Multimedia > Galleries

Argentina's Mothers of Plaza de Mayo - 40 Years in the Struggle for Justice

One year after a brutal, U.S.-backed military regime took hold of the country, a group of Argentine women took to the capital's main plaza to demand information on the whereabouts of their missing children.

Of all of the dictatorships in the Southern cone in the later half of the 20th century in South America, Argentina's was undoubtedly the one that racked up the highest body count. During the relatively short period under military rule (1976-1983), some 30,000 Argentines were killed and disappeared.

Despite the widespread terror directed against social movements, human rights activists and anyone challenging the junta, the Madres of the Plaza de Mayo marched week after week, demanding truth and justice. The group has maintained its activities and along with the Grandmothers of the Plaza de Mayo, have not only shed light on the inhumanity of this period but have also managed to reunited dozens of families. 

teleSUR takes a look at the celebrations of one Latin America's most iconic human right organizations.

galeria9
Members of the human rights group Madres de Plaza de Mayo (Mothers of the Disappeared) shout slogans during commemorations of the 40th anniversary of their first march to demand justice for their children, who went missing during the country's 1976-1983 military dictatorship, in front of the Casa Rosada Presidential Palace in Buenos Aires, Argentina, April 30, 2017.
Members of the human rights group Madres de Plaza de Mayo (Mothers of the Disappeared) shout slogans during commemorations of the 40th anniversary of their first march to demand justice for their children, who went missing during the country's 1976-1983 military dictatorship, in front of the Casa Rosada Presidential Palace in Buenos Aires, Argentina, April 30, 2017. Photo:Reuters
Nora Cortinaz, the leader of the human rights group Madres de Plaza de Mayo (Mothers of the Disappeared), attends commemorations of the 40th anniversary of their first march to demand justice for their children, who went missing during the Argentina's 1976-1983 military dictatorship, in Buenos Aires, Argentina, April 30, 2017.
Nora Cortinaz, the leader of the human rights group Madres de Plaza de Mayo (Mothers of the Disappeared), attends commemorations of the 40th anniversary of their first march to demand justice for their children, who went missing during the Argentina's 1976-1983 military dictatorship, in Buenos Aires, Argentina, April 30, 2017. Photo:Reuters
Nora Cortinaz, the leader of the human rights group Madres de Plaza de Mayo (Mothers of the Disappeared), attends commemorations of the 40th anniversary of their first march to demand justice for their children, who went missing during the Argentina's 1976-1983 military dictatorship, in Buenos Aires, Argentina, April 30, 2017.
Nora Cortinaz, the leader of the human rights group Madres de Plaza de Mayo (Mothers of the Disappeared), attends commemorations of the 40th anniversary of their first march to demand justice for their children, who went missing during the Argentina's 1976-1983 military dictatorship, in Buenos Aires, Argentina, April 30, 2017. Photo:Reuters
People stand next to pictures of those who went missing during Argentina's 1976-1983 military dictatorship during commemorations of the 40th anniversary of the foundation of the human rights group Madres de Plaza de Mayo (Mothers of the Disappeared), in front of the Casa Rosada Presidential Palace in Buenos Aires, Argentina, April 30, 2017.
People stand next to pictures of those who went missing during Argentina's 1976-1983 military dictatorship during commemorations of the 40th anniversary of the foundation of the human rights group Madres de Plaza de Mayo (Mothers of the Disappeared), in front of the Casa Rosada Presidential Palace in Buenos Aires, Argentina, April 30, 2017. Photo:Reuters
Scarves, symbol of the human rights organization Madres de Plaza de Mayo (Mothers of the disappeared), are seen hanging from posts during commemorations of the 40th anniversary of their first march to demand justice for their children, who went missing during Argentina's 1976-1983 military dictatorship, in Buenos Aires, Argentina, April 30, 2017.
Scarves, symbol of the human rights organization Madres de Plaza de Mayo (Mothers of the disappeared), are seen hanging from posts during commemorations of the 40th anniversary of their first march to demand justice for their children, who went missing during Argentina's 1976-1983 military dictatorship, in Buenos Aires, Argentina, April 30, 2017. Photo:Reuters
Nora Cortinaz, the leader of the human rights group Madres de Plaza de Mayo (Mothers of the Disappeared), attends commemorations of the 40th anniversary of their first march to demand justice for their children, who went missing during the Argentina's 1976-1983 military dictatorship, in Buenos Aires, Argentina, April 30, 2017.
Nora Cortinaz, the leader of the human rights group Madres de Plaza de Mayo (Mothers of the Disappeared), attends commemorations of the 40th anniversary of their first march to demand justice for their children, who went missing during the Argentina's 1976-1983 military dictatorship, in Buenos Aires, Argentina, April 30, 2017. Photo:Reuters
People stand next to pictures of those who went missing during Argentina's 1976-1983 military dictatorship during commemorations of the 40th anniversary of the foundation of the human rights group Madres de Plaza de Mayo (Mothers of the Disappeared), in front of the Casa Rosada Presidential Palace in Buenos Aires, Argentina, April 30, 2017.
People stand next to pictures of those who went missing during Argentina's 1976-1983 military dictatorship during commemorations of the 40th anniversary of the foundation of the human rights group Madres de Plaza de Mayo (Mothers of the Disappeared), in front of the Casa Rosada Presidential Palace in Buenos Aires, Argentina, April 30, 2017. Photo:Reuters
Nora Cortinaz, the leader of the human rights group Madres de Plaza de Mayo (Mothers of the Disappeared), attends commemorations of the 40th anniversary of their first march to demand justice for their children, who went missing during the Argentina's 1976-1983 military dictatorship, in Buenos Aires, Argentina, April 30, 2017.
Nora Cortinaz, the leader of the human rights group Madres de Plaza de Mayo (Mothers of the Disappeared), attends commemorations of the 40th anniversary of their first march to demand justice for their children, who went missing during the Argentina's 1976-1983 military dictatorship, in Buenos Aires, Argentina, April 30, 2017. Photo:Reuters
Members of the human rights group Madres de Plaza de Mayo (Mothers of the Disappeared) shout slogans during commemorations of the 40th anniversary of their first march to demand justice for their children, who went missing during Argentina's 1976-1983 military dictatorship, in front of the Casa Rosada Presidential Palace in Buenos Aires, Argentina, April 30, 2017.
Members of the human rights group Madres de Plaza de Mayo (Mothers of the Disappeared) shout slogans during commemorations of the 40th anniversary of their first march to demand justice for their children, who went missing during Argentina's 1976-1983 military dictatorship, in front of the Casa Rosada Presidential Palace in Buenos Aires, Argentina, April 30, 2017. Photo:Reuters
Published 30 April 2017
Galleries galerias telesur
Comment
0
Comments
Post with no comments.