Argentina Mourns 2 Slain Teen Girls as Femicide Cuts Under Milei Draw Fire
Updated
Updated · The Guardian · Jun 4
Argentina Mourns 2 Slain Teen Girls as Femicide Cuts Under Milei Draw Fire
1 articles · Updated · The Guardian · Jun 4
Summary
Two teenage girls—Agostina Vega, 14, and Dulce Candia, 17—were found strangled days apart, triggering outrage ahead of Argentina’s 11th annual Ni Una Menos anti-femicide march.
Police arrested two suspects: Claudio Barrelier, 33, after CCTV showed Vega entering his home, and a 47-year-old taxi driver over Candia’s death after she vanished for 12 days.
The killings sharpened scrutiny of Javier Milei’s government, which has shut the women’s ministry, cut support for abuse victims and sought to remove femicide as a distinct crime.
Official data show femicides fell from 250 in 2023 to 200 in 2025, but activists say undercounting has grown as state bodies tracking violence against women were dismantled.
The outcry widened after Noelia Romero, 30, was killed near Buenos Aires despite calling police to say her boyfriend was holding her hostage; he is now in custody.
With state support for women dismantled, is Argentina's government fueling a femicide crisis?
Is Argentina's anti-feminist playbook becoming a model for governments across Latin America?
Argentina’s Femicide Rate Rises to 1.10 per 100,000: Agostina Vega’s Murder, Policy Rollbacks, and the Fight for Gender Justice
Overview
The brutal murder of Agostina Vega in Córdoba in May 2026 sent shockwaves across Argentina, igniting a profound sense of pain and outrage. This tragedy quickly became a catalyst that mobilized society and forced a critical re-evaluation of progress against gender-based violence. The immediate aftermath saw a surge in the demand for justice, with Agostina’s family joining significant protests. The event highlighted deep concerns about the effectiveness of existing protections and reminded the nation that gender violence remains a pressing issue for all of society, sparking renewed activism and debate across the country.