Civil union in Argentina

In Argentina, marriage is allowed only between a man and woman. However, the Autonomous City of Buenos Aires (since 2002)cite journal|author=With news agencies|title = Same-sex couples legal in BA|journal=Buenos Aires Herald|date=2002-14-14|url=http://www.buenosairesherald.com/argentina/note.jsp?idContent=1031&Key=ARGENTINA] and the Province of Río Negro (2003) [cite journal|title=In 5 years, only 10 couples went through the civil registry|journal=Diario Río Negro|date=2008-02-03|url=http://www.rionegro.com.ar/diario/2008/02/03/20082v03s01.php] and the city of Villa Carlos Paz (2007) [cite journal|date=2008-11-23|journal=Diario Clarín|title=Córdoba: aproved the civil union among homosexuals in Villa Carlos Paz|url=http://www.clarin.com/diario/2007/11/23/um/m-01547228.htm] offered the possibility of civil unions, which are private contracts between two responsible adults (opposite-sex and same-sex couples) who have lived together for at least two years. These couples are granted some of the rights provided to married couples.

The civil union gives both members of the couple health and insurance benefits and hospital visitation rights, but do not allow same-sex couples to receive inheritance, the possibility to marry and, in some cases, the right to adopt children.

At a national level, Argentina extends widow/widower pensions to surviving partners of same-sex couples. Four Argentine labor unions have now extended National Security System medical benefits to employees’ same-sex partners. The unions and the system operate jointly in the health-care arena. The benefits are available to members of the unions for teachers, commerce employees, executives and air-transport personnel. In December 2005, a judge agreed and ordered jails and prisons across the province to authorize conjugal visits for all gay prisoners. The ruling also allows inmates who develop relationships inside jails also to be allowed sexual relations.

On October 16 2007 legislation was put before the Senate that would legalize same-sex civil unions nationwide.

On 19 August 2008, the Government of Argentina confirmed that it was allowing cohabitating same-sex couples (who had lived together for a period of more than five years) the right to collect the pensions of their deceased partners. This signalled the first time that unregistered cohabitation and rights for same-sex partners were recognised nationwide. [ [http://edition.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/americas/08/19/argentina.gay/ Argentina grants gay couples partner pensions] , CNN, 19 August 2008]

ee also

*Common-law marriage
*Same-sex marriage

References