Buenos Aires Police Fail to Properly Handle Gender Violence Complaints, Audit Finds

An audit by the Auditoría General of Buenos Aires City revealed significant shortcomings in the police response to gender‑based violence cases. The report showed that 26.2% of complaints were not received by the specialized unit and were instead routed to local precincts staffed by officers without specific training. The lack of dedicated facilities and inadequate integration with the 911 emergency system further hampered timely assistance.

The audit also identified gaps in the training curriculum of the Instituto Superior de Seguridad Pública, which does not cover gender‑based violence, and noted that the city’s information systems are poorly linked, resulting in unreliable statistics. While the Superintendencia de Violencia Familiar y de Género has a specialized structure, the identified weaknesses undermine the overall effectiveness of victim protection and call for reforms in resources, training, and data management.