The Government of implemented a new regulation for the classification of intellectual disability, redeeming terms considered archaic and discriminatory. The change, published in the Official Bulletin through the National Disability Agency (andis), uses nomenclatures such as “idiot”, “imbecile” and “weak mental” to define different levels of cognitive impairment. The decision generated a strong reaction from civil society organizations and human rights specialists.
The new classification is present in the annex of the decree that establishes the criteria for granting pensions for labor disability. In the text, people who have different degrees of intellectual disabilities are categorized according to their ability to read, write, manage money and perform basic everyday tasks.
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The document defines, for example, that “idiots” have not crossed the glory phase, they do not read or write and cannot live independently. “Imbacis” can perform rudimentary tasks, while “deep mental weak” are described as capable of signing their own name and doing simple jobs.
Old decree rescue
The model used by the government It was fully copied from a 1998 regulation signed by then -President Carlos Menem, which had already been reformulated to adapt to the international rules for the rights of persons with disabilities. Argentina, as a signatory to the Convention on the Rights of People with Disabilities of the UN, has a legal obligation to respect guidelines that promote the inclusion and dignity of this population.
Reaction and criticism
Entities that represent people with disabilities and human rights advocates have classified change as a serious setback. The Civil Association by LaDadad y La Justicia (ACIJ) and six other NGOs have filed a formal request for the government to revoke the norm, arguing that it reinforces harmful stereotypes and disregards advances in understanding disability as a social issue, not just medical.
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The publication of the decree caused strong indignation between experts and families of people with disabilities. Human rights organizations are intensifying the pressure for the resolution to be revoked and replaced by regulation aligned with international standards of respect and inclusion. The UN and other global entities are expected to cover Milei government clarifications on the decision.
The government has not officially spoken out about criticism so far.
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(With information from El País and La Nación)
