ARGENTINA
Argentina’s Government has announced a plan for a volunteer Youth Civil Service corps targeting unemployed and out-of-school youth.
President, Mauricio Macri said the new corps would include young people aged 16–20 and would be coordinated by the country’s Gendarmerie.
The announcement, which follows two years of consultation led by the Ministry of Security, immediately ran into criticism from the country’s human rights community.
At a press conference at Government House, Minister of Security, Patricia Bullrich (pictured) said the Department of Education would also have input into the corps.
“Parents often struggle with their children and they don’t know how to contain them,” Ms Bullrich said.
Nobel Peace Prize winner, Adolfo Perez Esquivel lambasted the scheme.
“Democratic values are built in public schools … this is more than a smokescreen,” Mr Esquivel said.
“This Government is taking a huge step backward in the rights of citizens. This is military service in disguise.”
Lawyer for the Anti-Police Violence Institute, María del Carmen Verdú said the Government was trying to indoctrinate poor youths.
“In the face of a rise in poverty and destitution, the Government responds with its repressive Agencies, while at the same time continuing to cut and eliminate welfare programs aimed at the youth,” Ms Verdú said.
Opposition politician Orfelia Fernández said the decision was “scandalous”.
“What does the Government want to do with the youth? Quality education? No, the budget keeps falling year after year, scholarships disappear,” Ms Fernández said.
“Dignified jobs? No, labour precariousness. What do they want? To give us training with the Gendarmerie.”
Buenos Aires, 17 July 2019
