Lidia Stella Mercedes Miy Uranga (1930 – 2026)

Their Story

Known as Taty Almeida, Lidia Stella Mercedes Miy Uranga dedicated her life to the fight for human rights and memory in Argentina. Born in the Belgrano neighborhood of Buenos Aires in 1930 to a military family, she trained as a teacher and worked in education before her life was transformed by tragedy. The kidnapping of her son Alejandro by the paramilitary Triple A organization on June 17, 1975, became the catalyst for her lifelong activism. In 1979, she joined the Mothers of Plaza de Mayo, an organization of women searching for their disappeared children during Argentina's military dictatorship. Over nearly five decades, Taty became one of the most recognizable voices for memory, truth, and justice in Argentina. She was a founding member of Madres de Plaza de Mayo Línea Fundadora in 1986 and served as its president from 2024 until her death. Beyond her leadership role, she participated tirelessly in marches, trials, educational events, and intergenerational gatherings, advocating not only for the disappeared but also for broader human rights causes, including women's rights. Her famous phrase—"the only struggle that is lost is the one that is abandoned"—embodied her unwavering commitment. In April 2026, just months before her death, the University of Buenos Aires honored her with an honorary doctorate, recognizing decades of moral witness and activism.

Sources

• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taty_Almeida