Chile's incoming far-right president, José Antonio Kast, appointed Judith Marín, a vocal opponent of abortion, as the country's new women and gender equality minister on Tuesday in Santiago. Marín, 30, has publicly expressed her support for life from conception to natural death and has decried bills to decriminalize abortion.

Marín's appointment has sparked concern among women's rights advocates in Chile, given her staunch opposition to abortion rights. Her past actions include being ejected from Chile's senate by police for shouting "return to the Lord" during a vote to decriminalize abortion under restricted circumstances. She is an evangelical former student church group president who belonged to the Eagles of Jesus, a far-right Christian group that recruits at universities across the country.

The role of women and gender equality minister is crucial in Chile, a nation grappling with issues of gender-based violence, economic inequality, and reproductive rights. The ministry is responsible for developing and implementing policies to promote gender equality and protect the rights of women and girls. Marín's appointment raises questions about the future direction of these policies under Kast's administration.

The decriminalization of abortion has been a contentious issue in Chile. Currently, abortion is only legal in cases of rape, when the mother's life is in danger, or when the fetus is unviable. Advocates for broader access to abortion argue that women should have the right to choose what happens to their bodies and that restrictive laws disproportionately affect women from marginalized communities.

Kast's election and Marín's subsequent appointment reflect a broader trend of conservative political movements gaining traction globally. These movements often prioritize traditional family values and religious beliefs, which can clash with efforts to advance women's rights and gender equality. The situation in Chile underscores the ongoing challenges women face in securing their rights and achieving full equality in various parts of the world. The implications of this appointment are being closely watched by women's rights organizations both in Chile and internationally, as they assess the potential impact on the progress of gender equality in the country.