Born: 1924
Died: 1977
Biography:
Azucena Villaflor (7 April 1924 – 10 December 1977) was an Argentine activist and one of the founders of the Mothers of the Plaza de Mayo, a human rights organization that seeks justice for the victims of enforced disappearances during Argentina’s Dirty War.
Villaflor was born into a lower-class family to Florentino Villaflor, a 21-year-old wool factory worker, and his 15-year-old wife, Emma Nitz. Her paternal family had a history of involvement in militant Peronism. From a young age, Villaflor showed a strong sense of justice and empathy for others. At the age of 16, she started working as a secretary for a home appliances company, where she met Pedro de Vincenti, a labor union delegate. Villaflor and de Vincenti married in 1949 and had four children together. They lived in Villa Dominico in Buenos Aires Province.
The turning point in Villaflor’s life came on 30 November 1976, eight months after the establishment of the National Reorganization Process. Her son Néstor and his girlfriend Raquel Mangin were abducted, and Villaflor embarked on a relentless search for them. She reached out to the Ministry of Interior and sought support from military vicar Adolfo Tortolo. During her search, Villaflor began to meet other women who were also searching for their missing relatives.
Driven by desperation and a desire for justice, Villaflor decided to take action. On 30 April 1977, she and thirteen other mothers, including María Adela Gard de Antokoletz, gathered in the Plaza de Mayo in front of the Casa Rosada, the presidential palace in Buenos Aires. Villaflor chose this politically and historically significant site to raise awareness about the disappearances of Néstor and Raquel and others. The initial protest turned into a march after the military ordered them to circulate around the plaza instead of grouping together. They continued their weekly demonstrations every Thursday at 3:30 pm.
Villaflor’s leadership and determination inspired countless others to join the Mothers of the Plaza de Mayo movement. The white headscarves they wore became a powerful symbol of their fight for justice. Despite facing threats, intimidation, and violence from the authorities, Villaflor and the mothers persisted in their quest to uncover the truth and hold the perpetrators accountable.
Tragically, Villaflor’s activism came at a great personal cost. On 10 December 1977, the Mothers of the Plaza de Mayo published an advertisement featuring the names of their disappeared children. That same night, Villaflor was abducted from her home in Villa Dominico by armed individuals. She was reportedly taken to a concentration camp belonging to the Navy Petty-Officers School, run by Alfredo Astiz at the time. It is believed that Villaflor was tortured alongside other kidnapped women, including a group of French nuns, and subsequently murdered a few days later.
The fate of Villaflor and the other victims remained unknown for several years. In 2003, the Argentine government initiated exhumations, leading to the identification of several bodies found washed up on the shores of Santa Teresita and Mar del Tuyú in Buenos Aires Province. Although the bodies were buried in a cemetery in General Lavalle, their cause of death was reported as impact on hard objects from a great height. These findings provided some closure to the families, including Villaflor’s, who had long awaited answers.
Azucena Villaflor’s unwavering determination and sacrifice make her a renowned figure in the struggle for human rights. Her legacy lives on through the Mothers of the Plaza de Mayo, a movement that continues to seek justice and remembrance for the victims of Argentina’s Dirty War.