If you only have a few seconds, read these lines

An audio with images circulating on WhatsApp and social networks showing that the speaker is the Minister for Women, Gender and Diversity, Ayelén Mazzina. In it, it was announced the creation of a “minimum, vital and mobile compensation” so that people who are menstruating can do it “buy special gel for the dildo they use”, and the battery for the device.

This is wrong. The voice heard in the viral audio is not the voice of the national ministerand there are no laws, decrees, resolutions or programs specifying the benefits mentioned in the message, as this medium can verify.

What does viral audio say

In messages that come more than 8 times a Check WhatsApp (+54 9 11 6270-4259) and also to this media email a woman was heard saying: “According to article 15, the second paragraph, it is stipulated that all men and women who have menstruated and are no longer menstruating are entitled to compensation at a minimum, vital and mobile. which allows them to buy a special gel for the dildos they use. It also states that batteries for dildos are included as part of the state subsidy.”

While the phrase is not directly associated with Mazzina in the message, in some cases the audio is accompanied by an image of an Instagram post by Commercial Chronicler Where a photo of the minister was seen along with the words “Menstruation is a political act” and the news “Ministry of Women to launch MenstruAR program”.

The audio along with a picture of the minister is also circulating on Twitter (see Here, Here And Here), Where gained over 1,500 retweets and 2,600 “likes”and Facebook, where it was shared more than 150 times (see here and here).

It is also shared by the “Indignado xd” page on their Instagram profile (where it received over 7,000 likes), TikTok (where it received over 200,000 views) and YouTube. This account’s video (which shows the minister’s photo and audio) Formerly reproduced in the program “+ Viviana” broadcast by La Nación +in which the host states: “They tell you that the State has to give you batteries for your dildo.”

The audio isn’t from Mazzina and the subsidies it talks about don’t exist

From the Press area of ​​the Ministry of Women, Gender and Diversity they point to checked That “the voice heard in the audio does not belong to the minister or any ministry official”.

Indeed, when analyzing some of Mazzina’s public statements clear that sound heard on viral audio not similar to the national minister.

Regarding regulations that should be promoted in audio, this media does a search on Official State Gazette And Infoleg legislative database And did not find any laws, resolutions or decrees establishing the benefits mentioned in the viral audio.

There are also no projects or programs of this kind between initiative promoted by the national, provincial or city government, or presented before the National Congress.

In this sense, from the Ministry of Women they point to checked That “the information disseminated in the audio is false“. And they added: “The aim is to discredit the ‘MenstruAR’ Programme, which aims to reduce inequality in access to menstrual management supplies and their impact on the daily lives of menstruating people.”

On May 29, Minister Mazzina presided over the launch the “MenstruAR” program.which is as officially stated have a purpose from “ensuring access to supplies for menstrual management” through delivery of menstrual cups and training with municipalities.

In this sense, Mazzina pointed out to this media: “Menstrual management products are not an option. They are essential products. You can’t choose not to menstruate. For this reason, guaranteeing with public policies access to information and products that are sustainable and sustainable, reduces gaps and elevates the dignity of people who are menstruating.

Meanwhile, Celeste Leonardi, Sexual and Reproductive Health Officer from United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) in Argentina (which along with SES Foundation produce graphic material that will be disseminated within the framework of the program), he said checked That “the program ‘MenstruAR’ does not provide these elements (N. de la R.: refers to intimate gels and batteries for dildos). It provides menstrual cups to cities, promotes equal access and develops training on Comprehensive Sexual Education with references and local references ”.

At the international level, at least 14 countries have health and management initiatives menstruation: Kenya, Canada, India, Australia, Scotland, England, Germany, New Zealand, United Kingdom, Namibia, France, Mexico, Spain, Colombia. Most of the, implemented policies related to the reduction or elimination of taxes VAT and free provision of menstrual management products.

Mazzina did say that “menstruation is political”

The viral audio is accompanied by an image showing the post from Commercial Chronicler on Instagram, where the phrase “Menstruation is a political act” is seen alongside a photo of Mazzina.

Of course, The Minister made this statement to public television in the framework of the MenstruAR program presentation. And ratify them before consultation checked, when asserting that “menstruation is political is the slogan of feminist activism. When we say that menstruation is political, we say that it is not something individual, but in this case it affects half of the world’s population. Therefore, the State has a responsibility to narrow the gap in inequality of access to safe menstrual health.”