The appointment of Javiera Marín as Chile’s new Minister of Women and Gender Equality has sparked widespread and varied reactions in the country.
Marín, who is 30 years old and the youngest member of the incoming cabinet, is a well-known conservative and religious figure. She has previously worked as a teacher, a municipal council member, and as the general secretary of the Christian Social Party.
Marín has gained attention for her staunch anti-abortion stance and her defense of the traditional family model. She has repeatedly emphasized that life should be protected from conception until natural death, and she only supports families consisting of a man and a woman. These positions have been so strong that she was once ejected from a Chilean Senate session voting on a limited abortion legalization bill after shouting “return to God.”
This appointment fits within the policies of the elected president, José Antonio Kast, who is also right-wing and anti-abortion. Kast has described this selection as part of his “unity cabinet” and stated that this team is formed to face a national emergency. In her statements, Marín has listed her priorities as strengthening the family, preventing domestic violence, and promoting pro-maternity support policies.
In contrast, feminist groups and some opposition parties have expressed deep concern over this appointment. They have warned that this choice could mean a retreat from reproductive rights and gender equality gains in Chile. Critics argue that Marín’s religious positions may conflict with government secularism principles and harm women’s rights.
Since 2017, Chile has only legalized abortion in three limited cases: when the mother’s life is at risk, in cases of rape, or when the fetus is unable to survive. Currently, Chile’s congress is considering a bill to expand this law to 14 weeks of pregnancy, but it faces strong opposition.
This appointment comes at a time when Chile faces deep challenges regarding gender policies, reproductive rights, and the role of the family in social life. Many believe that the approach of the new government under President Kast, with the presence of a minister holding traditional views like Marín, could fuel national debates and conflicts, impacting the future of women’s rights in the country.
The Guardian