The National Disability Agency (ANDis), operating under Argentina’s Ministry of Health led by Javier Milei, has sparked major controversy by using derogatory terminology to describe individuals with disabilities in a resolution published in the nation’s Official Gazette.
This regulation, which outlines medical criteria for assessing work-related disabilities in recipients of non-contributory pensions, has faced severe criticism from various human rights organizations and groups representing people with disabilities. Published in January 2025, the resolution labels people with intellectual disabilities as “idiot,” “imbecile,” and “mentally weak.” These categories are further divided based on disability levels, such as “profound,” “moderate,” and “mild.” Additionally, it states that individuals with “profound or greater mental weakness” qualify for pension benefits.
This language has been condemned as politically incorrect and discriminatory, perpetuating negative stereotypes about people with disabilities. On February 3, seven Argentine organizations, including the Civil Association for Equality and Justice (ACIJ) and the Center for Legal and Social Studies (CELS), filed an administrative complaint demanding the repeal of the regulation. They argue that it violates the human rights of people with disabilities and contradicts the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.
Call for Respectful Language and Inclusive Policies
Agostina Quiroz, an attorney with ACIJ's Disability Rights Program, told EFE that the terms used in the resolution “reproduce and reinforce historical prejudices that exacerbate discrimination against people with disabilities.” She emphasized the seriousness of the government’s use of such language, noting that the public administration should be leading efforts to eradicate these biases.
The organizations highlighted the outdated medical approach used to define disability, which critics argue is obsolete. Instead of focusing solely on an individual's “deficiency,” the social model of disability, as endorsed by the Convention, views disability as arising from the interaction between personal characteristics and environmental barriers. Under this framework, the full inclusion and participation of people with disabilities depend on societal and state transformation rather than medical normalization.
The ACIJ’s statement stresses that there are no “invalid individuals” for work; rather, everyone can contribute given the necessary support. Quiroz added that the government's derogatory language has tangible impacts both collectively and individually, contributing to a damaged identity among people with disabilities and reinforcing social barriers that limit full participation.
“The continued use of such terms by the public administration causes significant harm to individuals, their families, and society as a whole by reinforcing stereotypes and attitudinal barriers that hinder the creation of more just and inclusive communities,” Quiroz concluded.
Understanding Argentina's Disability Policy Controversy
What sparked the controversy regarding Argentina's disability policy?
The controversy arose from a resolution by the National Disability Agency using derogatory terms such as “idiot” and “imbecile” to describe people with disabilities, which was published in the Official Gazette.
How did human rights organizations respond to the resolution?
Seven organizations, including ACIJ and CELS, filed an administrative complaint seeking the repeal of the resolution, arguing it violates human rights and the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.
What is the social model of disability?
The social model of disability sees disability as the result of interaction between individual characteristics and environmental barriers, emphasizing societal transformation for full inclusion.