Argentina's 'Dirty War': A 60 Minutes Report on Disappearances

In 1984, 60 Minutes correspondent Mike Wallace traveled to Argentina to report on the aftermath of the country's brutal military dictatorship. The focus of his report was the 'Dirty War,' a period marked by widespread human rights abuses, including the forced disappearance of thousands of people. Wallace interviewed the Mothers of the Plaza de Mayo, a group of courageous women who gathered weekly in the Plaza de Mayo in Buenos Aires, holding photographs of their missing children.

"It was the only way we had," one of the mothers explained to Wallace, describing their weekly marches as a desperate attempt to keep the memory of their loved ones alive and to pressure the government for information. The military regime, which ruled Argentina from 1976 to 1983, systematically silenced dissent through abduction, torture, and murder. The exact number of people who disappeared during this period remains a subject of debate, but estimates range from 10,000 to 30,000.

Wallace's report highlighted the anguish of the families left behind, their unwavering determination to find their missing loved ones, and the challenges they faced in a country still grappling with the legacy of the dictatorship. The 60 Minutes report provided international exposure to the human rights violations in Argentina and helped to raise awareness about the ongoing struggle for justice and accountability.