The Argentine human rights activist Rosa Roisinblit has died at the age of 106, her organization has announced.
Roisinblit was the honorary president and a founding member of the Grandmothers of Plaza de Mayo, a pivotal group that worked diligently to find children who were stolen during Argentina's military dictatorship from 1976 to 1983. In a statement, the organization expressed profound gratitude for her dedication and the love she maintained in search of her grandchildren until her last days.
During Argentina's 'Dirty War', approximately 30,000 people were killed or forcibly disappeared, with many children of detained activists seized for illegal adoptions. Rosa Roisinblit was born in 1919 in Moises Ville, a town settled by Jewish immigrants in Argentina. She eventually moved to Buenos Aires and dedicated her life to obstetric care and human rights advocacy.
After her family members were abducted during the military coup in 1976, she joined the Grandmothers of Plaza de Mayo, where she served as treasurer for six years and vice president for over three decades. Her tragic personal story fueled her activism. Her daughter, son-in-law, and granddaughter were kidnapped, with her daughter being made to give birth in captivity.
Throughout her life, Roisinblit witnessed profound injustices, including the kidnapping of her family, yet she never wavered in her quest for truth and justice. The organization she helped create has facilitated the reunification of 140 missing babies with their biological families, yet many remain unaccounted for.
Roisinblit's legacy continues through her family, particularly her grandson Guillermo, who has followed in her footsteps as a human rights lawyer, actively supporting the work of the Grandmothers of Plaza de Mayo.
In her words, This wound never heals... But to say I'm stopping? No, I'll never stop. Her relentless spirit and commitment to justice remain an inspiration.
