people can join!

 

Sign up here:bit.ly/TalleresDerechosAmbientales

 

This activity is supported by:

Mesa por el Agua y el Ambiente Alta Gracia – Feria Agroecológica Córdoba – Vecinos Unidos en Defensa de un Ambiente Seguro (Fuera Porta) – Vecinos autoconvocados por la salud y el ambiente Marcos Juárez – ACACIA Derecho Ambiental – RACC (Red de Abogacía Comunitaria) – Legal Empowerment Fund – Universidad Villa María – Universidad Siglo 21

 

More Information

 

Contact

Laura Carrizo, lauracarrizo@fundeps.org

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We participated in a workshop: Beneficiaries of the extractive sector in Argentina

On March 3 and 4, we participated in the workshop on Final Beneficiaries of Companies in the extractive and energy sector of Argentina, held in the City of Buenos Aires. The event was organized by Opening Extractives (a program co-implemented by EITI and Open Ownership) and the Argentine Journalism Forum (FOPEA).

“Below, we offer a google translate version of the original article in Spanish. This translation may not be accurate but serves as a general presentation of the article. For more accurate information, please switch to the Spanish version of the website. In addition, feel free to directly contact in English the person mentioned at the bottom of this article with regards to this topic”.

The workshop had among its objectives to raise awareness about the importance of public information of the final beneficiaries, and at the same time, provide resources and materials to increase research, projects and analysis within this field.

In this sense, the training was divided into three modules: first, content and information on final beneficiaries was presented, from the theoretical to the legal and also practical, both nationally and internationally. Those who spoke in this first module were: Andrés Knobel from the Tax Justice Network; María Eugenia Marano, specialist in corporate law; Pamela Morales, Undersecretary of Mining Development of the Government of the Nation; Gonzalo Fernández of the Ministry of Mining Development of the Nation; and Lucía Cirimello from the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI).

Secondly, civil society organizations had the opportunity to present their projects related to the theme. In this way, Edgardo Livitnoff (Red Ruido Coordinator) presented progress on the report “Lithium and transparency in Argentina” that we prepared together. For her part, Eugenia Rodríguez (Centro de Economía Política Argentina) shared details about the work of her organization: “The rich of Argentina”.

Finally, the third module consisted of a practical workshop given by Mariel Fitz Patricks, in which tools and resources were provided for approaching final beneficiaries. The journalist helped us, mainly, to access information and how, in this way, to enrich work carried out and to carry out on the subject.
This instance was very fruitful, not only in terms of knowledge and learning, but also in terms of the possibility of meeting peers from other civil society organizations, with whom one could work together in the near future.

 

 

More information:

 

Author

Maitén de los Milagros Fuma

Contact

Maria Victoria Sibilla, ninasibilla@fundeps.org

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Open letter from civil society organizations to IDB President Ilan Goldfajn

More than twenty organizations from Latin America and the United States addressed a letter to the president of the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) Ilan Goldfajn. They ask that the Bank strengthen its work by committing itself to respect for Human Rights and the protection of the environment and that spaces be created for greater articulation with civil society.

“Below, we offer a google translate version of the original article in Spanish. This translation may not be accurate but serves as a general presentation of the article. For more accurate information, please switch to the Spanish version of the website. In addition, feel free to directly contact in English the person mentioned at the bottom of this article with regards to this topic”.

The organizations, members and allies of the Coalition for Human Rights in Development alluded in the letter to the commitment assumed by Goldfajn in his inaugural speech as president of the Bank to “take advantage of all opportunities for dialogue” and collaboration with governments, the sector private sector, academia and civil society to solve regional problems.

To strengthen the articulation with civil society, the organizations urged the Bank to open a space for dialogue with civil society at its Annual Meetings, not only because it is a good practice implemented by other multilateral organizations, but also because it is a unique opportunity. to include communities affected by projects.

Since 2017, the group of signatory organizations of the letter has been monitoring and enriching the Bank’s policies and projects that it hopes to continue carrying out. The organizations have contributed to the IDB Environmental and Social Policy Framework, updates to the Independent Consultation and Investigation Mechanism policy, and the Bank’s Access to Information Policy review process.

The organizations seek the IDB to ensure in its practices and operations the promotion and respect of Human Rights, particularly of indigenous peoples, and the protection of key ecosystems in the fight against climate change.

