,

Debates around the Feminist Economy from the sustainability of life

Together with the Córdoba Feminist Economy Space and with the support of the Heinrich Boll Foundation, we carried out a cycle of 5 virtual meetings to make visible and debate the existence of other economies that put human and non-human life at the center and the care that make them possible.

“Below, we offer a google translate version of the original article in Spanish. This translation may not be accurate but serves as a general presentation of the article. For more accurate information, please switch to the Spanish version of the website. In addition, feel free to directly contact in English the person mentioned at the bottom of this article with regards to this topic”.

The Feminist Economics (FE) webinar series began on September 30 and lasted for two months. Specialists in Feminist Economy, Popular Economy, Ecological Economy and Social and Solidarity Economy participated, members of various self-managed spaces and activists who bet and work towards other economies, which replace the profit motive for the care and sustainability of human lives and not human.

The panel of the first webinar was made up of Ariana Cervantes and Vanessa Ullua (members of the Virginia Bolten Accounting Firm) and Shams Selouma from the Latin American Feminist Incubator. In that meeting, legal, tax and administrative tools were offered for self-managed and community organizations. At the same time, the Resource person Tools for self-management was presented from a perspective of sustainability of life.

The second webinar, called “Towards the sustainability of life. Dialogues between the experiences of Latin America and Spain ”, laid the foundations and theoretical guidelines of the Feminist Economy from a perspective of the sustainability of life, in order to reflect and discuss new ways of thinking and organizing work, producing, distributing and consume, that subvert the capitalist and hetero-patriarchal logic. The space sought to establish a conversation between theoretical views and experiences from Latin America and Spain. Specialists on the subject participated in this meeting: Astrid Agenjo Calderón, Patricia Laterra and Natalia Quiroga Díaz.

This meeting was followed by another that addressed the issue of care as a condition for sustaining life. In the webinar “The essential is invisible to the market. Co-responsibility, community and care ”, participated Corina Rodriguez Enriquez, Gabriela Marzonetto and Paola Bonavita, who spoke about current care policies and community care in Argentina and specifically Córdoba.

Finally, the last two webinars set out to propose and debate, from a theoretical approach first and an empirical one later, the possibilities of building and sustaining other economies that articulate the proposals of the Social and Solidarity Economy, the Popular Economy, the Ecological Economy with the Economy Feminist.

Theoretical reflections were raised in the webinar “Another (s) economy (s). Dialogues between the Feminist Economy and the Popular, Solidarity and Ecological economies ”, thanks to the contributions of Ariana Ortega and Magalí Magnani from the Ecofeminism Area of ​​the Ecologist Workshop of Rosario, Florencia Partenio, Karina Tomatis. The tensions and dilemmas, as well as the theoretical proposals raised in this meeting, were put into dialogue with self-managed experiences of the city of Córdoba, who participated in the last webinar “The other economy exists and sustains life. Conversation with self-managed and community organizations of Córdoba ”.

In this last meeting, members of the Corteza del Chañar cooperative, Wallmarx cooperative, the Textile of the Meeting of Organizations and the Cordoba Agroecological Fair participated, who shared concrete experiences that make the existence of other economies visible, glimpsing a real horizon in which these possible.

We believe, and the particular current context is showing it every day, that the sustainability of life must be at the center of the debate, that we must continue to think and collectively build what economy we want and need to sustain our lives and all the lives that inhabit this planet in a way worth living.

We know that there is still a long way to go to deconstruct and transform an economy based on a productivist logic, capital accumulation, and deterioration of the environment. That is why it becomes urgent and necessary to make visible and strengthen theories and experiences of other economies, built from self-management and from feminist debates, putting good living in focus and betting every day on another possible world.

Legislative treatment of the law on Voluntary Termination of Pregnancy begins

The discussion will begin in the Chamber of Deputies, with informational meetings of the committees throughout the week. After the long weekend the voting would come in the enclosure. It will be discussed on the basis of the bill sent by the Executive Power two weeks ago, and the bill presented by the National Campaign for Safe and Free Legal Abortion in 2019. What does each bill say?

“Below, we offer a google translate version of the original article in Spanish. This translation may not be accurate but serves as a general presentation of the article. For more accurate information, please switch to the Spanish version of the website. In addition, feel free to directly contact in English the person mentioned at the bottom of this article with regards to this topic”.

This Tuesday, December 1, the plenary of the Criminal Legislation, General Legislation, Women and Diversities and Health commissions will receive members of the Executive Power (from the Health, Social and Legal and Technical Development portfolio). Then there will be presentations by scientists, sanitarians, health professionals and jurists for and against the law, with the expectation of reaching an opinion next Friday.

