Abuelas de Plaza de Mayo: Lucha por la Justicia

Who are the Abuelas de Plaza de Mayo?

• A human rights organization in Argentina formed in 1977
• Composed of grandmothers searching for their grandchildren who were kidnapped and illegally adopted during the Argentine Dirty War (1976-1983)

Background

• During the Dirty War, an estimated 30,000 people were forcibly disappeared, including pregnant women
• Babies born to these women were often taken from their mothers and illegally adopted by military families or sympathizers
• The Abuelas de Plaza de Mayo were determined to find and reunite with their grandchildren

Methods and Achievements

• Used DNA testing to identify grandchildren and reunite them with their biological families
• Collaborated with human rights organizations and governments to investigate and prosecute those responsible for the illegal adoptions
• Successfully reunited over 120 grandchildren with their biological families
• Advocated for justice and accountability, contributing to the prosecution of former military officials and government officials responsible for the atrocities

Notable Cases

• The organization's first success came in 1984, when they reunited a young woman named Claudia with her grandmother
• In 2011, the Abuelas de Plaza de Mayo located the 100th grandchild, a milestone in their search for justice and family reunification

Impact and Legacy

• The Abuelas de Plaza de Mayo have become a symbol of resistance and hope in the face of human rights abuses
• Their work has inspired similar organizations and initiatives worldwide
• Their efforts have contributed to the development of international human rights law and the prosecution of those responsible for forced disappearances and illegal adoptions