Censorship of the “Grandparent Index” in Argentina

At the Faculty of Chemistry, Biochemistry and Pharmacy of the National University of San Luis, in Argentina, Professor Leonardo Segui uploaded to the virtual classroom material for his students about the so-called statistical formula of grandparentage that is used to identify grandchildren appropriated or born in captivity during the last civic-military dictatorship from 1976 to 1983.

In the context of the subject of Molecular Biology and Genetic Engineering of the Bachelor's Degree in Biotechnology, the professor in charge of the course, Darío Ramírez, prohibited him from using as an example in the practical work this “grandparentage index”, a formula developed by Mary-Claire King at the request of the Grandmothers of Plaza de Mayo that made it possible to identify 140 grandchildren who were victims of state terrorism.

The censorship suffered by Leonardo Seguin, PhD in Biochemistry and professor at the Faculty of Chemistry, Biochemistry and Pharmacy of the National University of San Luis, generated many repercussions within the academic community, but also in political and human rights environments, including the support of the president of Grandmothers of Plaza de Mayo, Estela de Carlotto.

What Leonardo Seguín experienced is not an isolated incident; it goes hand in hand with the ideological crusade waged by Javier Milei's government since it came to power two years ago, targeting, for example, Comprehensive Sexuality Education (CSE), gender content, and the defunding of all human and civil rights policies.

Eric Domergue interviewed