Amnesty International offered a damning assessment of the situation of sexual and reproductive rights for women and girls in Argentina. 

In a recent report titled “It’s Also for You: Defending Access to Abortion in the Face of Public Policy Rollbacks,” the human rights organization conducted a field study of the situation women and girls face when trying to access legal abortion. Among the key obstacles they face, the report highlighted five main barriers: 

• A lack of medical supplies
• Lack of information regarding their right to an abortion
• The existence of counselors who spread misinformation and try to deter women from exercising their right
• Unjustified delays
• Mistreatment by health professionals

The document also accused President Javier Milei’s government of “dismantling” public policies related to sexual and reproductive rights and spreading fake news about abortion in order to “reinstate the stigma surrounding this right.” 

“Under the guise of efficiency and reduced public spending, [this dismantling] weakens the role of the State as guarantor of rights, which directly affects the health and autonomy of women, adolescents, and pregnant people, thus exacerbating social inequalities,” the report stated. 

Regarding the spread of misinformation on abortion, the document added that the government has employed different vehicles, from social media to international political forums, through which they seek to “consolidate an agenda to repeal advances” regarding reproductive rights. 

Abortion in Argentina

Abortion became legal in Argentina in December 2020. Milei himself has offered mixed messaging on where he stands on the law since its implementation. 

The president has always proclaimed himself to personally be “pro-life” and railed against abortion. At an event at the Luna Park stadium in May last year where he launched his own book, he claimed that abortion was a mechanism the Egyptians used in biblical times to “annihilate Jews.” 

On the campaign trail, he said that if he were to be elected president, he would launch a referendum for residents to decide whether to keep it or not. In a later interview with the BBC, however, he cooled his tone in regard to overturning the law, stating, “It’s not on the current agenda.”

Earlier in 2024, deputies from Milei’s party, La Libertad Avanza, unsuccessfully tried to push through a motion that overturned the 2020 law signed by former President Alberto Fernández. Prior to Milei’s inauguration, Argentina’s government distributed over 166,000 free abortion pill doses. In 2024, none were delivered as the government shifted responsibility to provincial governments. 

The government has also voiced its opposition to sexual and reproductive rights on the international stage. Last October, Argentina was the only G20 member country that refused to sign a gender equality and women’s empowerment statement put forward by Brazil. The document included a list of commitments aimed at “ending gender-based violence and misogyny.”

Despite the worrying decline in effective access to these rights, the Amnesty report also stated that women have shown resilience to Milei’s political rhetoric and are taking an “active role” in denouncing impediments, not only in defense of their own rights but also to “prevent others from having to go through similar situations.”

“Amnesty International recorded a 275% increase in inquiries, complaints, and requests for advice regarding obstacles to accessing abortion, compared to the previous year,” the text explained.