https://www.fidh.org/en/region/americas/argentina/brutal-repression-of-r...
Paris, 18 March 2025. In Argentina, the economic context has drastically deteriorated in recent months, with structural adjustment measures that have had a devastating impact on the most vulnerable sectors. Retirees, who mostly survive on incomes far below the poverty line, have seen their living conditions become even more precarious. Among their main demands are the updating of pensions to recover lost purchasing power, the restoration of coverage for essential medications, and the extension of the pension moratorium, whose expiration in March threatens to leave thousands of people who were unable to complete the necessary years of contributions without a pension.
However, the Argentine government has responded with excessive use of force, violating international principles that protect freedom of expression and the right to protest. On 12 March 2025, more than a hundred people were arbitrarily detained, including two children, and at least twenty protesters had to be hospitalized due to the repressive actions of the police.
Among the most serious cases is that of photographer Pablo Grillo, who was struck in the head by a tear gas canister while documenting the demonstration. He is currently in critical condition with an uncertain prognosis. The assault on Grillo represents a concerning violation of press freedom, which is guaranteed by international human rights treaties.
The recent modification of security regulations by the Milei government legitimizes the excessive use of force against protesters. The "Protocol for the Maintenance of Public Order in the Event of Road Blockades," promoted by the Minister of Security, Patricia Bullrich, abolished previous restrictions on the use of tear gas guns and the carrying of firearms during demonstrations, violating international human rights standards. Additionally, the government is seeking to criminalize protests by calling for investigations into alleged crimes such as "sedition," "public disorder," and "aggravated criminal association."
The government’s rhetoric is especially worrying, which has justified violence with speeches labeling protests as attempts at "destabilization" or "terrorist acts," seeking to dehumanize opponents. These statements, in addition to being unfounded, encourage a dangerous persecution of those exercising their right to protest, and their influence was evident in the actions of the intervening officers, some of whom shouted against the "leftists."
Equally concerning is the persecution (with threats of removal and even criminal charges) that government officials have launched against Judge Karina Andrade, who released all those detained due to the clear failure of police officers to meet the minimum requirements for verifying the legality of the detentions, such as the circumstances of the manner, place, time, and specific accusations against each detainee.
FIDH urges the Argentine government to respect human rights and guarantee freedom of expression and protest. The international community must remain vigilant in the face of the concerning regression of rights and freedoms in Argentina.
FIDH reaffirms its solidarity with the Argentinian people and their right to demand better living conditions without fear of retaliation. Respect for human rights is non-negotiable and must be guaranteed by any government that claims to be democratic
