APDH fights to bring social justice to the desaparecidos and others who endured human rights violations during Argentina’s military dictatorship. It also works to ensure that human rights remain a priority for Argentina through outreach and education. Its goals are to:

• Promote and pursue the judicial process in addressing grave abuses of human rights in Argentina committed during the military dictatorship (1976–1983)
• Conduct research to collect and publish information on the treatment of prisoners within Argentine jails and other human rights issues facing Argentina
• Provide seminars, campaigns, radio programs, and promotional materials focused at the local and international community to:
  • Create awareness of current human rights issues in Argentina and around the world
  • Promote and strengthen the support and respect of human rights in all its forms

 

Program Information

 

1.Memory and Justice/Human Rights

Since its founding, APDH’s lawyers and activists have been putting pressure on the Argentine government to pass legislation to make former junta members accountable for the grave human rights violations they commited during the 7-year military dictatorship from 1976 to 1983. This “dirty war’’ saw an estimated 30,000 civilians disappear (los desaparecidos) and subjected thousands of citizens to atrocious human rights violations, including kidnap, rape, and torture. The fate of thousands of desaparecidos remains unclear, leaving a tremendous number of families without answers about the fates of their loved ones. Additionally, many babies who were kidnapped from their parents are now young adults who continue to grow apart from their real families and remain unaware of their true identities. Many Argentines cannot begin to find peace until answers are found and justice is brought against the junta members who were responsible for this war.

 

In 2005, APDH’s efforts—along with the collaboration of other law offices and human rights organizations—paid off, as the Supreme Court rescinded immunity laws that previously protected former junta members from prosecution. Now that the pardons given to former military leaders have been overturned, supporting the detention and prosecution of those leaders is a primary objective of the Memory and Justice Program of APDH. In the future, APDH lawyers plan to continue to offer judicial counsel to Argentine citizens who have suffered from injustice, and to fight for the enforcement of human rights throughout Argentina.

 

Opportunities

• Translate court transcripts into English
• Research and compile reports of current and past court cases
• Assist APDH lawyers in daily activities, including but not limited to:

o        Paralegal support

o        Filing paperwork

o        Researching information for individual cases

 

Requirements

• Intermediate to Advanced Spanish (spoken and written)
• Background in law, human rights, and/or related fields
• Excellent interpersonal communication and organizational skills
• Detail-oriented, creative, and resourceful
• Ability to take initiative and work independently

 

2.Community Development

APDH’s Community Development Program aims to educate the public on news regarding human rights issues currently facing Argentine communities. APDH offers human rights seminars, publishes a magazine (called Espacio Abierto), produces a weekly radio program (called Tengo Derecho), and maintains an elaborate website. In the future, APDH would like to gain the resources necessary to expand and improve each of these activities. APDH believes that through education on human rights and spreading knowledge of past atrocities, Argentine citizens can be better equipped to stand up for their rights and prevent future abuses.

 

Opportunities

• Assist in developing educational materials for human rights public seminars. Materials include, but are not limited to:

o        Pamphlets

o        Posters

o        PowerPoint presentations

• Organize and facilitate human rights seminars and public debates
• Aid in planning, producing, and airing APDH’s weekly radio program
• Translate APDH’s website, magazine, and radio programs into English
• Promote and creatively market APDH’s website and radio program throughout Argentina and internationally
• Develop and improve the look of APDH’s website, magazine, and overall public image

 

Requirements

• Intermediate to Advanced Spanish (spoken and written)
• Background in graphic design, web design, visual communication, speech communication, education, radio production, marketing, human rights, and/or related fields
• Excellent interpersonal communication and organizational skills
• Detail-oriented, creative, and resourceful
• Ability to take initiative and work independently

 

3.Research and Fundraising/Administration

APDH welcomes assistance in conducting further research in the field of human rights, specifically in relation to the treatment of prisoners within Argentine jails. APDH also would like support for fundraising activities and grant research to expand its ability to regularly carry out research initiatives.

