Washington Committee for Human Rights in Argentina records, 1964-2016, bulk 1973-1986

Using These Materials Teaser

Using These Materials Links:

Using These Materials

Restrictions:
Collection is open for research.
More about accessing and using these materials...

Summary

Creator:
Washington Committee for Human Rights in Argentina
Abstract:
The Washington Committee for Human Rights in Argentina operated in the late 1970s and early 1980s to advocate for the human rights of Argentines targeted during the Dirty War/El Proceso. The committee was formed by prominent Argentines who had resettled in the United States, especially in the Washington, D.C. area. The committee frequently partnered with other human rights organizations, including the Washington Office on Latin America, to sponsor programming and mailings to raise awareness of the situation in Argentina. The Washington Committee for Human Rights in Argentina records consist of correspondence, mailers, flyers, reports, notes, programming information, petitions, lists, pamphlets, newspaper clippings, poetry, photographs, posters, and journal articles.
Extent:
9.1 Linear Feet
Language:
English
Spanish; Castilian
Portuguese
French
Collection ID:
RL.11806

Background

Scope and content:

The Washington Committee for Human Rights in Argentina records document its members' advocacy for the rights of Argentines and their efforts to document human rights abuses during the Dirty War/El Proceso. The collection comprises three series: the Administrative Files series, 1964-1984; the Publications series, 1965-1986; and the Subject Files series, 1973-2016. The Administrative Files series consists of the materials that directly document the work of committee members to do outreach and lobby government officials to support changes in U.S. foreign policy towards Argentina. The Publications series consists of full-length publications. The Subjects Files series consists of newspaper clippings, photographs, flyers from other organizations, posters, and wires. Materials are primarily in English and Spanish with some materials in French, Italian, and Portuguese.

Biographical / historical:

The Washington Committee for Human Rights in Argentina (WCHRA) was founded in 1977 following Argentine dictator Jorge Rafael Videla's rise to power and the beginning of the Proceso de Reorganización Nacional/National Reorganization Process. The committee raised awareness of human rights abuses in Argentina, circulated petitions, and collected testimonies of victims. They also dialogued with government officials as well as professional organizations to change their stances and policies on Argentina in light of human rights abuses perpetrated there. The committee consisted of Argentines living in the United States, mainly in Washington, D.C. The membership consisted primarily of educated professionals and academics including Tomas Gergely, Ana Lajmanovich, and Juan E. Méndez.

The committee often partnered with larger human rights organizations, including the Washington Office on Latin America and the Association Solidarite Franco Argentine (A.S.F.A). WCHRA largely became inactive by the mid-1980s.

Acquisition information:
The Washington Committee for Human Rights in Argentina records were received by the David M. Rubenstein Rare Book Manuscript Library as a gift in 2019.
Processing information:

Processed by Michelle Runyon, February 2020

Accessions described in this collection guide: 2019-0156

Rules or conventions:
Describing Archives: A Content Standard

Contents

Using These Materials

Using These Materials Links:

Using These Materials

Restrictions:

Collection is open for research.

Terms of access:

The copyright interests in this collection have not been transferred to Duke University. For more information, consult the copyright section of the Regulations and Procedures of the David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library.

Before you visit:
Please consult our up-to-date information for visitors page, as our services and guidelines periodically change.
Preferred citation:

[Identification of item], Washington Committee for Human Rights in Argentina records, David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library, Duke University.