Reproductive Rights in Argentina: Reflections on the 2018 Legislative Debate

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Panelists:

• Juan Méndez, Former United Nations Special Rapporteur on Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, and Professor of Human Rights Law in Residence at American University Washington College of Law
• Mariela Belski, Executive Director of Amnesty International Argentina
• Edurne Cárdenas, Lawyer of the International Team at Centro de Estudios Legales y Sociales

Last year, Argentina captured the world’s attention as the country debated policy reform to further decriminalize certain reproductive health services. As the bill made its way through Congress, receiving sufficient votes in the House of Representatives but not in the Senate, thousands of protesters took to the streets to demonstrate either their support or their opposition.

What issues did the deliberations and hearings raise? What were the main points of contention? What arguments were relied upon (e.g., human rights, public health, gender equality, criminal law, etc.)? What comes next? What does the debate mean for the upcoming presidential elections and a possible reform of the Criminal Code in Argentina? What does it mean for the rest of Latin America and the Caribbean?

To address these and other questions, the O’Neill Institute for National and Global Health Law at the Georgetown University Law Center is pleased to host “Reproductive Rights in Argentina: Reflections on the 2018 Legislative Debate”. This event offers a unique opportunity to hear directly from representatives of institutions who played key roles in the 2018 legislative debate in Argentina, as well as to reflect on the different ways in which advocacy organizations, various branches of government, international organizations, and academia can lead, participate in or influence the policy reform process at the national level.