Producer Lucy Knollys explores the movement of the mothers of the Plaza de Mayo. During the Argentinian ‘Dirty War’ 1976-83, around 30,000 people were disappeared by the state. Mothers took to the streets to demand justice for their missing children and grandchildren. With Professor Fernando J Bosco, the podcast explores how the Mothers of the Plaza de Mayo repurposed traditional identities to give them political strength. Harnessing emotional intelligence, and politicising their role as mothers, they were able to create a far-reaching and enduring social movement which changed human rights in Argentina, and led to the discovery of over a hundred missing grandchildren. This podcast sheds light on an extraordinary, yet relatively unknown female-led social movement and the factors that led to its success.

Special thanks to Professor Fernando J Bosco, of San Diego State University, for participating in this podcast as an interviewee, and giving up his time to share his research into, and experiences meeting with, the Mothers of the Plaza de Mayo.

Thanks also to Prof Illan Wall, School of Law, University of Warwick, for his support and advice throughout this project.

Music:

All music sourced from the Free Music Archive:https://freemusicarchive.org

Blue Dot Sessions, ‘Drone Birch’, 2017

Kevin MacLeod, ‘Thatched Villagers’, 2014

Trans Atlantic Rage/Balogh, ‘Soul Harmonics’, produced by Jared C. Balogh, 2012

Xylo-Ziko, ‘Dark Water.mp3’, 2020, ‘First Light.mp3’, 2020, ‘Last Light.mp3’, 2021

Sound Effects:

All sound effects sourced from BBC Sound Effects:https://sound-effects.bbcrewind.co.uk

‘Bells: Cathedrals – Cathedral bell strikes 5’, BBC Sound Effects

‘Italy: Large Square, Distant Perspective’, BBC Sound Effects

‘Shingle Beach – Waves’, recorded by David Tombs, Natural History Unit, 1911