Amnesty International criticises ‘criminalisation’ of indigenous peoples in Argentina in annual report

Amnesty International this week criticised the “criminalisation” of indigenous peoples in Argentina, while expressing concerns over women’s rights in Argentina.

The NGO this week released its annual report, in which 159 countries were surveyed in an attempt to “document the struggle of many people to claim their rights, and the failures of governments to respect, protect and fulfil human rights.” The report, which “shines a light on the state of the world’s human rights during 2017,” points out six key areas of concern in Argentina: sexual and reproductive rights, violence against women, the rights of indigenous people, refugees’ and migrants’ rights, impunity, and freedom of speech and assembly.

A lack of access to legal abortion procedures and the high femicide rate were listed as the primary concerns for Argentine women. Abortion is only legal if it the pregnancy is a threat to the mother’s health or the result of a rape; and, in January, Ni Una Menos publicised statistics showing that 298 femicides occurred in 2017 – one death every 29 hours – and that the data from the first 15 days of January 2018 had averaged out to one woman dying every 28 hours.

With respect to indigenous communities, Argentina was criticised for being a country in which indigenous peoples “continue to be criminalised and discriminated against in Argentina,” with the NGO accusing the authorities “of using legal proceedings to harass them.” The report cites the death of Rafael Nahuel, a member of the Mapuche community who was killed during an eviction by security forces. The disappearance and death of Santiago Maldonado – a non-indigenous ally of the Mapuche community – following clashes with the Gendarmerie in August, was also cited.

The report also highlights the importance of continuing trials against those involved in crimes against humanity during the 1976-1983 military dictatorship and lauds the historic rulings by FederalCourtof Mendoza in July 2017, which saw four former membersoft he Ju di ciar y sen tencedtoli fe inpri son and bar red from holding public office for their role in disappearances.

Argentina’s profile closes with the analysis of a “worrisome trend regarding the criminalisation of social protest and freedom of expression.” It cites examples of arbitrary detention, unnecessary humiliation and excessive force used by police after protests in the capital.