One of Argentina’s oldest and best-known human rights organisation the Grandmothers of Plaza de Mayo has been officially nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize.
“It’s wonderful to be accepted and nominated but our dream still remains”, president of Abuelas Estela de Calotto told Télam, referring to the organisation’s historic search for young people who were snatched as babies or toddlers from their parents during Argentina’s 1976-83 military dictatorship.
The Grandmothers were nominated by lawmaker Daniel Filmus (FpV, Buenos Aires City) for their “more than 40-year struggle in defence of human rights and democracy”.
“In their four-decade story, the Grandmothers have found and restored the identities of 127 Argentines”, he said.
The Grandmothers’ latest discovery was on December 27, 2017 with news of the 127th grandchild, a woman.
An estimated 500 babies and small children are estimated to have been snatched during Argentina’s last dictatorship.
Two Argentines have previously received the Nobel Peace price: former foreign minister Carlos Saavedra Lamas in 1936 for his role in peace negotiations in the Chaco War between Bolivia and Paraguay; and Adolfo Perez Esquivel, in 1980, for his defence of human rights during the 1976-83 dictatorship.
The Grandmothers have been nominated for the Nobel Peace prize five times.
Their nomination as an organisation makes them one of 329 candidates — 217 individuals and 112 organisations.
The winner will be announced in October.
See also: Estela de Carlotto speaks with the Times
- TIMES/PERFIL
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