Argentina: The human rights group, Children for Identity and Justice, Against Forgetting and Silence (Hijos por la Identidad y la Justicia, Contra el Olvido y el Silencio, HIJOS) in Buenos Aires; the date and circumstances of its formation, its organization, mandate and structure, size and composition of its membership, names of its leadership, and location of its offices; whether the group has offices outside of Buenos Aires; whether it attracts the attention of the Buenos Aires police (2003)
| Publisher | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada |
| Author | Research Directorate, Immigration and Refugee Board, Canada |
| Publication Date | 3 April 2003 |
| Citation / Document Symbol | ARG41378.E |
| Reference | 2 |
| Cite as | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, Argentina: The human rights group, Children for Identity and Justice, Against Forgetting and Silence (Hijos por la Identidad y la Justicia, Contra el Olvido y el Silencio, HIJOS) in Buenos Aires; the date and circumstances of its formation, its organization, mandate and structure, size and composition of its membership, names of its leadership, and location of its offices; whether the group has offices outside of Buenos Aires; whether it attracts the attention of the Buenos Aires police (2003), 3 April 2003, ARG41378.E, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/3f7d4d5431.html [accessed 17 May 2023] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
For information about HIJOS, please refer to ARG36742.E of 28 March 2001 for an extensive review of the organization and several reports of individuals linked to the organization being subjected to threats, violence or imprisonment. Further to this information, a Website of the Buenos Aires chapter of HIJOS describes the organization as a grouping of the children of the disappeared, assassinated, exiled and imprisoned during the "Hebe de Bonafini and David Vinas are named as the principal figures behind the production of the HIJOS newspaper (n.d.c).
In addition to the Argentinian chapters mentioned in ARG36800.E of 23 March 2001, the HIJOS organization is reported to have chapters in Chile, Spain, France, Holland, Italy, Mexico, Switzerland, Sweden, Uruguay and Venezuela (HIJOS Holanda/ Nederlands n.d.).
As to whether the HIJOS organization attracts police attention, Argentina Indymedia reported an incident involving David Acevedo and Polo Tiseira, two members of the western regional chapter of HIJOS, who were "brutally knocked down" (derribados brutalmente) and arrested while taking photos of "repressive police" (policias represores) confronting a group of protestors demonstrating at Plaza de Mayo in Buenos Aires (16 Dec. 2002).
In an article of 3 December 2002, Argentina Indymedia reported the break-in and theft of a computer and printer from the HIJOS office in Mar del Plata. The computer contained confidential information related to "truth" (verdad) investigations that the group had been carrying out, which included documents on the "repressors" (represores) who had photographed people involved in a "protest" (escrache) at a naval base on 24 November 2002 (Argentina Indymedia 3 Dec. 2002). The day following the protest, a HIJOS member who had participated received threats via email revealing personal information about him or her (ibid.).
Please also see ARG37355.E of 2 August 2001 about the treatment of HIJOS members by authorities, especially in Mendoza.
This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum. Please find below the list of additional sources consulted in researching this Information Request.
References
Argentina Indymedia. 16 December 2002. "Motoqueros procesados." ____. 3 December 2002. "Amenazas a HIJOS." HIJOS. n.d.a. "Quienes somos." ____. n.d.b. "Reivindicamos la lucha revolucionaria de nuestros padres y sus companeros." ____. n.d.c. "Periodicos." HIJOS Holanda/Nederlands. n.d. "H.I.J.O.S.: Hijos por la Identidad y la Justicia contra el Olvido y el Silencio." Additional Sources Consulted
IRB databases
Unsuccessful attempts in contacting the Buenos Aires chapter of HIJOS.
World News Connection (WNC)
Internet sites:
Amnesty International
Clarin [Buenos Aires]
Coordinadora contra la Represion Policial y Institucional
HIJOS Cordoba
HIJOS Rosario
Human Rights Watch
Search engine:
Google