The next Annual Meeting of the Boards of Governors of the IDB and IDB Invest will be held in Panama from March 16 to 19.

Signatory organizations:

  1. Accountability Counsel
  2. AMATE El Salvador
  3. Articulación Salvadoreña de Sociedad Civil para la Incidencia en las Instituciones Financieras Internacionales (ASIFI)
  4. Asociación Ambiente y Sociedad
  5. Asociación Interamericana para la Defensa del Ambiente (AIDA)
  6. Bank Information Center
  7. Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL)
  8. Coalición para los Derechos Humanos en el Desarrollo
  9. Cohesión Comunitaria e Innovación Social A.C. (México)
  10. Conectas Direitos Humanos
  11. Derecho, Ambiente y Recursos Naturales (DAR, Perú)
  12. Ecoa – Ecologia e Ação
  13. Fundación para el Desarrollo de Políticas Sustentables (Fundeps)
  14. Fundación CAUCE: Cultura Ambiental – Causa Ecologista. (Argentina)
  15. Gender Action
  16. International Rivers
  17. International Accountability Project
  18. Mesa de Discapacidad y Derechos (Perú)
  19. Plataforma Internacional contra la Impunidad
  20. Protection International Mesoamérica
  21. Sociedad y Discapacidad – SODIS (Perú)
  22. Sustentarse (Chile)
  23. Wetlands International / Fundacion Humedales (Argentina)

Read the full letter here: Letter to IDB President

 

More Information

Read more

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There are no more excuses to comply with the front labeling law

On February 16, the extension granted to large companies to implement the law expired and on the 20th it is the turn of SMEs, who from that day on must incorporate the seals in their products with excessive content of critical nutrients. In this key month, civil society organizations highlight the need for the law to be complied with and for the State to take an active role in its oversight.

“Below, we offer a google translate version of the original article in Spanish. This translation may not be accurate but serves as a general presentation of the article. For more accurate information, please switch to the Spanish version of the website. In addition, feel free to directly contact in English the person mentioned at the bottom of this article with regards to this topic”.

The month of February has two key dates for the Healthy Eating Promotion Law, better known as the Labeling Law. That is why FAGRAN, Fundeps, SANAR, FIC Argentina and Consciente Colectivo met to review the timing of the norm and to highlight that there are no more excuses for the law to be complied with.

On the one hand, February 16 is the day on which the extensions granted to large companies expire, a benefit that they counted on to delay the implementation date that the law originally stipulated (August 20, 2022). That is, from now on, large companies must incorporate seals on the packaging of their products with excesses of critical nutrients. This process will be gradual given that products from companies that obtained extensions can still circulate in stores, and that were prepared and packaged before February 16, which, according to the law, are not required to bear stamps since they were produced under the extension period.

On the other hand, the regulations of the law establish that as of February 20, SMEs must begin to include labels on the corresponding containers. However, as was the case with large companies, SMEs can obtain extensions of up to 180 days to delay implementation.

Although the extensions are within the framework provided for by the norm and are not a violation of it, we from the organizations demand that information be public about the reasons why this benefit was approved, as well as which products. and companies were awarded. This information was not provided by the State, removing transparency from the law implementation process. This situation, added to factors such as stock, generates a confusing scenario for citizens, who do not have clear information to identify if a product does not have seals because it is healthy; because it comes from another stock; or because it has the benefit of extension.

From now on, the role of the State in monitoring compliance with the law will be key to defending the rights of the population. From civil society we will continue to monitor this process, providing tools and information and demanding its correct implementation with citizens.

 

Contact

Maga Merlo, magamerlov@fundeps.org

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Training to guarantee careful practices of Voluntary and Legal Interruption of Pregnancy in towns of Córdoba

Together with the ECOS Foundation, during the months of October, November and December 2022 we were participating in different training and education instances where we addressed fundamental contents to carry out careful accompaniment and guarantee safe practices of Voluntary and Legal Interruption of Pregnancy (IVE / ILE ) from an integral and human rights perspective. These spaces were especially aimed at health personnel.

“Below, we offer a google translate version of the original article in Spanish. This translation may not be accurate but serves as a general presentation of the article. For more accurate information, please switch to the Spanish version of the website. In addition, feel free to directly contact in English the person mentioned at the bottom of this article with regards to this topic”.

