Two Argentine observatories each counted 200 deaths from gender violence in the first nine months of 2026, saying that roughly one woman, girl or trans person was killed every 33 hours. Their figures come from press monitoring rather than official records, and the groups use different methods and cutoff dates. The national registry for 2026 won’t be published until 2027.
What the counts include
Ahora Que Sí Nos Ven published its tally through 29 September, which El Destape reported on Saturday, 3 October. MuMaLá counted through 30 September, and La Lupa reported its total. Both groups reached 200 deaths, but their figures aren’t official or directly interchangeable with the court registry.
Ahora Que Sí Nos Ven recorded 167 direct femicides, 20 linked femicides, seven cases of instigation to suicide and six killings of trans women or travestis. Linked femicides involve people killed to punish a woman or while trying to protect her, often relatives. The group also counted 306 attempted femicides.
In Ahora Que Sí Nos Ven’s tally, a partner or former partner allegedly killed the victim in 64% of cases. Forty-one percent of attacks happened in the victim’s own home; another 23.5% took place in a home shared by the victim and alleged killer. Fourteen percent of victims had previously reported their attacker. At least 202 children and adolescents lost their mothers.
MuMaLá counted 200 gender killings between 1 January and 30 September, along with 654 attempted killings and 157 children left without their mothers. Twelve percent of victims had reported their attacker; three in four of those had a protection order. Six percent of alleged killers belonged to the security forces. The groups define attempts differently, which accounts for the gap between their totals.
Official figures and public policy
The Supreme Court registry recorded 200 direct femicide victims in 2025, plus 19 linked victims. The court said on 29 May 2026 that this was 12.3% fewer than the 228 recorded in 2024. The 2025 rate stood at 0.85 victims per 100,000 women, or about one every 44 hours. Chequeado said the court hadn’t changed its method. Court files and press monitoring capture cases differently, so the official and civil-society figures aren’t directly comparable.
Ahora Que Sí Nos Ven tied the deaths to cuts in prevention policy under President Javier Milei, who abolished the women’s ministry after taking office in December 2023. The observatory said the 2027 budget bill didn’t mention Línea 144 or the Acompañar programme. Congress hadn’t voted on the bill yet.
Línea 144, created in 2013, serves as the national helpline for victims of gender violence. Acompañar, launched in 2020, pays survivors the equivalent of the minimum wage for six months. Both rely on national funding. Ahora Que Sí Nos Ven said, “The resurgence of gender violence comes as Milei deepens the dismantling of the public policies meant to prevent it.” MuMaLá described a “state of emergency” and linked it to economic hardship.
A pending court appeal
The Supreme Court was weighing an appeal over the 2016 killing of Julieta González in Mendoza province. Andrés Di Césare received a life sentence for aggravated homicide in a context of gender violence. His defence argued that the femicide clause should apply only to partners or former partners.
Women’s groups filed briefs urging the court not to narrow the clause, Chaco Ahora reported. The observatory warned that a narrow interpretation could bring lighter sentences for gender killings by acquaintances or strangers. The ruling remained pending. Under Argentine law, femicide means a man killing a woman in a context of gender violence; since 2012, the penal code has punished it with life imprisonment. Línea 144 is available nationally, and people can call 911 in an emergency.