The government has appointed a trans activist as an ambassador for sexual orientation and gender identity

Today the national government has made it official to create an out-of-ranking position “Special Representative on Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity In the orbit of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and appointed Alba wheelwhich is a standard for the LGBTI+ movement, at the helm of this unit will be at the rank of Under-Secretary.

The appointment was made by Decree 227/2022 published today in the Official Gazette and bears the signature of the President of the Republic Alberto Fernandezchief of staff , John Manzor And the consultant Santiago Cafiero.

“It is necessary to take the necessary measures and strengthen the institutional resources that contribute to the Mainstreaming a gender and diversity approach in all policies promoted by the nation-state, both at the local level and at the international level”, indicates the foundations of the measure.

In the world only four countries have diplomatic representation for these characteristics: Jessica Stern, from United StateSpecial Envoy for the Defense of the Rights of the LGBTQ Community in the World; Nick Herbert (Lord Herbert of the South Downs), from United kingdomLGTBI+ Rights Special Envoy; Fabrizio Petri from ItaliaSpecial Envoy for Human Rights LGBTQI+ and Sven lehmann, from GermanyHe was appointed as the Federal Government’s Commissioner for the Acceptance of Sexual and Gender Diversity.

With a wide emphasis on egalitarian activism, Alba Rueda came to the executive branch in December 2019, and since then, has held the position of Undersecretary for Diversity Policies In the Ministry of Women, Gender and Diversity. Thus, she became the first official in this hierarchical order in the country’s history.. With the new government decision, she will now go to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and, in a way unprecedented in Argentine foreign relations, will conduct diplomatic missions. fact, He will have the rank of “Protocol” ambassador before the international concert.

According to the regulations, Rueda will have the function of “assisting the Secretary of Foreign Affairs, International Trade and Worship in representing the nation-state before International organizations and forums on issues related to gender and diversity and the protection and promotion of the rights of LGBT peopleIn coordination with the Ministry of Women, Gender and Diversity.

You must also ‘Format Post Other national representations before international and intergovernmental organizations“, besides enforcing the activities to be carried out in Argentina “in compliance with international obligations”. In addition, it will have the task of “disseminating and promoting actions, programs and plans that are developed in the country before international organizations and forums”.

The establishment of the new diplomatic center that was announced in March and became official on Tuesday, It sparked controversy in the field of specialization. “Pursuant to Decree 227/22, they created a high-level position of Special Representative on Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity in the Department of State with the rank and hierarchy of Undersecretary. The accusation itself is nonsense and the state should not interfere in the private lives of officialsThe former ambassador to Israel and Costa Rica confirmed, Mariano Cuccino.

Despite the rarity of such diplomatic postures in the world, some countries have decided to promote activism for diversity as another dimension of foreign policy. In June 2021, President Joe Biden Jessica Stern’s eye The US Government’s Special Envoy to Advance the Human Rights of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender People, a position created in the final year of Obama’s second term by then-Secretary of State John Kerry. That spot has been vacant for most of the Trump administration.

at meeting with InfobaeStern acknowledged the policies pursued by the Argentine state in this regard. “Latin America is at the forefront of LGBT rights and recognition, and I hope it will continue to be, because no other region in the world is showing the kind of momentum that exists. In the report, he said Argentina’s approved transgender recognition law – enacted in 2012, during Cristina Kirchner’s presidency – was the standard around the world, “by focusing on the concept of self-determination”.

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