Grandmothers of Plaza de Mayo, the search continues

On Tuesday, May 5, a delegation from the Latin American Council of Social Sciences, headed by its Executive Director, Pablo Vommaroand the one for Communication and Information, Gustavo Lema, was received by Estela Barnes de Carlotto, President of the Grandmothers of Plaza de Mayo at their headquarters in the city of Buenos Aires.

Pablo Vommaro told Estela de Carlotto that “At CLACSO, we have the immense honor of awarding you the 'Berta Cáceres, Marielle Franco – Women Fighters of Our America' Prize, an award we established this year for every 'March, Women's Month,' seeking to embrace and recognize the great fighters for human rights, memory, and justice throughout Latin America and the Caribbean. And no one, absolutely no one, represents it better than you. You are an undisputed emblem of human rights, not only in Argentina, but throughout the world, leading for almost five decades the tireless search for the 500 grandchildren appropriated or born in captivity during the last civic-military dictatorship (1976-1983).”

The Argentine humanitarian leader expressed her deep gratitude and highlighted the collective work over so many years in the search for these children, of whom 140 have already recovered their identity and their history.

Vommaro then emphasized that “The unwavering struggle of the Grandmothers for the restitution of identity and the right to the truth not only transformed our society and the legal system, but also revolutionized science. Thanks to this drive, forensic genetics advanced through the 'Grandparentage Index' and the creation of the National Genetic Data Bank.”

remembered “That August 5, 2014, when the whole world wept with joy upon learning that, after 36 years of relentless searching, Estela was finally reunited with her grandson, Ignacio Guido Montoya CarlottoThat eternal embrace reaffirmed the validity and vitality of this struggle.” And he concluded by saying: “Eternal thanks, Estela! And infinite thanks to all the Grandmothers of Plaza de Mayo for showing us the way, for never giving up, and for teaching us that the only fight that is lost is the one that is abandoned.”

CLACSO's recognition of Estela Barnes de Carlotto