The Ongoing Fight Against Femicide in Argentina: A Father’s Quest for Justice and Gender Equality
A Father’s Agony and the Spark of a Movement
Carolina Aló was just 17 years old when her life was brutally taken by her boyfriend, Fabián Tablado, who stabbed her 113 times just a week before her 18th birthday. Her father, Edgardo Aló, remembers the night he found her lifeless body as if it were yesterday. He had gone to her boyfriend’s house after growing suspicious, only to discover that his daughter was already gone. This tragic event marked the beginning of Edgardo’s decades-long fight for justice, not just for Carolina, but for all women who suffer from gender-based violence. His struggle became a pivotal force in Argentina’s movement to recognize femicide as an aggravating factor in homicide cases. The legal reforms achieved in 2012 were a bittersweet victory, but now, under President Javier Milei’s government, these hard-won changes are under threat.
The Legal Battle and the Hard-Won Victory of 2012
In the 1990s, when Carolina was murdered, the legal system in Argentina treated such crimes with leniency. Fabián Tablado received a 24-year sentence, but Edgardo felt this was far too lenient, especially considering the brutality of the crime. The sentence was classified as “simple homicide,” ignoring the gendered violence that defined Carolina’s murder. This injustice fueled Edgardo’s determination to push for legal reform. Over the years, he joined forces with women’s rights organizations and human rights groups to advocate for the recognition of femicide in Argentina’s penal code. Their efforts culminated in 2012 when the government officially recognized femicide as an aggravating factor in homicide cases, increasing the maximum sentence to life imprisonment. This was a significant milestone, but the fight was far from over.
The Current Threat to Femicide Laws Under the Milei Government
More than a decade after the 2012 reforms, the progress made is now at risk. In January 2024, Argentina’s Minister of Justice, Mariano Cúneo Libarona, announced on social media that the government plans to eliminate femicide from the penal code. The reasoning behind this move is that it supposedly distorts the concept of equality, as it assigns greater punishment to homicides based on the victim’s gender. President Javier Milei has also spoken out against femicide laws, calling them unfair and criticizing what he refers to as “radical feminism.” These statements have sparked widespread concern among women’s rights activists, who argue that the proposed reforms misunderstand the nature of femicide and will only put more women in danger. Sources within the Justice Ministry have confirmed that Cúneo Libarona is already drafting the proposed changes to present to Congress.
Understanding Femicide: Why It Matters and Why It’s Distinct
Femicide is not just another form of homicide; it is a crime rooted in gender-based discrimination and violence. Natalia Gherardi, a lawyer specializing in gender issues, explains that femicide is characterized by extreme violence, often perpetrated by someone within the victim’s circle of trust, such as a partner or family member. The context of femicide often includes elements of contempt, humiliation, and sexual assault, which set it apart from other types of homicide. According to data from the Ombudsman’s Office of the Nation, between January 1 and November 15, 2024, there were 252 femicides in Argentina. Two-thirds of these victims were killed in their own homes, and 84% were murdered by someone they knew. These statistics highlight the unique challenges of combating femicide and the need for specific legal frameworks to address it.
The Broader Attack on Women’s Rights in Argentina
The current government’s efforts to roll back femicide laws are part of a larger pattern of clampdowns on women’s rights. In August 2024, the Milei administration weakened a program designed to support victims of gender-based violence by reducing the duration of assistance from six to three months and requiring victims to provide a police report to qualify for help. This move has been widely criticized, as many victims of domestic violence are too afraid to report their situation to the authorities. Mariela Belski, executive director of Amnesty International Argentina, has expressed concern that the government’s actions demonstrate a lack of understanding of the constitutional obligations to protect women from violence. These regressive policies threaten to undo years of progress in combating gender-based violence.
A Legacy of Pain and the Ongoing Fight for Justice
For Edgardo Aló, the fight for justice has been a lifelong journey. After Carolina’s murder, he dedicated himself to advocating for legal reforms, meeting with lawyers, jurists, and even presidents to push for change. He often reflects on the pain of losing his daughter and the fear that her killer, Fabián Tablado, could harm others. Tablado has since been released from prison, despite violating a restraining order in the past. Edgardo now carries an anti-panic button with him at all times, a reminder of the ongoing threats and vulnerabilities faced by victims of gender-based violence. For him, the fight is far from over. Every Christmas, he keeps a glass at the family table for Carolina, a symbol of the life that was taken and the justice that still feels incomplete.
The story of Carolina Aló and her father’s unwavering fight for justice serves as a poignant reminder of the importance of recognizing and addressing femicide. The potential rollback of Argentina’s femicide laws under the Milei government is not just a legal setback but a deeply personal blow to survivors, families, and advocates who have worked tirelessly to protect women’s lives. As the debate over these reforms continues, one thing is clear: the fight for gender equality and justice for women like Carolina is far from over.
