Day of Remembrance in Argentina

44 years after the civic-military coup of March 24, 1976

Memory, the search for truth, and the demand for justice in the Argentine Republic know no limits, neither geographical nor temporal. Nor are they bound by confinement or isolation. COVID-19 has forced the cancellation of the traditional March 24th march, which year after year brings together thousands who walk the streets of Buenos Aires and the country's main cities.

But the pandemic does not paralyze minds, and initiatives flow so that each person, from their confinement, forms a link in the chain of a reminder that, with its particularities, will mark an era.

The slogans of the day are varied, but they all converge in the same direction: to pay tribute to the 30,000 disappeared detainees and to the human rights organizations that have kept the flame of Memory burning for more than four decades.

-The media and social networks are replicating photos with white scarves – a symbol of the Mothers and Grandmothers of Plaza de Mayo – hanging on balconies, windows or railings.

-Videos are circulating about the dictatorship, the trials, the search for relatives, and the recovered grandchildren.

-Readings of poems, stories, book excerpts and songs about those whom the dictators called "absent forever" are multiplying, and who are more present than ever.

Commemorating March 24th and reaffirming “Never Again” also underscores the role of science in the search for truth, particularly the work of the Argentine Forensic Anthropology Team (EAAF), which, created just over 35 years ago, has restored the identities of more than 700 victims of state terrorism in Argentina. Their professionalism and humanity have transcended borders, and today their services and training are sought after on all five continents.

In recognition of its work, the EAAF was honored by the Latin American Council of Social Sciences (CLACSO) and the National University of Quilmes (UNQ) in November 2018 with the Juan Gelman Latin American Prize. This was followed in 2019 by the production of the documentary "The Traces of Death and Anthropology" and the book "Science for Truth." Then, at the beginning of 2020, CLACSO and UNQ joined forces again to nominate the EAAF for the Nobel Peace Prize, an initiative that quickly garnered over 8.000 signatures, reflecting the widespread agreement that awarding them this prize would be a just reward.

SEE ALSO: Argentine Forensic Anthropology Team Nominated for Nobel Peace Prize