Original version

BBC World Service South Asia

Witness History

Podcasts

Factual: Life Stories

Factual: History

History as told by the people who were there

History as told by the people who were there.

BBC World Service Australasia

BBC World Service East and Southern Africa Schedule

BBC World Service East and Southern Africa

BBC World Service Online

BBC World Service schedule for American satellite radio and the Caribbean

BBC World Service Americas and the Caribbean

BBC World Service

BBC World Service News Internet

BBC World Service Europe and the Middle East

BBC World Service West and Central Africa Schedule

BBC World Service West and Central Africa

BBC World Service East Asia

Witness History: ‘The disappeared’ of Argentina

Documentaries

‘The disappeared’ of Argentina

07/12/2023 GMT

BBC World Service - Witness History, ‘The disappeared’ of Argentina

In 1977 a woman became one of thousands who disappeared from the streets of Buenos Aires

Thousands of Argentinians were captured, tortured and murdered in large detention centres during a military dictatorship that lasted for seven years.

Between 1976 and 1983 in Argentina, the military ruled the country. Thousands of mainly young, left-wing Argentinians went missing. 

Known as 'the disappeared', they were taken to detention centres, such as Escuela Superior de Mecanica de la Armada, known as ESMA in the capital, Buenos Aires. Around 5,000 prisoners passed through its gates. Most were killed. 

As well as the murders and torture, hundreds of babies were taken from pregnant prisoners and given away to military personnel and families who supported the government.  

In December 1983 the Argentinian president Raul Alfonsin signed a decree putting the military junta responsible on trial.  

In 2010, Candice Piete spoke to one of the survivors, Miriam Lewin. 

(Photo: ESMA. Credit: Reuters)

Accessibility links

Programme Index

Witness History

‘The disappeared’ of Argentina

Genres

Formats

Brand

BBC World Service South Asia

About BBC World Service