Friday's Woman

"Today's Friday's Woman is actually a group of remarkable women, the Abuelas (Grandmothers) of the Plaza de Mayo, in Argentina, who deserve support and praise for their nearly 3 decade search for the children of their "disappeared" daughters and sons. These grandchildren were raised by the very people who had imprisoned and killed their parents. Some of the granmothers, while searching for their children and grandchildren were themselves "disappeared".The grandmothers were instumental in getting scientists to help them prove that children were related to them, mitochondrial DNA being first used in these cases. Today, after the passage of decades, many of the young people are themselves questioning their heritage and are looking for their families. These grandmothers were instrumental in getting the the United Nations General Assembly to unanimously adopt the Convention on the Rights of the Child. In Article 8, the Convention states the right of the child "to preserve his or her identity, including nationality, name, and family relations". The article establishes the obligation of governments to provide, for any child who has been deprived of his or her identity, "assistance and protection with a view to speedily re-establishing his or her identity." These grandmothers are not only insuring their grandchildren can reclaim their identities, they are insuring that ALL children have the right to know who they are. I think they are brave, wonderful women," I whisper.

Are you listening?