The base team of the World March for Peace and Nonviolence visited the headquarters of the Mothers of Plaza de Mayo University (UNMA) and the headquarters of the Mothers of Plaza de Mayo Association and was received by its rector Cristina Caamaño and the president of the association, Carmen Arias, on December 12 during their visit to the city of Buenos Aires.

By Jorge Pardés

One of the objectives of this meeting was to express support for the university in the face of the attacks faced by the national government in its advance against public education, universities and in particular against this university.

The exchange allowed them to gather information that will be shared with other international universities that support the March for Peace and Nonviolence and encourage the incorporation of programs focused on education for peace and nonviolence in universities around the world.

Rafael de la Rubia, member of the Humanist Movement and promoter of the first World March, presented the University with a book of that first march and another of the publication of the tribute to Galileo Galilei, Giordano Bruno and other precursors of today’s science, which the humanist and scientist Salvatore Puledda made on January 7, 1989 in Florence, the capital of historical humanism, with the manifesto of the commitment to fight resolutely for the advancement of science to be placed at the service of the human being.

Cristina Caamaño, the rector of the University, read the commitment before the entire entourage.

That first march passed through Buenos Aires on December 30, 2009 and was received by the then President of Argentina, Cristina Fernández de Kirchner.

Other winds were blowing at that time

Another objective of this meeting was to honor the legacy of the Mothers of Plaza de Mayo, highlighting the importance of peaceful resistance in the search for memory, truth and justice that they have been sustaining for more than 47 years and that gave rise, among other actions, to the founding of the Mothers of Plaza de Mayo Popular University, which today has become a national university.

After a relaxed chat, the marchers toured the headquarters, guided by the president of the association, Carmen Arias, who took over after Hebe de Bonafini “moved house”, as she liked to say. She showed them her small office with her mementos, just as it was on the day of her departure.

“This meeting reaffirms our commitment to education and human rights in Argentina,” summarized Rafael de la Rubia.