Women This Week: Crime of Femicide May be Removed From Argentina’s Penal Code

The Effort is Latest Move by President Javier Milei Targeting Women’s Rights 

This week, Argentine President Javier Milei vowed to remove the concept of “femicide” from the country’s penal code. Milei has argued that femicide, which is defined as “a crime of murder perpetrated by a man against a woman in the context of gender violence” and is punishable with a life sentence, promotes the idea that “...the life of a woman is worth more than that of a man.” Femicide is a serious problem in Argentina. Last year alone, there were nearly three hundred reported cases. Néstor “Yuyo” García, whose daughter, Micaela García, was a victim of femicide, said, “This is a very dangerous issue … to promote these policies against the gender perspective, which are in my opinion in breach of the constitution of our country.” A bill was passed in Micaela’s name following her death, which mandated training for public employees on gender issues. While amendments to the Penal Code will require Congressional approval, this is a further attempt by the Milei administration to strike down progressive “woke” policies. In a speech at the World Economic Forum, Milei said, “Feminism, equality, gender ideology, climate change, abortion and immigration are all heads of the same monster...” 

Human Rights Watch Report Outlines Violations Against Pregnant Women in Gaza 

A new report from Human Rights Watch (HRW) illustrates alleged human rights violations by Israel against pregnant Palestinian women and girls during the fifteen-month war in Gaza. The report argues that the lack of humanitarian aid, destruction of health facilities, and continued forced displacement of Gazans violated “the right [of Palestinian women and girls] to dignified, respectful health care throughout pregnancy, childbirth, and postpartum and newborn care, as well as adequate access to food, water, and adequate housing.” In a study conducted by UN Women between March and April of last year, 68 percent of thirty-seven pregnant women surveyed were found to be experiencing medical complications. In another report from July, experts revealed that the rate of miscarriage had increased by 300 percent since October 7. According to Belkis Wille from HRW, “Despite the fact that the ceasefire could provide an opportunity for the healthcare system in Gaza to begin to be restored, because of the laws coming into effect, banning the operations of UNRWA, the reality is that these coming weeks may lead to pregnant women and newborns suffering even more than they already have.” 

Trump’s Executive Orders Target Rights of Transgender and Nonbinary Citizens 

The Trump administration has issued an Executive Order (EO) that authorizes the Department of Defense (DOD) to ban transgender soldiers from serving in the military. The order states that, “A man’s assertion that he is a woman, and his requirement that others honor this falsehood, is not consistent with the humility and selflessness required of a service member.” It also permits the DOD to fire military personnel on the basis of their gender identity and to prevent them from receiving retirement benefits for their service. There are approximately fifteen thousand military personnel who identify as transgender. The Pentagon now has thirty days to establish a plan for how the order will be implemented. “The readiness and physical capabilities of transgender service members is not different from that of other service members,” said Sue Fulton, an army veteran who is senior advisor to Sparta, an organization that advocates for equal rights for transgender service members. In a separate EO, the administration has moved to freeze all passport applicants wishing to change their gender identity marker to “X.”