After having announced it at the opening of the legislative sessions, on March 1, the Executive Power finally sent the bill for the Voluntary Interruption of Pregnancy to the National Congress. It did so together with the bill that establishes the so-called “Thousand Days Plan”, which proposes State assistance to pregnant women in vulnerable situations during pregnancy and up to the first three years of the child’s life.

In this way, the debate on the legalization of abortion was once again enabled, one of the main points on the human rights agenda of our country since its discussion in Congress in 2018, which culminated in August with the rejection in the Senate. The Campaign for Legal, Safe and Free Abortion had presented its project in May 2019, which still has parliamentary status, so it is expected that during the debate in commissions both will be taken into consideration.

In this document we present a comparative analysis of both projects, contrasting them with the opinion that had been approved by the Chamber of Deputies in 2018. We consider that the National Congress has the duty to give the legislative discussion with the lessons learned at that time , and taking both projects as input.

Congress will again have the opportunity to enact a law that consolidates long-delayed human rights, respecting the international standards that regulate this matter to which the Argentine State is bound, marking an advance in the protection of the rights of women and pregnant persons in our country.

A law that guarantees the Voluntary Interruption of Pregnancy will allow us to advance in the construction of a more just, egalitarian and respectful of human rights society.

Contact

 

Mayca Balaguer, maycabalaguer@fundeps.org
,

Voluntary Termination of Pregnancy (IVE) bills: comparative analysis

This document proposes a comparative analysis between the bill of Interruption Pregnancy Volunteer who was treated in the Chamber of Deputies in 2018 and obtained average sanction; the bill of the National Campaign for Legal, Safe and Free Abortion presented in 2019 in Congress and the project presented by the Executive Power in November 2020.

Descargar Documento / Download File
,

Why does Argentina still not have a National Action Plan on Business and Human Rights?

In the sixth session of the United Nations Intergovernmental Working Group on Business and Human Rights, negotiations were held on the second legally binding treaty to regulate the activity of transnational companies. There is still time for this instrument to come into force, so it is still important that Argentina finalize the review of its National Plan of Action on Business and Human Rights so that the State exercises its responsibility to disseminate and implement the Guiding Principles on the business and human rights.

The United Nations Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights have emerged as a global standard for businesses and governments to prevent and address business-related human rights violations.

Next year, the Principles will be 10 years old, for this reason, the UN Intergovernmental Working Group, in charge of preparing a legally binding treaty on this matter, has launched in the middle of this year a new project ‘UNGPs10 + / NextdecadeBHR’ with the purpose of outlining the steps to follow for the next 10 years in the area of ​​business and human rights. In addition, it will take stock of the achievements obtained so far and analyze future challenges and existing gaps.

However, the Guiding Principles have worked and function as guides for States and businesses on how to protect and respect human rights and how to make reparation for victims. But, often, the distance between what the Principles have is usually far from the internal regulations of each State. For this reason, many countries have developed National Action Plans -PAN- so that the States are responsible for the dissemination and implementation of the Guiding Principles. Also, the NAPs serve as instruments of change capable of adapting to the local context but they do not hold transnational companies responsible for human rights violations, which is why it is relevant to have a legally binding treaty on this matter.

Thus, efforts to develop a legally binding treaty on business and human rights began in 2014. Since then, the Intergovernmental Working Group has worked to perfect this instrument by improving the content, scope, nature and form of the instrument. Last year, the Revised Draft of the binding treaty was published and discussed at the Annual Forum held in October 2019. In August this year, the Chair of the Intergovernmental Working Group published the Second Revised Draft of the legally binding instrument to regulate the activities of the companies and in October the sixth period of negotiations between the parties involved will be held.

However, until the approval and adoption of the Treaty by the States, the preparation and application of the NAPs continues to be necessary. So how is Argentina doing on this issue?

On the website of The Danish Institute for Human Rights, there is a map that details which countries already have a NAP, which are developing it, and which have other non-state initiatives. Argentina is in the group of countries that is still developing its National Action Plan. Consequently, and due to the importance of having a NAP, in September we made a request for information to the national government, consulting the status of the Argentine National Action Plan on companies and human rights. The response was provided in two parts, first in late September and then the information was completed in mid-October.

The Argentine PAN has already been prepared and for it to enter into force a decree from the President of the Nation is necessary. However, the Nation reported that the Draft Decree for the approval of the National Business and Human Rights Action Plan is under review by government authorities. Moreover, it has not yet been defined whether the participation of civil society through public consultations will be allowed, which is necessary to achieve a greater commitment to guarantee the respect and protection of human rights by the State and companies. transnational corporations and effective remedies for the victims.

