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
What did we do in 2022 for human rights?
“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
Workshops: How to access environmental rights? Escazú agreement for communities
“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:
The content of the meetings is presented in 2 large modules:
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
We participated in a workshop: Beneficiaries of the extractive sector in Argentina
“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
Open letter from civil society organizations to IDB President Ilan Goldfajn
“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:
Read the full letter here: Letter to IDB President
More Information
Read more
There are no more excuses to comply with the front labeling law
“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.
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
Socio-environmental impacts of projects with Chinese investment in Latin America
This interactive map presents 9 cases of projects that have the participation and financing of Chinese companies, which are monitored by the Regional Group on Financing and Infrastructure (GREFI) and the Regional Coalition for Transparency and Participation in Peru, Argentina, Colombia and Brazil.
The objective is to make known the basic information of the projects, the location, the current situation and the socio-environmental impacts that have generated or that could be generated if they are implemented.
Follow-up of relations between China and Latin America: exchange of experiences
From the Regional Group on Financing and Infrastructure (GREFI) we held the workshop in 2021: “Follow-up on relations between China and America America: exchange of experiences”. This space brought together different civil society organizations, academia, indigenous leaders and journalists from the region who monitor the relationship between China and Latin America, or have been impacted by investments from the Asian country.
The objective of the space was to identify common issues and key elements of discussion, based on the work and the experience of monitoring and advocacy that serves to promote greater articulation between the actors, identify the differences, limitations and opportunities for joint work.
Training to guarantee careful practices of Voluntary and Legal Interruption of Pregnancy in towns of Córdoba
“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
Aborting is legal and accompanying too
“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.
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
Comments to strengthen the IDB’s Access to Information Policy
“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”.
On December 28, 2022, the deadline established by the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) for sending comments on the draft of the institution’s new Access to Information Policy (PAI) ended. Thus concluded the Second Phase of the Public Consultation Process approved by the Bank and which lasted 90 days.
Within this framework, together with a group of Civil Society Organizations in the region, we sent a document with comments and recommendations in relation to the Draft Policy prepared by the Bank, which, although it incorporates some positive advances, is not enough to guarantee the right of access to information effectively in relation to the actions of the Bank and its customers.
Among the main recommendations and suggestions highlighted in the document, the following stand out:
It should be noted that a large part of the recommendations and suggestions contained in the document were previously raised in the framework of the public consultations carried out by the IDB, both online and in person in Montevideo, Bogotá and Washington DC. Precisely, from Fundeps we participated in the face-to-face public consultation in Montevideo, Uruguay on November 15, 2022.
We hope that the inputs provided by civil society are considered by the Bank and contribute to strengthening the draft Access to Information Policy proposed by the institution, which is far from incorporating the highest standards in the matter.
To access the complete document with comments and suggestions sent to the IDB, access here
More Information
Contact
Gonzalo Roza, gon.roza@fundeps.org
Transparency and participation of civil society in the CONAL decision-making process | Report
This material was prepared from the advocacy work in the National Food Commission (CONAL) carried out by Fundeps in 2021 and 2022 for the modification of the regulation of trans fats. It takes contributions from the work articulated with other civil society organizations and proposes a reflective analysis in construction, which seeks to contribute to the debate on the need for greater transparency in the process of elaboration, execution and monitoring of public food policies in Argentina.
Transparency and participation of civil society in the CONAL decision-making process | SUMMARY
This document is the summary of a report prepared from the advocacy work of Fundeps in the National Food Commission (CONAL) in 2021 and 2022 for the modification of the regulation of trans fats. It takes contributions from the work articulated with other civil society organizations and proposes a reflective analysis in construction, which seeks to contribute to the debate on the need for greater transparency in the process of elaboration, execution and monitoring of public food policies in Argentina.