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Feminist, trans-feminist, LGBTQ+, labor, social, human rights, and academic activists and organizations have formed the National Campaign for Feminist Judicial Reform . Their objective is to highlight the "improper performance" of the judiciary in Argentina, which they say "reproduces patriarchal practices and logic." They will launch the campaign next Thursday, June 29 .

“When we raise the need for a feminist judicial reform, it’s precisely because we constantly find that all three branches of government should be committed to eradicating violence. We find that the judiciary is the only one that constantly lags behind and has no interest in changing its completely patriarchal practices,” Melisa García, a lawyer and founder of the Association of Feminist Lawyers (Abofem) .

She added: "(The justice system) is highly delegitimized. It makes us feel increasingly unprotected, ultimately becoming institutional violence. That's why we need a feminist judicial reform, and we need it now."

In this regard, the Campaign warns about " the absence of a gender perspective in judicial processes and rulings" and "the lack of comprehensive actions to protect the integrity of women, children, adolescents, and LGBTQ+ individuals, as well as their re-victimization." They also point to "the criminalization of both grassroots activists and protective mothers, as well as members of the LGBTQ+ community."

More than 600 members

In response to this situation, individuals and organizations will launch the National Campaign for Feminist Judicial Reform on Thursday, June 29. The event will take place at 6:00 PM at 731 Paseo Colón Avenue , in the Monserrat neighborhood of Buenos Aires. The group has already gathered over 600 signatures in a document they are circulating.

The campaign began to take shape at the 2021 Virtual Federal Forum for Feminist Judicial Reform, which drew over 6,000 participants from across Argentina. It was then further fueled by discussions at the Plurinational Meeting in San Luis last year. Finally, this year, some 200 organizations supported the impeachment process against the current members of the Supreme Court of Justice of the Nation (CSJN), which was presented in the Chamber of Deputies.

For sociologist and popular educator Flor Grimolizzi, it is necessary to "understand what we are facing." Thus, through Proyecto Generar , of which she is a member, they carried out several activities, such as the 2021 Federal Forum and a workshop at the Plurinational Encounter, on this topic. And they arrived at a diagnosis: "We have a patriarchal, sexist, dehumanizing, corrupt justice system that criminalizes women, protective mothers, and sexual minorities," she emphasized to Presentes.

Faced with a justice system that is "often difficult to access", with "rulings and sentences in cryptic languages" and "a lack of gender and human rights perspective", the Campaign seeks "a judicial power that is democratized, that is swift in resolving its cases".

Proposals

Some of the proposals under consideration for judicial reform include the impeachment of the four members of the Supreme Court of Justice and an increase in the number of justices. Additionally, the reforms call for compliance with the Democratic Access Law throughout the judiciary and the Micaela Law. 

Also, the creation of a Popular and Feminist Observatory to monitor the management of judicial system authorities; the application of sanctions to officials who do not apply international regulations with a gender perspective; and active listening to women, children and diverse groups.

It also establishes the care of children as a "basic principle in the judicial process" and demands the adoption of urgent action measures in response to reports of gender violence in any of its forms.

For sexual diversity

Regarding sexual diversity, Grimolizzi stated, "There are numerous cases demonstrating that the judicial system is discriminatory and revictimizing." In this regard, she highlighted the experience of Higui de Jesús, who was imprisoned for defending herself . "The prosecutor did everything possible to frame her when she defended herself against an attempted sexual assault and beating," she explained.

Also included is "the case of Luz Aimé Diaz, who was held in 'preventive ' detention, and against whom only the issue of her identity was relevant." Meanwhile, what is happening to Pierina Nochetti, accused of damaging cultural heritage for painting "Where is Tehuel?" on a wall, "is clearly a persecution of her identity and her activism," she explained.

Finally, regarding the case investigating what happened to Tehuel de la Torre, the young trans man who disappeared on March 11, 2021, there has been an "active search" for over two years, with no new developments and a trial that has yet to begin. "In the procedure, three days pass between the police geolocating Tehuel's phone at the defendant's house and the raid: this should be unacceptable, but it's commonplace," Grimolizzi added.

"Because they continue to kill us. Because they continue to ignore our complaints. Because the judges who make up the Supreme Court of the Nation decided not to be trained under the Micaela Law and do not respect gender parity in their composition. For all these reasons, our struggle is key to transforming the structural inequalities that prevent us from being full citizens," the Campaign concluded.