Rosa Roisinblit, an iconic figure in the realm of human rights activism, passed away at the age of 106, as announced by her organization. As an honorary president and founding member of the Grandmothers of Plaza de Mayo, she dedicated her life to searching for children stolen during Argentina's military dictatorship from 1976 to 1983.
The Grandmothers paid tribute to her contributions, stating, We only have words of gratitude for her dedication... and the love with which she searched for the grandsons and granddaughters until the very end. During this dark chapter in Argentine history, it is estimated that around 30,000 individuals were killed or forcibly disappeared, many of them children adopted under the military regime.
Born in 1919 in Moises Ville, a town established by Jewish immigrants, Roisinblit worked as an obstetrician and relocated to Buenos Aires in 1949. Following the military coup of March 1976, her life was irrevocably changed when her daughter Patricia, son-in-law, and granddaughter were abducted by the regime.
Through her relentless work with the Grandmothers of Plaza de Mayo, Roisinblit became a key figure in reconnecting lost children to their biological families. Her grandson was successfully located in 2000, a reunion confirmed through DNA testing that cemented Rosa's sustained commitment to justice for her family and others affected by the regime.
Roisinblit continued her advocacy into her later years, attending trials of those responsible for the abductions and expressing unyielding resolve, stating: This wound never heals... But to say I'm stopping? No, I'll never stop. Her passing is a significant loss to the human rights community, yet her legacy will undoubtedly inspire future activists committed to justice and reconciliation.
