[READ ALSO: Santa Fe: historical reparation for trans people persecuted during the dictatorship]

A reparation that raises the standard in the protection of human rights

“For us, this is a historic day, and we truly feel that today the State, in the province of Santa Fe, has taken a very important step: recognizing that the gender identity and expression of dissident sexualities have been used for persecution, hatred, and violence, and that today the State can reflect on Memory, Truth, and Justice from a concrete perspective,” said the Undersecretary of Sexual Diversity Policies, Esteban Paulón. He added: “It is a belated reparation, but one that has an impact far beyond what happens in Santa Fe because, symbolically, it raises the standard of protection for the human rights of trans people, not only in Santa Fe, but also nationally and in Latin America.” The pension was awarded as part of the commemoration of the International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia. The ceremony was led by Governor Miguel Lifschitz and took place at the Rosario branch of the provincial Government House, which housed the Police Headquarters during the last civic-military dictatorship.

[READ ALSO: “The LGBTI struggle is also part of Memory, Truth and Justice”]

Along with Carolina, 20 other transgender people from the province have begun the process of accessing this benefit, which provides a monthly pension of approximately 15,000 pesos and access to the province's social security system. “This will allow them to at least spend their final years with a guaranteed income. And it's very important because the violence they suffered resulted in a lack of opportunities, in systematic exclusion that prevented any of them from developing their own life plans. Therefore, today the State is contributing and supporting them during these years, which are perhaps the most difficult because it's when people lose opportunities to find employment and generate income. This will give them peace of mind,” said Paulón.

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Law 13298 establishes a pension for those who were detained during the last military dictatorship for political, union, or student-related reasons between March 24, 1976, and December 10, 1983. Until now, sexual orientation and/or gender identity had not been included as grounds for eligibility for this benefit.