The human rights referent and historical member of the Vesuvius and Bridge 12 Commission, Syra Mercedes Villalaín de Franconetti, passed away this Wednesday at the age of 96, reported the Human Rights Secretariat.
“It is with great pain that we say goodbye to Syra Franconetti, a historic fighter and activist for human rights, and the mother of Eduardo, Ana María and Adriana, who are still missing”They expressed this Wednesday from the official Twitter account of the Human Rights portfolio.
It is with immense pain that we bid farewell to Syra Franconetti, a historic fighter and activist for human rights, and the mother of Eduardo, Ana María and Adriana, who are still missing. pic.twitter.com/zDEOCeXEYl
– Human Rights Secretariat (@SDHArgentina) February 8, 2023
They also highlighted Franconetti’s work as a reference for the Vesuvius and Bridge 12 Commission, who was also part of the work and consensus committee of the former clandestine detention center “Club Atlético”, which in April 2002 managed to get the work of excavation on that property.
“These actions made it possible to recover part of the architecture of the building and objects that became material evidence of the testimonies of survivors”explained the Secretariat led by Horacio Pietragalla Corti.
Franconetti received in 2021 the “Juana Azurduy for the fight for the defense of human rights” award, a distinction from the national State in recognition of the trajectory of struggle and commitment of the Grandmothers and Mothers of Plaza de Mayo.
The Secretariat recalled a phrase that Syra always said: “You have to keep fighting and keep hoping.”
“This is the legacy that will accompany us forever on the road to continue deepening the process of Memory, Truth and Justice. We also embrace his family and affections at this very sad moment,” he completed.
Syra was a member of the Relatives of the Detained and Disappeared for Political Reasons and of the Tribute Commission to the victims of Vesuvius and Proto-Bank.
Much sadness.
Sira Villazan de Franconetti passed away.
Fighter for Truth and Justice.
I am tirelessly looking for his 3 children and his son-in-law
Eduardo Franconetti,
Ana María Franconetti, Adriana Maria Franconetti and her husband Jorge Donato Calvo
It will continue to be present, now and forever! pic.twitter.com/22Om1zxXU8— Claudio Morresi (@ClaudioMorresi) February 8, 2023
Three of her seven children are missing. The youngest of them, Eduardo Álvaro, was kidnapped from his home in Floresta at dawn on February 17, 1977, together with his father, Eduardo Franconetti.
Both were transferred to the clandestine detention center “El Atlético”. A few hours later, her daughter Ana María was admitted and her husband was released, who died a month later.
In September of the same year, another daughter, Adriana, was kidnapped along with her husband, Jorge Donato Calvo, when they entered the Ritz cinema in Cabildo y Olleros. Both remain missing.
Since then, and for more than 40 years, Franconetti carried out a tireless search, investigation and data collection work to find truth and justice together with human rights organizations and relatives of detainees who disappeared during the last civic-military dictatorship.