The training meetings were held in collaboration with the Aurelio Crespo de Cruz del Eje Regional Hospital, the Villa Dolores Regional Hospital, the Dr. Luis María Bellodi Regional Hospital of Mina Clavero, the Villa Carlos Paz Municipal Hospital and the Peasant Movement of Cordoba in the town of Villa de Soto. Around 180 people participated, including health authorities, health professionals, nursing staff, administrative staff, students from disciplines related to health, community health promoters and the general public.

In each meeting, training was provided on the current legal framework that regulates the legal and voluntary interruption of pregnancy, with a detailed development of Law 27,610 and Law 26,529, which regulates the rights of patients in their relationship with professionals and institutions. Of the health. The training also consisted of the development of technical content for the comprehensive approach to careful follow-up, in compliance with internationally recommended parameters to guarantee safe practices of Voluntary and Legal Interruption of Pregnancy (IVE/ILE).

Within the framework of the trainings, we present and distribute our Guide to careful practices for the care of the interruption of pregnancy. It is a document that addresses legal and health aspects based on current legislation, international standards and the recommendations of the World Health Organization (WHO).

Through these instances of training and training aimed at health personnel, we intend to collaborate with the refinement and improvement of this practice from a legal and comprehensive perspective, respectful of human rights and in line with the most current regulations on health matters. In this way, we support the training of health personnel who facilitate the exercise of the rights of women and people with the capacity to gestate, whom we consider guarantors of rights and defenders of human rights.

Authors

Luz Baretta

Mayca Balaguer

Contact

Mayca Balaguer, maycabalaguer@fundeps.org

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Aborting is legal and accompanying too

A few days after the second anniversary of the enactment of the Voluntary Interruption of Pregnancy Law, a new episode of persecution of the reproductive freedom of pregnant people occurred. This time in the city of Villa María, where 4 lifeguards and a doctor were arrested.

“Below, we offer a google translate version of the original article in Spanish. This translation may not be accurate but serves as a general presentation of the article. For more accurate information, please switch to the Spanish version of the website. In addition, feel free to directly contact in English the person mentioned at the bottom of this article with regards to this topic”.

Arbitrary raids and arrests

During the afternoon of Wednesday, December 21, two members of the Socorristas en Red organization and a health professional were arrested after a series of raids were carried out, at the request of the Public Prosecutor’s Office, for the alleged crime of illegal practice of medicine. , a crime that, according to the Penal Code of the Nation (art. 208), is releaseable. In turn, two more people had an arrest warrant but were not in the country at the time, which is why, through their lawyer, they made themselves available to justice and began to return to the country. Despite this, the prosecutor’s office issued arrest warrants for no reason, which led to their arrest at Ezeiza upon entering the country, on Christmas Eve.

By virtue of the appeal that the defense attorney presented before the Control Court, on Friday, December 23, the release of the health professional was ordered and the following Monday the other four detainees were released. Along with the request for release made by the defender, multiple civil society organizations appeared before the Court spontaneously expressing their concern for the case in a context in which access to the interruption of pregnancy is a recognized right at the national level. and especially because of the type of measures adopted in the framework of the criminal investigation, which were clearly intimidating and disproportionate.

First aid is health

Since its inception in 2012, Socorristas en Red was established as an articulation of collectives that, throughout the country, provide information and openly accompany people who decide to terminate their pregnancies, so that they do so safely and cared for, in accordance with the law and international health and human rights standards.

The practice of the socorristas consists of informing and accompanying the decisions of those who decide to abort, through listening that accommodates the needs and desires of the people who come to them. First aid supports and demands the dignity and justice of abortions, whether self-managed or in the health system. In their daily work, they produce their own materials with information on the practice, communication campaigns and dissemination of rights, and systematizations on the cases they accompany. Their work is public and visible, and its objective is to work for cultural changes that contribute to eradicating shame, fear, and stigma around abortions, so that they are a free and careful practice.

Within the framework of Law 27,610, the delivery of information and accompaniment in the pregnancy termination process carried out by lifeguards is legal and should not be penalized. So much so, that at the international level it is recognized that community accompaniment for transit through pregnancy interruptions is of great importance to improve the safety, effectiveness and individual experience of this process.

Legal abortion in the hospital and anywhere

Since the enactment of the Law on Access to Voluntary Interruption of Pregnancy and Postabortion Care in December 2020, deciding to terminate a pregnancy freely is a right of all people with the capacity to gestate. The law also recognizes the right to request and access care for this practice in the health system services. Therefore, all health personnel (including administrative and security) are responsible for guaranteeing and not obstructing the right to terminate a pregnancy, without prejudice to the fact that these practices can be carried out self-managed.