When consulting on the position of the national government regarding the legally binding instrument, the Ministry of Foreign Relations replied that Argentina abstained from Resolution 26/9 of 2014, which approves the constitution of an Intergovernmental Working Group for the purpose to develop a legally binding international instrument to regulate the activities of transnational corporations and other commercial companies with respect to human rights. However, Argentina has participated in all the sessions held by the working group and was present at the last session in October this year.

So, it is not only necessary and urgent that the UN Working Group advance in the elaboration and conclusion of the Treaty, it is also urgent that Argentina do the same with its National Plan of Action on business and human rights. As the plans are oriented according to the Guiding Principles, elaborated according to the context of each State, they must be the product of transparent, participatory processes and open to dialogue. For this reason, it is essential that the National Government jointly review with civil society, academia, unions and other interested parties, the draft of the PAN so that it effectively serves as an instrument in the elimination of obstacles and in the promotion of good practices in the compliance with human rights related to business activities.

From Fundeps we will continue to monitor the process of elaboration of the Argentine PAN as well as the International Legally Binding Treaty on transnational companies and human rights.

More information

Author

  • Sofia Brocanelli

Contact

,

We met with INADI for the complaints made against the Fasta school network

On November 24, we met with members of the Córdoba delegation of the National Institute against Discrimination, Xenophobia and Racism to discuss the acts of discrimination perpetuated in the schools of the Fasta educational network.

“Below, we offer a google translate version of the original article in Spanish. This translation may not be accurate but serves as a general presentation of the article. For more accurate information, please switch to the Spanish version of the website. In addition, feel free to directly contact in English the person mentioned at the bottom of this article with regards to this topic”

After sending them the complaint presented in October to the Ministry of Education for the situations of violence and discrimination experienced by members of the educational communities of the Fasta network, the Cordovan delegation of INADI granted us a hearing to discuss the cases of discrimination reported .

The institution promised to get involved with the complaint, requesting information from the Ministry of Health. In addition, it assumed the commitment to continue articulating with civil society organizations, anticipating new instances of encounter and dialogue.

More information

Contact

,

9th Annual Forum on Business and Human Rights

From today until Wednesday, November 18, the 9th Annual United Nations Forum on Business and Human Rights will take place virtually.

“Below, we offer a google translate version of the original article in Spanish. This translation may not be accurate but serves as a general presentation of the article. For more accurate information, please switch to the Spanish version of the website. In addition, feel free to directly contact in English the person mentioned at the bottom of this article with regards to this topic”.

Today and until Wednesday, the 9th Annual Forum on Business and Human Rights organized by the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights takes place. Due to the pandemic, this year, the Forum will be held virtually, allowing greater participation of organizations and communities from different parts of the world. Under normal circumstances, face-to-face participation in this forum is difficult due to distances and economic issues, so its realization in a virtual format means a great advance.

The theme of this year’s event is “Preventing Business-Related Human Rights Abuses: The Key to a Sustainable Future for People and the Planet”. The Forum brings together companies, investors, government representatives, civil society organizations, community groups, UN agencies, national human rights institutions, unions, academies and the media.

However, due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the Forum will consider how States and the business community should respond to it in a way that respects and protects human rights as well as the need to build a sustainable and people-centered recovery. .

More information

Contact

Gonzalo Roza, gon.roza@fundeps.org 

,

The First Finance in Common Summit was held, which brought together the world’s public development banks

The Finance in Common Summit, held from November 9 to 12, is the first global summit to be attended by all the world’s development banks and multilateral institutions. Civil society organizations from different regions have demonstrated in the absence of human rights and the voices of the communities on the event’s agenda.

“Below, we offer a google translate version of the original article in Spanish. This translation may not be accurate but serves as a general presentation of the article. For more accurate information, please switch to the Spanish version of the website. In addition, feel free to directly contact in English the person mentioned at the bottom of this article with regards to this topic”.

Between November 9 and 12, 2020, the Finance in Common Summit was held, which was attended by 450 Public Development Banks of the world, multilateral institutions, heads of State, representatives of the private sector, civil society, academia, among others. The event was an initiative of the World Federation of Financial Institutions for Development -FEMIDE- and the International Development Finance Club -IDFC-. It was sponsored by the President of France, Emmanuel Macron and by the French Development Agency -AFD; and counted with the participation of the Secretary General of the United Nations, António Guterres.

