The UN criticised the dismantling of programmes and areas dedicated to children and the closure of organisations such as the Ministry of Women and INADI. The government tried to defend itself with promises of more aid to vulnerable populations.
He United Nations Committee on the Rights of the Child presented this Thursday in Geneva a harsh report about Argentina where he questions the lack of funding for public policies related to children and warned about the increase in poverty among children.
“More than seven million children live in poverty; this is scandalous”he warned Hynd Ayoubi Idrissi, Committee expert and coordinator of the Country Working Group for Argentina, during the presentation. She also highlighted that 14% of the population lives in extreme poverty.
The 17-page document questions the “reduction of budget allocations for children” and the “disinvestment in health and education in recent months”the closure and replacement of ministries and secretariats that oversee children’s rights with lower-ranking bodies, and the dismantling of the National Institute against Discrimination (INADI) and the Ministry of Women.
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In the conclusions, The UN Committee expressed its “serious concern” about the “institutional changes” and politicians proposed since the end of 2023 and the impact they may have on the protection of children’s rights, including the reduction, merger and elimination of ministries; the replacement of the National Secretariat for Children, Youth and Family (Sennaf) by a new, lower-ranking undersecretary.”
The Committee said it was “deeply concerned by the continued drastic decline in budget allocations for children, including disinvestment in health and education in recent months.”
The Government’s response
The Government was represented in Geneva by the Undersecretary of Family Policies of the Ministry of Human Capital, Arnoldo Ariel Scherrer Vivas, who served as head of the Argentine delegation.
The Argentine government report attempted to defend itself. He noted some progress, including a 50% reduction in neonatal mortality compared to the 2002 level.. This and other observations were included in the UN document.
“The (Argentine) delegation noted that The economic crisis seriously affected various state interventionsIn response, the Government will continue to expand public policies that benefit children and adolescents. The universal childcare allowance has been increased by 3% in real terms between 2023 and 2024“the report noted.
Source: Ambito
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