A handkerchief made with mosaics in homage to the Mothers and Grandmothers of Plaza de Mayo was discovered this Thursday in Rome as “a symbol of the universal battle for democratic values.” The event was attended by the referent of Mothers of Plaza de Mayo-Founding Line, “Taty” Almeida; the Secretary of Human Rights of the Nation, Horacio PIetragella Corti; the ambassador to Italy Roberto Carlés, and the mayor of Rome, Roberto Gualtieri.
The handkerchief represented with mosaics located in front of the Argentine diplomatic headquarters, in the Plaza del Esquilino. “Mothers and Grandmothers were a symbol of the struggle not only for memory, truth and justice in Argentina. They are a symbol of the struggle for human rights, for social justice, for causes that unite us with human values.” “, highlighted Carlés upon discovering the work.
The ambassador added that “this handkerchief represents the search for truth and justice, the work for memory, and having had to endure more than two decades of impunity in Argentina.”
“Taty” Almeida, meanwhile, stressed that the meeting means the visibility of the handkerchief, and recalled “the many times they have wanted to make memory disappear.”
“Like during the four years of the first coronavirus pandemic, that of the Government of (Mauricio) Macri and company,” later denounced the mother of Plaza de Mayo, who will meet with Pope Francis at the Vatican on Friday.
“I see many survivors, brothers and sisters, former detainees,” Pietragalla said. The ceremony was also attended by the Ombudsman of the City of Buenos Aires, María Rosa Muiños; the director of Human Rights in Culture of the Ministry of Culture, Fabiana Almeida, and the member of the organization 24 de Marzo Jorge Ithurburu.
“That there is a handkerchief in this capital, a memory of the struggle that the Mothers and Grandmothers meant, is of the utmost importance to us. All the time, in every corner of the country, we make visible the symbols of resistance to the years of dictatorship and also of impunity in our democracy,” said Pietragalla Corti at the ceremony to which Hebe de Bonafini, from Mothers of Plaza de Mayo, and Estela de Carlotto, from Abuelas, sent their congratulations.
“Fortunately, Argentina resumed the Memory, Truth and Justice policy with our president Alberto Fernández and with Cristina Fernández, our vice president,” Pietragalla added before lamenting how during the government of Mauricio Macri “the fight for human rights was set aside “.
For the mayor of Rome, meanwhile, the scarf “is the symbol of a universal battle.”
“It is a battle that Mothers and Grandmothers fought for their children, for freedom and democracy, but it was a battle that touches the values of Justice throughout the world and that was for years a point of reference for anti-fascists and democrats from all over the world. Italy,” said Gualtieri at the ceremony that was also attended by the Argentine consul in Rome, Ana Tito, and the ambassador to the Holy See, Maria, Fernanda Silva.
As part of his visit to Italy for the inauguration of the mosaic, the Human Rights Secretary will hold meetings with the Italian prosecutors who promote the trials of South American soldiers accused of participating in the repressive coordination system known as Plan Condor, while also visiting the Fosse Ardeatine, symbol of the murders of fascism in Rome.