Rosa Roisinblit, an iconic human rights activist from Argentina, has died at the age of 106, as announced by her organization. A founding member and honorary president of the Grandmothers of Plaza de Mayo, Roisinblit was instrumental in the search for children who were stolen during the country's military dictatorship between 1976 and 1983. The organization expressed their profound gratitude for her unwavering dedication to the cause and the love that fueled her search for her grandchildren until her final days.
Roisinblit was born in 1919 in Moises Ville, a town predominantly inhabited by Jewish immigrants. She trained as an obstetrician and later moved to Buenos Aires. Her journey into activism began when her daughter Patricia, son-in-law José Pérez Rojo, and granddaughter Mariana were abducted in 1978 due to their leftist political views. Tragedy marked her family when she learned that Patricia’s body was never found after being held captive, although she was able to raise Mariana after she was returned to her.
Through her commitment to the Grandmothers of Plaza de Mayo, Roisinblit not only searched for her family but also became an essential figure in addressing the broader human rights violations of that era. Over the years, she witnessed the reunion of numerous families whose loved ones were taken, with an estimated 140 babies being returned to their biological parents due to the organization's efforts. Even at 96, she attended court proceedings involving those responsible for her family's abduction and continued to speak out for justice, famously stating that this wound never heals... but to say I'm stopping? No, I'll never stop.
Roisinblit’s legacy will undoubtedly live on through her family and the ongoing work of the Grandmothers of Plaza de Mayo, as her grandson steps into her shoes as a human rights lawyer, continuing the fight for justice that she so passionately dedicated her life to.
Roisinblit was born in 1919 in Moises Ville, a town predominantly inhabited by Jewish immigrants. She trained as an obstetrician and later moved to Buenos Aires. Her journey into activism began when her daughter Patricia, son-in-law José Pérez Rojo, and granddaughter Mariana were abducted in 1978 due to their leftist political views. Tragedy marked her family when she learned that Patricia’s body was never found after being held captive, although she was able to raise Mariana after she was returned to her.
Through her commitment to the Grandmothers of Plaza de Mayo, Roisinblit not only searched for her family but also became an essential figure in addressing the broader human rights violations of that era. Over the years, she witnessed the reunion of numerous families whose loved ones were taken, with an estimated 140 babies being returned to their biological parents due to the organization's efforts. Even at 96, she attended court proceedings involving those responsible for her family's abduction and continued to speak out for justice, famously stating that this wound never heals... but to say I'm stopping? No, I'll never stop.
Roisinblit’s legacy will undoubtedly live on through her family and the ongoing work of the Grandmothers of Plaza de Mayo, as her grandson steps into her shoes as a human rights lawyer, continuing the fight for justice that she so passionately dedicated her life to.
