The Argentine Senate approved a juvenile criminal law reform that lowers the age of criminal responsibility from 16 to 14, passed by 44 to 27 votes with one abstention.
The Argentine Senate passed a significant juvenile legal reform on Friday, supported by President Javier Milei's government, which lowers the age of criminal responsibility from 16 to 14 years. The vote reflected a strong majority, with 44 in favor, 27 against, and one senator abstaining. The legislation had previously been half-approved by the Chamber of Deputies and was discussed alongside labor reform in an extraordinary session of Congress.
Among the central concerns of the reform was initially the proposed lowering to 13 years, but this was negotiated to 14 due to pressure from allied parties such as PRO and UCR. The approval came just in time for President Milei to incorporate this significant legal change into his upcoming State of the Nation address, highlighting the reform's importance within his government's agenda and signaling a shift in how juvenile crime will be addressed in Argentina.
This reform is timely within the context of broad discussions on crime, punishment, and juvenile justice in Argentina, where elective authorities are often pressured to respond to societal concerns regarding youth offenders. The implications of this new law could significantly impact legal proceedings involving minors and potentially influence public perception and policy toward juvenile justice in the future.
