Defender of the child: in two years, we have done what has not been done in more than ten years

Without a doubt, the creation of the National Advocate for the Rights of Girls, Boys and Adolescents (a pending account of nearly 14 years in Argentina) will take a fundamental step towards ensuring the well-being and protecting the most vulnerable and vulnerable. most precious of our world. countries, which are precisely girls, boys and adolescents. As politicians, as citizens, our main commitment is to protect them in order to offer them the best opportunities, and that they are the ones who help us and continue to build a better society.

On 28 September 2005, the National Congress approved Law 26061, which created the system of full protection of the rights of girls, boys and adolescents. This law established the role of the ombudsman as an independent body of the executive power, charged with ensuring the protection and promotion of the rights of children and adolescents, guaranteeing their defense before public and private institutions, oversee and control the comprehensive protection system at the federal level. According to the law, the National Congress was to appoint the mediator through a bicameral commission within 90 days of the adoption of the law.. Unfortunately today and because of their apathy and political disinterest, children still do not have an ombudsman to guarantee their rights.

Since coming to power as a government, we have decided to make the profound changes that our country needs and, personally, I have no doubt that the repayment of this debt, which has been in place for nearly 14 years, is part of the transformation we have committed to doing.

Thanks to the joint work with various civil society organizations that have never given up, the political decision taken since Cambiemos and, of course, the commitment made by the legislators of the various forces, we created two years the bicameral Commission of the defender. rights of girls, boys and adolescents and we started to work seriously.

We are initiating a rigorous and transparent process; We launched the candidacy of the Defender of the rights of girls, boys and adolescents of Argentina. We convened live public hearings, attended by more than 90 civil society organizations, 133 representatives of public institutions, workers, specialists and we also heard the voices of children and adolescents; It was a big step because we finally heard what the little ones needed. We are working, and this is also noteworthy, together with the children's advocates of the provinces of Santa Fe, Misiones, Santiago del Estero, La Pampa and Cordoba, who throughout this trip have played a key role, adding even more transparency and professionalism.

On October 12, 2017, and with broad consensus from civil society organizations and industry representatives, we approved the Public Opposition Regulations and background for the designation of the mediator. Sixty-eight candidates came forward to become the first national advocate for the rights of girls, boys and adolescents. A deadline of 10 working days has been granted to allow the citizens to submit adhesions or contests to each of the candidates. We received more than 7000 accessions and 9 challenges to the various applications.

On September 4, 2018, the regulation of the evaluation mechanisms for the remaining three steps was approved, including clarifications regarding the written exam, weighting criteria for each step and the development of A final order of merit of the contest. The review was prepared with the advice of the five provincial child advocates; of the Inter-American Children's Institute of the Organization of American States (OAS) and the National Commission for the Evaluation and Accreditation of Universities (Coneau), which they guaranteed the technical rigor of the two-hour exam, whose process was broadcast live. After the exam review period, the bicameral commission released the names of the 15 candidates who pbaded the exam and had to submit their work plan for the office of the ombudsman. All candidates submitted their plans as soon as possible. They have been published online so that citizens can read them. On October 23, 2018, we completed the final phase of the competition, during which 14 candidates presented their work plans and answered questions. These hearings were also public.

There is no doubt that those who have reached the last instance are those who meet the requirements of the law and international standards for the position of national advocate for the rights of girls, boys and adolescents. There is no doubt about the commitment of the bicameral commission to get to work two years ago and to take action that had not been taken for more than 12 years before the legislation was pbaded.

Today is a historic day for our country, because we are finally named advocates for the rights of Argentine girls, boys and adolescents, which means a respect before and after of the way we work to guarantee them the best opportunities.

Today, we are changing history thanks to everyone involved in this process.

The author is a national deputy (PRO). President of the Bicameral Commission for the Advocate for the Rights of Girls, Boys and Adolescents.