In May 2015, Argentina was shaken by the murder of Chiara Páez, a pregnant 14-year-old girl by her 16-year-old boyfriend. This incident sparked massive protests, leading to the creation of the ‘Ni Una Menos’ movement. Eleven years later, Argentina is again engulfed in anger over another tragic femicide.
Agostina Vega, a 14-year-old girl, was killed in Cordoba. She went to a family friend’s home to fetch a gift for her mother. Instead, according to initial autopsy results, she was sexually assaulted, hanged, and her body was dismembered. Her remains were discovered in a drainage ditch, a week after she disappeared.
As Agostina’s case gained national attention, mass protests erupted, especially during the annual ‘Ni Una Menos’ march in Buenos Aires. Thousands of people protested, carrying banners with faces and names of women who have been killed recently. Agostina’s death breathed new life into the movement, calling for government intervention and increased scrutiny of President Javier Milei.
President Milei, a libertarian ally of Donald Trump, has criticized the feminist movement, labeling it unnecessary. His administration has pushed to remove femicide from the penal code and cut funding for programs supporting victims of gender violence.
To stop calling femicides by their name, to deny the existence of gender violence — it’s an attempt to rewind the past 20 years.
The nation’s Supreme Court reported a 12% drop in femicide cases last year, but advocates argue this reflects poor classification rather than reduced violence. Natalia Gherardi, Director of the Latin American Team for Justice and Gender, emphasized the need to maintain awareness and push back against regression.
Handling of Agostina’s Case Criticized
Agostina’s family noted significant delays in police response, with law enforcement more focused on a soccer match during the day of her disappearance. Claudio Barrelier, the main suspect, and ex-boyfriend of Agostina’s mother, has a history of criminal behavior, including a previous abduction charge. Despite arrests, his release on bail heightens criticisms of the judicial response.
Security Minister Alejandra Monteoliva has refused to define Agostina’s killing as a femicide, stating that the nature of homicide goes beyond specific hours of occurrence. Advocates stress the importance of labeling such crimes accurately for effective prosecution.
Impact of Milei’s Policies
President Milei has conducted a cultural war against gender-focused policies, deeming them socialist. His efforts have included dissolving Argentina’s women’s ministry, defunding vital support programs, banning gender-inclusive language, and more. The Acompañar program, once assisting 350,000 women, saw its funds cut significantly. Hotline services for domestic violence victims also suffered budget constraints.
As Argentina’s government cuts resources, public outcry grows. Maria Cacharo and her daughter participated in marches, outraged by Agostina’s case and its handling. They joined many others at Plaza Congreso, protesting alongside Agostina’s family in Cordoba. Signs demanding justice were prominent, as the ‘Ni Una Menos’ movement once again highlighted society’s need for action against femicide.
Agostina’s case has rekindled discussions on societal responsibility in addressing gender violence. Lucila Galkin of Amnesty International noted:
This femicide, which caused so much pain, so much shock, also mobilized us, reminded us that this is a problem concerning all of society.