GAMAG Europe (GE) greets and encourages Argentine women leading the Green Tide, and, in particular, journalists who work with a gender perspective, so numerous and active in Latin America. We know the work of feminist digital media LATFEM and the Network of Feminist Journalists of Latin America and the Caribbean, and we share their concern regarding the uncertain vote in the Argentine Senate on Tuesday 29th December.

This debate opens a window of opportunity for an entire region that is currently experiencing very restrictive scenarios. If approved, we will be the country with the largest population in Latin America and the Caribbean where abortion is legal”

MARÍA FLORENCIA ALCARAZ, CO-DIRECTOr of LATFEM.

In GE we are sure that their energy will help to overpass a situation that foresees very tight positions in defence of the rights of Argentine women in a framework of democracy.

“This discussion opens a window of opportunity for an entire region that is currently experiencing very restrictive scenarios. If approved, we will be the country with the largest population in Latin America and the Caribbean where abortion is legal,” says María Florencia Alcaraz, co-director of LATFEM.

We are going through quite decisive moments in the long struggle for the right to decide that is about to be conquered. And we are aware of the informational effort made in recent years to explain the injustices that are committed around the latest gender crime, and also of the importance of reporting in the media and social media channels a situation that affects half a million Argentine women every year.

This is why we must continue to highlight the legislative contradictions in a secular country, and the interference and inadmissible tutelage of the Church over the body of women. It is important to give the floor to this historic claim, which includes the need for Comprehensive Sex Education and an effective and universal access to contraceptive methods.

Legal abortion will certainly be the target of fake news these days in Argentina. Fake news can be only fought with true information and with responsible journalism

We shall not lower the guard, because traps are already being set to strip the spirit of the law content, so that a right achieved democratically could remained without application or be later ignored or distorted. This could happen, for example, with the conscience objection hypocriticaly and improperly applied, a real danger that must be monitored and reported.

Legal abortion will certainly be the target of fake news these days in Argentina. Fake news can be only fought with true information and with responsible journalism developed by professionals and media such as the LATFEM colleagues, among many others, who keep informing on the sexual and reproductive rights agenda.

The Global Alliance on Media and Gender – GAMAG, and its European Chapter, GAMAG EUROPE  is an Alliance of men and women, as well as institutions and organisations working for gender equality in the media through journalism and communication, an supports Argentina’s Green Wave.