The complaints add to a growing concern about the functioning of power structures within the provincial Government led by Axel Kicillof, which hasn't shown effective responses to serious situations of rights violations in the state sector.
The complainants, Araceli Ramírez, Viviana Moyano, and Johana Ramírez, stated that since Casanovas took office in February 2024 a pattern of systematic harassment was established.
Nicolás Kreplak y Axel Kicillof junto a Homero Giles, titular del IOMA
According to the testimonies presented, the official –supported by the Minister of Health, Nicolás Kreplak, and by the president of IOMA, Homero Giles, both leaders of La Cámpora– allegedly used his hierarchical position to carry out harassment measures, exclusion, and arbitrary functional reconfiguration, without any formal administrative act or summary procedure.
Among the reported incidents are threats to prevent the employees from participating in union activities, misogynistic remarks such as "women aren't fit to lead", informal removals from positions, direct appointments of political associates, and operational restrictions within the workplace, such as user account blocking and withdrawal of supplies.
Additionally, there was a systematic denial of medical leave even in the presence of duly certified psychiatric diagnoses. This forced the employees to request leave for gender-based violence. Currently, all three are undergoing medical treatment and have requested precautionary measures to stop the harassment and obtain their immediate reinstatement to their positions.
The claims also include multimillion-dollar compensation for moral and psychological damage, loss of salary, and violation of labor rights.
Estela Díaz - Ministra de las Mujeres, Políticas de Género y Diversidad Sexual de la provincia de Buenos Aires.
The employees state that they have turned to various institutional channels: the Ministry of Women and Diversity of the province, headed by Estela Díaz; the union UPCN; the mayor of Dolores, Juan Pablo García; and the interdisciplinary team of IOMA itself. However, they report that no effective action was taken by the provincial State to address the situation.
They also accuse Casanovas's political circle of covering up his actions and consolidating a structure of internal impunity within the organization, with direct support from the leadership of the Ministry of Health and the social security agency.
The case reveals the true willingness of Kicillof's Government to act on reports of institutional violence within its own administration, which is nonexistent. It also highlights the breach of international treaties signed by the country, such as the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) and the Belém do Pará Convention.
The official silence so far reinforces the perception that political power in the province of Buenos Aires operates under a logic of internal protection rather than response to victims, even in cases of gender-based violence and abuse of power within the State.
