Between 1976-1983, under the dictatorship of Videla, 30,000 young people aged 16-35 disappeared in Argentina. The dictatorship deemed that targeting these youth for death would lessen the possibility of this generation growing up with left-leaning political ideals. About 3% of the women were pregnant. They were murdered after giving birth. The babies were unofficially adopted by military families and government supporters.
In 1977 the Grandmothers started meeting in Plaza de Mayo to protest the disappearances, a practice that continues to this day. You can recognize them by their white head scarves representing courage and justice. As the group became more organized, they fought through the courts to get answers, started a social media campaign, partnered with scientists to start the National Genetic Database, and in recent years have filmed their stories in the Identity Archive so their grandchildren may have the tools to find their families even after they are gone.
Over the last 40 years, approximately 120 of the grandchildren have been reintroduced to their biological families. Throughout the country, one can witness the stories on posters, painted symbols, and large-scale murals.