According to the Protocol for the comprehensive care of people with the right to voluntary and legal termination of pregnancy (IVE/ILE), the care model centered on people adopted by Law 27,610 recognizes the performance of pregnancy terminations with the assistance of health personnel and self-managed. Self-managed practices are considered safe by the World Health Organization (WHO) if they are carried out with adequate information and the methods indicated according to the gestational age and clinical history of the pregnant person. In this way, the preferences and individual aspirations of the users of the services are taken into account and the cultural practices and values ​​of their communities are considered.

These self-managed practices are carried out through the use of medications, such as misoprostol alone or combined with mifepristone. Widespread practice and numerous investigations have shown that performing the medication procedure on an outpatient and self-managed basis is a safe and effective option. Likewise, it is chosen by many women or other people with the capacity to gestate, because it allows them to start the interruption process at the time and place that is most comfortable for them and gives them greater peace of mind.

We do not return to hiding

Two years after the sanction of Law 27,610, which abandoned the criminal paradigm, and recognized the right of women and other people with the capacity to gestate to interrupt their pregnancies, we repudiate this judicial offensive, which is added to a series of strategies that are implemented by conservative sectors to oppose the rights won. We demand that the criminal investigation continue in accordance with the principles that govern human rights and considering the impact that this case has on access to a fundamental health service. The persecution of those who accompany abortions deepens the stigma about the practice, perpetuates stereotypes and endangers access to the right to health.

Support from civil society

On Monday, December 26, about 50 social organizations appeared before the Control Court to express their concern regarding the deprivation of liberty of the 4 lifeguards who were still detained:  Amnistía Internacional Argentina, Centro de Estudios Legales y Sociales (CELS), Centro de Estudio de Estado y Sociedad (CEDES), Católicas por el Derecho a Decidir (CDD), Equipo Latinoamericano de Justicia y Género (ELA), MxM, Fundación ECoS Espacio Córdoba Salud, Consorcio Latinoamerciano en Contra del Aborto Inseguro (CLACAI), Biblioteca Popular Julio Cortázar/ Radio Comunitaria La Quinta Pata, Fundación GEMA – Género y Masculinidad, Centro de Apoyo y Protección de los Derechos Humanos – Surkuna, Centro de Derechos Reproductivos, Movimiento Campesino de Córdoba, Consultorio de Salud Integral, Centro de Investigación y Formación de los Movimientos Sociales Latinoamericanos (CIFMSL), La Tinta, Ni Una Menos, Asociación Civil por la Igualdad y la Justicia (ACIJ), Instituto Laico de Estudios Contemporáneos (ILEC), Fundación para Estudio e Investigación de la Mujer (FEIM), Fundación Siglo 21, Fundación Mujeres en Igualdad (MEI), Fundación Derechos Humanos, Equidad y Género (Fundheg), Movimiento Socialista y del Trabajo (MST), Unión de Trabajadores de Salud, Cooperativa Luna Nueva, Cooperativa Soberanía alimentaria, Cooperativa Podemos, Cooperativa Construyendo Dignidad, Cooperativa Macollando, Asociacion Civil Construyendo Dignidad, Asociación Cordobesa de Medicina Familiar y General (A.C.O.M.F.Y.G), Comisión Provincial de la Memoria de Córdoba, Familiares de detenidos y desaparecidos por razones políticas de Córdoba, Observatorio de Género, Diversidades y Disidencias CPP, Tierra Violeta, REDAAS, Ipas Latinoamérica y el Caribe (Ipas LAC), Fundación Huésped, FUSA A.C., Colectivo de Educadorxs Desde el Sur, Lesbodramas, Colectivo de Acción Contra las Violencias de Géneros de Misiones, Adultxs Protectorxs contra el Abuso Sexual en la Infancia, Docentes por el derecho al Aborto. Misiones, Ñanduti Agrupación Feminista de El Dorado, Colectiva feministas Las Azucenas (La Plata), Consejo Asesor de la Dirección Nacional de Salud Sexual y Reproductiva. 

Authors

Luz Baretta

Mayca Balaguer

Contact

Mayca Balaguer, maycabalaguer@fundeps.org