In its first session of 2023, the Senate unanimously approved the Ley Lucio, named after Lucio Dupuy, a new law which focuses on the early detection and prevention of child abuse.

“I understand that this law arrives late. It’s late because Lucio isn’t with us anymore,” said Anabel Fernández Sagasti, FdT senator for Mendoza. “Because unfortunately thousands of boys, girls and teenagers in Argentina are victims of mistreatment and abuse.”

“The important thing is that this law is applied quickly and well.”

Ley Lucio aims to prevent child abuse through the creation of a Federal Training Plan regarding the rights of children and adolescents. The proposed educational program is destined for all public sector employees across the executive, legislative and judicial branches. It also includes an article establishing public awareness campaigns and more protections for claimants.

The new law was voted unanimously after being approved by the Lower House in November 2022. Today is the first time since then that the Senate has voted on any legislation.

Ley Lucio is named for Lucio Dupuy, a five-year-old boy from La Pampa province who was murdered by his mother and her partner in November 2021. Dupuy’s grandfather, Ramón Dupuy, watched the senators vote on the bill.

“The violence and violation of our children cuts across all of society,” said Daniel Bensusán, FdT senator for La Pampa. “The violence that was exercised on Lucio was not an isolated event.”

The senate also unanimously approved the appointment of judges in Santa Fe and Córdoba. They are set to discuss the “Zero Alcohol” Law — a total ban on consuming alcohol before driving — and a bill that recognizes sign language as an official national language.

Tensions on the floor

At the opening of today’s session, the head of the Frente de Todos (FdT) bloc José Mayans addressed the attempted March 31 session, which failed after screaming matches erupted and opposition members left the floor, meaning there weren’t enough senators present to achieve quorum and the session fell through.

“I am worried about the aggression against the acting senate president [Claudia Ledesma], there were senators who left their seats with very rude remarks and went to threaten her,” Mayans said.

The crux of the disagreement was the agenda as opposition members demanded removing issues from the table that hadn’t been agreed to previously. 

Yesterday, government and opposition senators reached a consensus on today’s agenda with Vice President Cristina Fernández de Kirchner, who is presiding over today’s session.

Establishing quorum and agreements in the Senate was made more difficult this year after four senators broke away from the ruling coalition in February. This left governing FdT with just 31 senators — two less than the opposition.

—Télam/Buenos Aires Herald