In brief
Argentina, once a beacon of progressive social policies in Latin America, has seen a dramatic shift under President Javier Milei, whose austerity measures have put vital programs for women at risk. This includes the dismantling of a federally funded initiative that worked for three years to lower teenage pregnancy rates through sex education and birth control access in schools.
In the small town of Oran in the Province of Salta, Silvia Alanis, who dedicated her efforts to teaching youth about sexual health, is among the hundreds affected by the cuts. The Milei administration's dismissal of around 600 staffers from the program reflects its broader trend of eliminating services promoting gender equity, which the president has criticized as a threat to Western values. Experts warn that these measures threaten to reverse the progress made over the years in addressing teenage pregnancy in the country. In the wake of these changes, the future for young women in Argentina remains uncertain and precarious.
