The Argentine human rights activist Rosa Roisinblit has died at the age of 106, her organization announced. She was the honorary president and a founding member of the Grandmothers of Plaza de Mayo, a group dedicated to searching for children stolen during Argentina's military dictatorship from 1976 to 1983.
In a heartfelt tribute, the campaign group stated, We only have words of gratitude for her dedication and the love with which she searched for the grandsons and granddaughters until the very end. Approximately 30,000 individuals were killed or forcibly disappeared during Argentina's Dirty War, with the children of detained opposition activists taken for illegal adoptions.
Born in 1919 in Moises Ville, Rosa Roisinblit pursued a career as an obstetrician before moving to Buenos Aires in 1949. Following the military coup in March 1976, the junta implemented drastic measures to extinguish opposition, leading to the abduction and disappearance of countless activists.
Tragically, her pregnant daughter, Patricia, son-in-law, and grandchild were kidnapped in 1978. After Patricia's captivity, Rosa joined the Grandmothers of Plaza de Mayo, serving as treasurer for six years and then as vice-president from 1989 until 2022.
One of her significant accomplishments included the reunion with her grandson, Guillermo, who was located in 2000 through the organization’s efforts. After DNA tests confirmed their familial ties, the reunion symbolized hope amidst generational trauma.
Guillermo has since become a human rights lawyer, continuing his grandmother's formidable legacy. Reflecting on his loss, he shared a poignant message after her passing, expressing comfort in the belief that she is now reunited with loved ones lost to the oppressive regime.
Rosa Roisinblit's legacy will live on, as her tenacity and dedication to human rights have left an indelible mark on Argentina's history and the ongoing fight for justice and remembrance of those who suffered during the dictatorship.
