President Javier Milei’s government has named Úrsula Basset, a lawyer seen as opposed to gender policies and LGBTQ rights, as the new human rights director of Argentina’s Foreign Ministry.
The move, widely seen as a boost for President Milei’s “cultural battle” against so-called “wokeism,” was formalised by Resolution 71/2025, published on March 14 in the Official Gazette, carrying the signature of Foreign Minister Gerardo Werthein.
Basset is a law graduate of University of Buenos Aires (UBA) with a doctorate from Catholic University of Argentina (UCA). She has taught postgraduate courses in comparative law, inheritance and family law.
A specialist in family law, she became known for her role in outlining government isolationist positions at multilateral bodies, including the United Nations and Organisation of American States (OAS), where she voted against state presence in the care of children, women, indigenous peoples or the peaceful co-existence between nations.
According to government sources cited by the Noticias Argentinas news agency, Basset has already been acting as human rights director for some months, following various resignations in the sector.
Her formal appointment, the source added, is unprecedented because it is the first time that someone without experience in multilateralism and international human rights law has directed this area of the Foreign Ministry.
Prior to Basset’s arrival, the Foreign Ministry’s Human Rights directors were career diplomats like Leandro Despouy and Horacio Basabe, or academics like Horacio Ravenna and Mónica Pinto.
As a consultant and advisor, Basset advised former foreign minister Diana Mondino prior to the official’s departure last year. She was promoted, sources say, by Presidential Chief-of-Staff Karina Milei and presidential advisor Santiago Caputo.
– TIMES/NA
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