The Argentine human rights activist Rosa Roisinblit has died at the age of 106, her organization announced. She served as the honorary president and was a founding member of the Grandmothers of Plaza de Mayo, a group dedicated to finding children stolen during Argentina's military dictatorship from 1976 to 1983.
In their statement, the campaign group expressed immense gratitude for Roisinblit's dedication and unwavering commitment to searching for her grandsons and granddaughters until her very last moments.
During Argentina's 'Dirty War,' approximately 30,000 people vanished or were killed. Children of detained opposition supporters were abducted and often given up for adoption, sparking an ongoing fight for justice.
Born in 1919 in Moises Ville, a settlement of Jewish immigrants, Roisinblit was a trained obstetrician who moved to Buenos Aires in 1949. Following the military coup of March 1976, she, like many other families, faced the terror of the junta that aimed to crush dissent. Her pregnant daughter Patricia, son-in-law José Pérez Rojo, and 15-month-old granddaughter Mariana were among those kidnapped in 1978.
Patricia gave birth to her son in captivity, only to see her family’s lives upended forever. Although Roisinblit managed to recover Mariana, her daughter and son-in-law's fates remain tragedy-laden tales yet to be resolved.
Roisinblit became deeply involved with the Grandmothers of Plaza de Mayo, taking on leadership roles that emphasized their mission: reuniting stolen children with their biological families. Over 140 such children have been connected with their families through the group's tireless efforts.
Despite the generational gap and passage of time, Roisinblit remained actively engaged. Even at 96, she was a prominent figure during trials of those responsible for her family's abductions. She famously remarked, 'This wound never heals... But to say I'm stopping? No, I'll never stop.'
Her grandson Guillermo, now a human rights lawyer, carries on her legacy, echoing her dedication and passion. Upon her passing, he shared heartfelt sentiments of loss and comfort in knowing that his grandmother is now reunited with his mother and grandfather.
Rosa Roisinblit's impact on the fight for justice in Argentina leaves a lasting legacy, and she is survived by her granddaughter Mariana Eva Perez, who continues to uphold her family's torch in their pursuit of truth and healing.
