Edgardo Aló’s daughter Carolina was murdered in 1996, prompting his fight for femicide recognition in Argentina’s penal code. This legal acknowledgment was achieved in 2012 but is now under threat from President Javier Milei’s government. Critics argue that repealing femicide from the law would endanger women further, as alarming rates of gender-based violence persist in the country.
In 1996, Edgardo Aló lost his daughter Carolina when she was brutally murdered by her boyfriend, who stabbed her 113 times just weeks before her 18th birthday. This tragedy prompted Edgardo’s relentless campaign for justice and significant legal reforms in Argentina. His efforts contributed to the recognition of femicide as an aggravating factor in homicide cases within Argentina’s penal code, a change achieved in 2012 after extensive lobbying by women’s rights groups and public advocates.
However, this hard-won progress is now at risk under President Javier Milei’s government, which has expressed intentions to eliminate the designation of femicide from the legal framework. On January 24, Minister of Justice Mariano Cúneo Libarona argued that femicide laws distort equality before the law, stating that no life should be valued more than another. Critics claim this move undermines essential protections for women against gender-based violence.
Edgardo and various advocates for women’s rights find themselves questioning whether their persistent efforts to create a safer environment for women have been in vain. With the alarming statistics revealing 252 femicides in Argentina from January to November 2024, many worry that the repeal of femicide as a legal term will worsen the dangers faced by women, especially given that most femicides are committed by individuals within the victims’ close circles.
Historically, Edgardo fought for stricter punishment for gender-based killings, which previously received relatively lenient sentences. Following Carolina’s death, he worked tirelessly to revise existing laws, which culminated in the 2012 legal amendment that acknowledged femicide and imposed life sentences for offenders. Unfortunately, recent legislative intentions threaten to reverse these advancements, sparking outrage among survivors and advocates alike.
The article discusses the enduring struggle of Edgardo Aló, whose daughter Carolina was murdered in a brutal act of femicide in 1996. Following her death, Edgardo advocated for legislative change in Argentina, leading to the classification of femicide as a specific legal concept in 2012. Despite these advancements, the current administration under President Javier Milei seeks to eliminate the mention of femicide from the penal code, raising concerns among activists regarding the potential increase in violence against women in Argentina.
The potential repeal of femicide laws under President Javier Milei’s administration poses a grave threat to the safety and legal protection of women in Argentina. Edgardo Aló’s story exemplifies the importance of recognizing and addressing gender-based violence through legal frameworks. The fight against such regrettable violence must continue, ensuring that hard-won gains for women do not dissipate into diminishing protections against femicide.
Original Source: edition.cnn.com