The summit focused on the crucial role that Public Development Banks play as capable and necessary actors to provide a collective response to global challenges, agreeing on short-term sustainable recovery measures on the COVID-19 crisis and with an impact on long-term in the environment and in societies. However, the Summit’s agenda did not address human rights, rights that are constantly violated and violated by the investments of development banks. Thus, indigenous peoples, Afro-descendant communities, local communities, and human rights defenders did not have a space to express their concerns and concerns.

This, despite the fact that in September, more than 200 civil society organizations from around the world sent a letter to the French Development Agency requesting that the principles of development that is focused on rights be included and prioritized. humans. Due to the lack of response, CSOs issued a Joint Declaration calling on Public Development Banks -BPD- to invest their financial resources in building a just, equitable, inclusive and sustainable future for all societies in the world. 

This summit should be an opportunity for development banks to modify the way they operate and place democracy, inclusion, equality, solidarity and the common good as the axis of their actions. It is urgent that PDBs commit to financing for fair, equitable and sustainable development, promoting and guaranteeing human rights for all, without neglecting vulnerable and marginalized communities.

Más Información 

Contact
Gonzalo Roza, gon.roza@fundeps.org

We began to integrate the RACI Executive Committee

Carolina Tamagnini, Executive Director of Fundeps, was elected as a substitute during the last election process for the Executive Committee of the Argentine Network for International Cooperation.

“Below, we offer a google translate version of the original article in Spanish. This translation may not be accurate but serves as a general presentation of the article. For more accurate information, please switch to the Spanish version of the website. In addition, feel free to directly contact in English the person mentioned at the bottom of this article with regards to this topic”.

RACI is a federation made up of more than 150 Argentine Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) that constantly works to strengthen and promote coordinated actions with the sector. Fundeps has been part of this space since 2016 and this year we decided to renew our commitment by applying to be part of its Executive Committee.

During the last Assembly of RACI Members, the results of the elections of the members of the new Executive Committee were announced. Said Committee is in charge of carrying out political actions in line with the medium and long-term strategy, as well as contributing to the implementation of the annual planning of the Network. On this occasion, Carolina obtained the necessary votes to become part of said space, and will be occupying a substitute role for the period 2020-2022.

We celebrate the renewal of RACI authorities and be able to accompany their continuous growth and federalization process, thus contributing to the strengthening of civil society in Argentina.

More information

New RACI Executive Committee

Contact
Carolina Tamagnini – carotamagnini@fundeps.org
, ,

Virtual meetings on Gender and International Financial Institutions

Two virtual meetings to learn about the world of the IFIs, their accountability mechanisms, and share useful tools with feminist organizations in the region.

“Below, we offer a google translate version of the original article in Spanish. This translation may not be accurate but serves as a general presentation of the article. For more accurate information, please switch to the Spanish version of the website. In addition, feel free to directly contact in English the person mentioned at the bottom of this article with regards to this topic”.

The international financial institutions -IFIs- are one of the most important actors for the countries of Latin America and the Caribbean in terms of project financing. However, it is necessary for the IFIs to have Gender Policies and mainstream the gender perspective in the design, development and execution of the projects they finance, and consider the gender-differentiated impacts they cause.

For this reason, we launched two virtual meetings in which we will learn about the IFIs and share useful tools for organizations made up of diverse and dissident feminities and identities to build capacity to monitor the projects financed by them.

In the first meeting, we will get closer to the world of the IFIs and their accountability mechanisms. It will take place on Tuesday, November 10, at 4:00 p.m. Argentina.

In the second meeting, we will provide tools to obtain information and monitor projects financed by development financial institutions. It will be held on November 17 at 4:00 p.m.

REGISTER
,

The incorporation of Argentina to the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank was approved

Today, October 28, the Argentine Chamber of Deputies approved the bill to enter our country into the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank. Thus, the incorporation of Argentina as a Non-regional Member to the bank is made effective.

“Below, we offer a google translate version of the original article in Spanish. This translation may not be accurate but serves as a general presentation of the article. For more accurate information, please switch to the Spanish version of the website. In addition, feel free to directly contact in English the person mentioned at the bottom of this article with regards to this topic”.

On September 3, the Argentine Senate approved the bill for the entry of the Argentine Republic to the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank -AIIB-. The approval of the law was carried out today, October 28, in the Chamber of Deputies by 235 positive votes and 4 negative votes.

The management for Argentina to form part of the Bank began in the first Forum ‘One Strip and One Route for International Cooperation’ held in 2017, in which the previous government management affirmed the country’s intention to be part of the AIIB and the The Bank’s Board of Directors approved the admission of Argentina to the Institution.

