A Statement by ICMEMOHRI in defence of Sites of Memory at a time of peril in Argentina
Forty years ago, Argentina emerged from the nightmare of dictatorships and crimes against
humanity. In the struggle to rebuild a lost nation and a lost society, survivors cried out
three words: “Truth, Justice and Memory”.
It took a further 20 years of struggle to begin to realise these aims. Memory sites across the
country have stood center stage in this effort as places that could speak the truth, could
become essential building blocks for achieving justice and could preserve some small
fragments of memory of those who lived, suffered and so often died within their walls or
along their pathways and waterways.
Many such places were lost, abandoned, forgotten, overgrown, overbuilt or destroyed, but
one was saved and has served as a beacon in that search for Truth, Justice and Memory, as
a physical testament to the horror, as a precious guardian of what happened and as an
inspiration and a rallying point for a myriad other efforts to document, archive and grasp for
some redress. That place is of course, ESMA Museum and Site of Memory, where, since
2004, thousands of people have worked to transform that chamber of death into a living
memorial, known across the world; its power and quiet dignity giving encouragement and
providing a model to others, a symbol of resistance and rebirth.
One year ago, the World Heritage Committee voted unanimously to accord both ESMA and
Rwandan Genocide Sites their due recognition as sites of memory inscribed as part of
World Heritage of humanity, a testament to their universal value. Both nominations were
reviewed and supported by ICMEMOHRI.
At our meeting in July 2024 in Kigali in conjunction with the commemoration of the 30th
anniversary of the Rwandan Genocide, ICMEMOHRI was reminded of the irreplaceable
value of such sites of memory, pivotal for our global efforts of prevention and non-
repetition of crimes against humanity. Yet, at this very time we have become aware of
serious cutbacks and defunding decisions threatening the very survival of ESMA, as well as
other sites of memory such as: the National Memory Archive, the National Commission for
the Right to Identity (CONADI guarantees the right to identity and the search for children
appropriated during the military dictatorship), Reparation Laws (responsible for processing
economic compensation for victims of state terrorism), the Unified Register of Victims of
State Terrorism (responsible for developing a database with systematic information on
victims of illegal repressive actions by the Argentine state), Mothers of the Plaza de Mayo,
and the Directorate of Memory Sites which preserves, marks, and spreads awareness
about memory sites related to state terrorism.
We stand in solidarity with those in Argentina trying to hold onto such sites and
institutions, and call on the government of Argentina to restore full financial and other
forms of support. Those who died under the torture and repression cannot be brought back
to life, but their traces have helped Argentina to regain its past and highlight the need to
safeguard human rights, a task that is still unfinished.
Approved by the ICMEMOHRI Board