🌐 WOMEN’S STORIES _ Estela de Carlotto
By Alexia
Richardson, The Heroine Collective
Richardson, The Heroine Collective
Human Rights Activist
In August
2014, Argentina came to a standstill as a dignified, white-haired woman in her
80s gave a press conference announcing that a DNA test had identified her
grandson. Social media exploded; the president herself sent her
congratulations. But to understand why the reunion between a grandmother and
grandchild had such significance for the country, we need to go further back.
2014, Argentina came to a standstill as a dignified, white-haired woman in her
80s gave a press conference announcing that a DNA test had identified her
grandson. Social media exploded; the president herself sent her
congratulations. But to understand why the reunion between a grandmother and
grandchild had such significance for the country, we need to go further back.
Estela
Barnes de Carlotto was born in Buenos Aires in 1930. She became a primary
school teacher, got married and had four children, but she wasn’t
politically active. Then, in March 1976, the Argentine military staged a coup,
and the military junta set about persecuting its opponents with an efficient
brutality. Activists, intellectuals, students, journalists, or simply those who
were in the wrong place at the wrong time were abducted and, in most cases,
never heard from again – they became, as was the known term, the
“disappeared”.
Barnes de Carlotto was born in Buenos Aires in 1930. She became a primary
school teacher, got married and had four children, but she wasn’t
politically active. Then, in March 1976, the Argentine military staged a coup,
and the military junta set about persecuting its opponents with an efficient
brutality. Activists, intellectuals, students, journalists, or simply those who
were in the wrong place at the wrong time were abducted and, in most cases,
never heard from again – they became, as was the known term, the
“disappeared”.
Carlotto’s
daughter Laura was one of the disappeared. She was in the early stages of
pregnancy at the time. Pregnant disappeared women were typically kept alive
until they gave birth, but after this, many of them were murdered and
their children given to military families or others connected to the regime.
daughter Laura was one of the disappeared. She was in the early stages of
pregnancy at the time. Pregnant disappeared women were typically kept alive
until they gave birth, but after this, many of them were murdered and
their children given to military families or others connected to the regime.
In August
1978, Carlotto joined other women in similar situations in the fledgling
Grandmothers of the Plaza de Mayo group (Abuelas de Plaza de Mayo). In the same
month, the police informed her that her daughter was dead, but said nothing
about the child. Carlotto and the other Grandmothers began doggedly, slowly,
and in fear of losing their lives, to piece together scraps of news from
released prisoners and other sources in their search for their grandchildren.
1978, Carlotto joined other women in similar situations in the fledgling
Grandmothers of the Plaza de Mayo group (Abuelas de Plaza de Mayo). In the same
month, the police informed her that her daughter was dead, but said nothing
about the child. Carlotto and the other Grandmothers began doggedly, slowly,
and in fear of losing their lives, to piece together scraps of news from
released prisoners and other sources in their search for their grandchildren.
After I
buried my daughter, a new level of struggle started. People sometimes think
that because one recovers the body one will say, “All right, enough, this is
the end of the story.” Quite the contrary. My work was just beginning. I
started to search for the murderers of my daughter and to search for my grandson.
I found out that my daughter in the camp said to her friends, “As long as my
mother lives she is never going to forgive the military.” And she was right.
She knew me better than I did. If somebody had told me then that I would
dedicate my life to searching for the truth and struggling against historical
amnesia, I would not have believed it.
Over a
decade, the Grandmothers became one of the leading human rights groups of
Argentina and were involved in the development of a national blood bank to
identify the children born in captivity. Carlotto, who became president of the
group in 1989, was a well-known figure and travelled the world, publicising
their cause. And during this time, there were considerable successes; a first
group of children were identified. But as the years passed, there remained no
sign of the boy that survivors reported Laura Carlotto had given birth to in
the detention centre and named Guido.
decade, the Grandmothers became one of the leading human rights groups of
Argentina and were involved in the development of a national blood bank to
identify the children born in captivity. Carlotto, who became president of the
group in 1989, was a well-known figure and travelled the world, publicising
their cause. And during this time, there were considerable successes; a first
group of children were identified. But as the years passed, there remained no
sign of the boy that survivors reported Laura Carlotto had given birth to in
the detention centre and named Guido.
When I
turned 80, I begged God not to let me die before I found my grandson.
Then, in
2014, a 36-year-old musician called Ignacio Hurban volunteered himself for DNA
testing. The results confirmed he was the son of Laura and her partner Walmir
Montoya, and the grandson of the president of the Grandmothers. Although the
Grandmothers initially tried to retain details of his identity, he was quickly
at the centre of a media storm.
2014, a 36-year-old musician called Ignacio Hurban volunteered himself for DNA
testing. The results confirmed he was the son of Laura and her partner Walmir
Montoya, and the grandson of the president of the Grandmothers. Although the
Grandmothers initially tried to retain details of his identity, he was quickly
at the centre of a media storm.
He has
since been able to meet both his grandmothers as well as many more members of
his extended family. He’s also taken the name of his parents and is now Ignacio
Montoya Carlotto.
since been able to meet both his grandmothers as well as many more members of
his extended family. He’s also taken the name of his parents and is now Ignacio
Montoya Carlotto.
The only
thought I had was: Laura can rest in peace now. I felt Laura said to me:
“Mother, mission accomplished.” But there’s so much still to do. I’m going to
keep looking for the other missing ones.
At the
time of writing, the Grandmothers have just announced the identification of the
121st grandchild. These women never wanted to be famous; they came to
activism out of great personal loss. But their contribution is such an
important one, and as such Estela Carlotto is instantly recognisable from
numerous press conferences and public events. For 40 years, she has been one of
the leaders of the struggle for justice in Argentina, and there’s no sign of
her stopping just yet.
time of writing, the Grandmothers have just announced the identification of the
121st grandchild. These women never wanted to be famous; they came to
activism out of great personal loss. But their contribution is such an
important one, and as such Estela Carlotto is instantly recognisable from
numerous press conferences and public events. For 40 years, she has been one of
the leaders of the struggle for justice in Argentina, and there’s no sign of
her stopping just yet.
