The role of groups of relatives during transitional justice processes in Argentina and Chile

Abstract

Transitional justice mechanisms have been implemented to deal with the grave legacies of human rights violations committed during an authoritarian past regime. These mechanisms have been established by governments in order to deal with the past and construct a new democracy. Traditionally the application of these mechanisms has been oriented from the top-down. Victims have been usually left out from these processes, and precisely victims are the ones most affected since they had to suffer those violations of their human rights. This thesis is oriented to highlight the role of the human rights movements during transitional periods and their position in these processes. With this purpose I will use the case of the human rights movement in Chile and Argentina. I will show what relevance had the work of the relatives' groups and their perspective when it comes to influence the institutional agenda regarding human rights and their role in keeping alive the memory of the victims.