Around the world, the attack by conservative sectors with speeches and campaigns that justify discrimination, questioning progress in human rights, represents a threat to our democracies, while undermining the ability to face the challenges of today's world.
These groups are obsessed with women's rights and diversities.
For this reason, they are against the laws that recognize their rights, those that favor equality and those that penalize gender violence.
They fight for its repeal, as well as for the dismantling of equality mechanisms.
The Americas are today under pressure from these movements that challenge the international instruments and conventions signed by their countries to promote, protect and guarantee the human rights of all people and eliminate violence against women.
A few days ago, in Peru, a bill was registered in the legislature to change the name of the Ministry of Women to the Ministry of the Family.
In Paraguay, in a process plagued by irregularities, co-religionists of Senator Kattya González of the National Encuentro Party promoted her dismissal, in an act considered a clear example of gender-based political violence.
Meanwhile in Argentina, the current Government made the decision to demote the Ministry of Women, Gender and Diversity to the rank of undersecretary in the Ministry of Human Capital.
In addition to outlawing inclusive language and the gender approach in official communications and documents.
And in Guatemala the judicial authorities are considering closing the Control, Monitoring and Evaluation Unit of the Judiciary.
Which represents a setback in the mechanisms to ensure compliance with the Law against Femicide and other forms of Violence against Women.
These initiatives reverse the progress made in the protection of women's rights in the region and are contrary to the principles and obligations established by the Belém do Pará Convention.
The Convention, which this year will celebrate thirty years since it was adopted (June 9, 1994), is the main instrument to guarantee women and girls in our region a life free of violence, and a key piece of the Inter-American System of Rights. Humans.
In this context, the Committee of Experts (CEVI) of the Mechanism for the Follow-up of the Belém do Pará Convention (MESECVI), carries out continuous observation and monitoring work, so that all government actions respect and incorporate the standards of international rights and the obligations acquired by States.
The statements and communications made by the Committee to the countries are the means to urge their authorities to rectify course and reverse actions that deviate from the fulfillment of these rights.
A few days ago the Committee launched two strong calls to the Argentine government and the Guatemalan Judiciary to reverse the decline in these rights.
In the march towards the commemoration of the thirty years of the Belem do Pará Convention, we must not forget that a life free of violence and equality between men and women are human rights widely recognized by international law.
Under these principles of respect and inclusion, governments, civil society and the international community must work hand in hand for the rights and advances of women and diversity.
Teresa Incháustegui Romero
is vice president of the Committee of Experts of the Follow-up Mechanism of the Belém do Pará Convention (MESECVI).
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