The Asian Bank was born in 2015 at the initiative of China and began operating in January 2016. It has 102 members from different regions of the world. AIIB is a multilateral financial institution and, between completed and ongoing projects, has already financed 138 infrastructure projects.

For Argentina, joining the AIIB means an additional alternative to access financing for infrastructure works through a new multilateral organization. However, although it has been proposed as a different alternative to Western multilateral banking, the AIIB does not escape the logic, operation and even institutional structure that characterizes institutions such as the World Bank, the International Finance Corporation or the Inter-American Development Bank. . In this sense, from civil society, criticisms and questions have been raised regarding the transparency, accountability and environmental sustainability of the projects financed by the bank, which should be taken into account by Argentina when receiving financing of this institution.

More information

Contact

Gonzalo Roza, gon.roza@fundeps.org

,

Clear labeling now: not a step back

From Fundeps we are addressing the senators to express the importance of their vote in favor of the Front Warning Labeling Law, which already has a favorable opinion from the Health and Industry and Commerce commissions.

“Below, we offer a google translate version of the original article in Spanish. This translation may not be accurate but serves as a general presentation of the article. For more accurate information, please switch to the Spanish version of the website. In addition, feel free to directly contact in English the person mentioned at the bottom of this article with regards to this topic”.

The growth in obesity and overweight rates in our country is alarming and has been growing steadily in both boys, girls and adolescents as well as in the adult population; and advertising, lack of information and misconceptions about the nutritional value of what we consume are among the main contributing factors in the development of this epidemic.

In Argentina there is no food labeling system established by law that informs consumers in a clear, truthful and simple way if that product contains nutrients critical to their health. In this sense, scientific evidence clearly shows that frontal warning labeling is the best regulatory option to facilitate decisions that protect health. International organizations specializing in public health, such as the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) have clearly spoken out in favor of frontal warning labeling.

Furthermore, international human rights obligations require active policies based on scientific evidence that protect the right to health and the right to food. Recently, the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the right to health, Dainius Püras, issued a statement calling on States to address the global impact of non-communicable diseases by adopting front-of-packaging labeling policies. for food.

Regarding which cut-off points should be used to determine when a product contains an excess of any of the critical ingredients (sugar, sodium, fat, calories), the nutrient profile model of the Pan American Health Organization – defined by a an institution that is a benchmark in public health interventions – it constitutes the highest standard of protection. This system has been adopted in the laws of countries in the region, such is the case of Chile and, recently, Mexico.

Senators have the opportunity to take this policy one step further. The experiences in countries such as Chile, Peru, Uruguay and -recently- Mexico show that it is possible to advance in evidence-based measures that address the specific needs of our countries and prioritize the human right to health and food. adequate above the interests of the industry.

More information

Contact

Agustina Mozzoni, agustinamozzoni@fundeps.org

,

We denounce the FASTA educational network before the Ministry of Education of Córdoba

As a result of the testimonies of former members of schools of the FASTA educational network, numerous cases of gender violence, discrimination, non-compliance with the compulsory curriculum and abuse of authority came to light. We demand that the province’s Ministry of Education stop these practices that violate human rights and act accordingly.

This Monday, accompanying graduates of the schools of the FASTA educational network (Fraternidad de Agrupaciones Santo Tomás de Aquino), we filed a complaint with the Ministry of Education of the province of Córdoba, in order to inform you of certain situations and practices contrary to the law occurred in said educational centers.

Through the testimonies of former students, former students and other members of the community, he became aware of the discrimination and violence that had occurred and would occur in the classrooms of said schools. The testimonies cover situations of gender violence, homo-hatred, discrimination, abuse of authority and denial and defense of the last Argentine military dictatorship.

The study material that is provided to the students was also denounced for being fallacious, discriminatory, violent and violating different laws, such as Comprehensive Sex Education, Discriminatory Acts, Sexual Health and Responsible Procreation, and Identity of Gender, among other protective regulations for human rights and for children and adolescents.

The complaint was signed by more than 30 graduates of the Fasta schools, and different civil society organizations, political parties, public figures and human rights activists joined.

We demand that the Ministry take the necessary measures to deter human rights violations committed by the schools of the FASTA network and any other establishment linked to it, and that it take an active role so that the contents and materials of study are adapted to the provisions of our laws, in matters of education. We also request that the creation of a Provincial Commission for the Implementation of CSE be established with the purpose of collecting and systematizing information that allows monitoring at the provincial level compliance with Law No. 26,150 on Comprehensive Sexual Education.

More information

Authors

  • Sofia Armando
  • Sofia Mongi

Contact