2023-09-02 19:23:29
In the context of the democratic elections that are taking place throughout the country, the National defender and the provincial defenders of the rights of Girls, Boys and Adolescents issued a joint statement in which they make an urgent call to the political forces and the executive and legislative powers to “prioritize the protection of children and adolescents in all government policies and plans.” This pronouncement is given within the framework of the 40th anniversary of democracy in Argentina.
In their statement, the defenders expressed their deep concern regarding the lack of a human rights perspective in relation to children and adolescents in public discourse and political proposals. They also pointed out an increase in the stigmatization of this population and questioned the pronouncements regarding the intention to lower the age of imputability of children in conflict with criminal law.
National and provincial ombudsmen have identified a series of crucial issues that affect the rights of children and adolescents, including poverty and extreme poverty, equitable and timely access to health, violence prevention, guarantee of the right to education, and juvenile justice. . They stress the importance of advancing in the protection of these rights and rejecting any policy or government decision that weakens them.
“We forcefully express our unrestricted defense, and our rejection of any policy or government decision that implies a setback in the advances obtained in 40 years of democracy, regarding the guarantee of the rights of children and adolescents in our country,” they indicated in the statement signed by Marisa Graham (National Ombudsman), Juan Facundo Hernández (Deputy Ombudsman), Amelia López (Córdoba Ombudsman), Juan Pablo Meaca (La Pampa Ombudsman), Leando Javier Drube (Santiago del Estero Ombudsman) and Rossana Marlí Franco (Mission Defender).
Violence and age of responsibility
“We warn that girls, boys and adolescents are the main victims of violence, from institutional to intra-family. In this sense, State policies, far from deepening punitive measures on the youngest, should promote actions that guarantee a dignified life free of all types of violence, “they denounced.
“We see with concern that, in the absence of electoral campaign proposals to guarantee the rights of girls, boys and adolescents to education, health, sports, play, care, among others, what takes public status are restrictive discourses, which propose to disregard rights such as social security, family life, and the physical integrity of the youngest,” they added.
In recent weeks, some presidential candidates have expressed their intention to lower the age of imputability. Given this, the statement explained why such a measure should not be taken: “There is an Agreement signed by specialized public organizations, the Association of Magistrates, the Public Ministry of Defense, UNICEF, among others, and a broad consensus with organizations for children, academics, and academics on the need to repeal Decree-Law 22,278 and the enactment of a Juvenile Justice Law that, as provided by the Committee on the Rights of the Child in its Recommendation to the Argentine State in 2018, should not reduce the minimum age of punishability, or harsher penalties, must guarantee that deprivation of liberty is the last resort and for the shortest possible time, and promote alternatives to judicial measures.”
Budget
The pronouncement also emphasizes the need to increase the budget for policies that directly and indirectly affect children and adolescents. In addition, it focuses on issues such as social security, food security, health, institutional violence, child sexual abuse, and education, identifying achievements and challenges in each of these fields.
The defenders highlighted the importance of the active participation and prominence of girls, boys and adolescents in decision-making and underlined that there can be no full democracy without their inclusion.
Ultimately, they called on those responsible for running the country to guarantee the rights of children and adolescents, establishing a proactive action agenda and avoiding setbacks in the achievements obtained in 40 years of democracy.
This joint statement underscored the urgency of focusing on the protection and promotion of the rights of children and adolescents in the current political context and represents a call to action for all of Argentine society.
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