Rosa Roisinblit, an Argentine human rights activist, has passed away at the age of 106, according to her organization. She was a founding member and honorary president of the Grandmothers of Plaza de Mayo, a group that sought to locate children who were taken during Argentina’s military dictatorship from 1976 to 1983. The organization expressed gratitude for her dedication and the love she showed in her search for the lost grandchildren.
During the “Dirty War,” a period marked by severe human rights violations, approximately 30,000 people were killed or disappeared, with many children of detained opposition activists taken for adoption. Roisinblit was born in 1919 in Moises Ville, a town established by Jewish immigrants. After moving to Buenos Aires in 1949 and marrying in 1951, her life dramatically changed after the military coup in 1976.
Roisinblit’s daughter Patricia, along with her son-in-law and granddaughter Mariana, were abducted in 1978. They were detained at ESMA, a notorious center for political prisoners. While Patricia was allowed to give birth to her son in captivity, her family’s remains were never discovered. Mariana was returned to Roisinblit, who raised her, while the newborn was placed in the care of an air force officer.
Following her family’s abduction, Roisinblit joined the Grandmothers of Plaza de Mayo, serving in leadership roles until 2022. Her grandson was found in 2000, and he and Roisinblit were reunited after DNA tests confirmed their relationship. In court in 2016, she witnessed the sentencing of those responsible for her family’s kidnapping and torture.
Roisinblit continued to advocate for human rights into her later years, attending trials related to the military’s abuses and expressing her reluctance to stop fighting for justice. An estimated 140 children have been reunited with their biological families through the Grandmothers’ efforts, while many others remain missing. Roisinblit is survived by her granddaughter, Mariana Eva Perez, a writer and academic.
Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cewn2nky1w2o?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss