Sakharov Network

The Argentinean human rights movement 'Las Madres de la Plaza de Mayo' was awarded the Sakharov prize in 1992.
From 1976 to 1983, Argentina lived under a military dictatorship. In April 1977, 14 women came together for the first time in the Plaza de Mayo to make an appeal to President Videla. To begin with, the main aim of the group of mothers was to trace their lost children and to seek the prosecution of those responsible for the disappearance of 30 000 people during the military dictatorship, but later they widened their struggle into a fight for an independent judicial system, political change, and peace.
The demonstrations that 'Las Madres' holds every Thursday outside the Casa Rosada, the President's residence, on the Plaza de Mayo are a symbol of resistance. At each demonstration members wear white headscarves, which are universally recognised as emblematic of the fight for justice.
The Argentinean mothers wish to see the country's young people show political commitment and oppose a system which has condemned millions of Argentineans to poverty and provides neither education, nor housing not health care.
For this purpose, 'Las Madres de la Plaza de Mayo' has set up a People's University to train these young people who previously had access to education.
In December 2002 the movement held its twenty-second 24-hour Resistance March under the slogan 'No to the payment of external debt'.
'Las Madres de La Plaza de Mayo' has not stopped seeking justice and truth despite many setbacks. Its request for the extradition of some former militaries from the time of the dictatorship was turned down despite hopes that a 'way to Justice' had been opened.