 

Opportunities

• Write grants to potential contributors and donors
• Implement a fundraising system for regular sustainable financial support
• Assist in daily administrative work for APDH, such as organizing APDH’s archives
• Develop and carry out a research initiative related to human rights in Argentina
• Translate research materials into English
• Assist in monitoring state institutions

 

Requirements

• Intermediate to Advanced Spanish (spoken and written)
• Must be a student or professional in education, human rights, and/or related fields
• Knowledge of the complicated human rights issues facing Argentina
• Experience in grantwriting, fundraising, and/or event planning
• Detail-oriented and strong organizational skills
• Ability to take initiative and work independently

 

Program Supervisor (All Programs)

Alicia Peralta is a graduate of the National University of La Plata. She studied Law and Human Rights and has been working as a lawyer for the past eight years.

 

Note: Responsibilities offered to each participant will be proportionate to their level of experience. Participants who are new to development work may predominantly support and assist current project agendas, while those with much applicable experience may be able to assume greater responsibility. Research projects are strongly encouraged by this organization to support each program’s objective because minimal resources are currently allocated for research.

 

Working Conditions

The APDH office is located on the sixth floor of a large building in the center of La Plata, with easy access to public transportation. The commute time from host family to work varies between 15 and 30 minutes. Most work will be conducted at the APDH office. The office environment is friendly and professional. It consists of three small rooms with five computers. Due to the busy office atmosphere, APDH recommends that the intern or volunteer bring his/her own laptop, as it cannot guarantee that there will always be a computer available for each person in the office. Due to office space limitations, APDH can only accomodate one intern or volunteer at any given time.

 

Two paid employees are responsible for the administration and coordination of all of APDH’s work. Because it only has two permanent employees, APDH relies heavily on about 35 volunteers to carry out the work of the organization. Volunteers include students and professionals in the fields of Sociology, Law, Human Rights, Psychology, International Relations, Communication, and Social Work.

 

Organizational Background

APDH was founded in the Federal Capital (Buenos Aires) in 1975 by a group of politicians, social workers, religious leaders, and working-class citizens during the military dictatorship of Argentina. This group of men and women vowed to form an organization that would search for answers on what happened to the desaparecidos, fight for justice against junta leaders, and stand up against future dictator abuses. Since the foundation of APDH, the organization has grown considerably and is now one of the foremost human rights organizations in Argentina. In its 30-year history, it has carried out numerous activities in support of human rights issues both locally and internationally.

 

APDH currently has four major projects:

• Radio Program: APDH produces a live one-hour radio program called Tengo Derecho. It is aired on Saturdays at noontime on the University of La Plata radio station. The segment deals with various human rights issues in Argentina and around the globe. APDH often invites guests who are especially knowledgeable on particular human rights topics. The aim is to educate the community about current human rights concerns as well as promote peaceful action in resolving these issues and preventing future human rights abuses. In the future, APDH would like to ensure that access to human rights news and information is more widely available throughout Argentina.
• Seminars: Currently, the human rights seminars—which are geared toward professors, university students, and community members—are offered from time to time, usually on Saturday afternoons in the public building where the APDH office is located. These seminars are intended to educate the community on developments in human rights and provide a forum for analysis and debate regarding those issues. In the future, APDH would like to develop the resources necessary to offer these seminars on a regular basis.
• Magazine: APDH’s magazine Espacio Abierto aims to provide a comprehensive update and highlights on human rights issues facing Argentina and other parts of the world. APDH strives to publish the magazine monthly; however, due to a lack of funds and personnel, this does not always happen. In the future, APDH would like to publish this magazine more frequently, as well as gain the resources necessary to translate this magazine into other languages so that it can be accessed by all via the APDH website.
• Web Page: APDH maintains a website with up-to-date information on its programs, activities, and human rights developments, which include transcripts of court trials involving the prosecution of former military leaders. APDH would like to gain the resources necessary to translate the information on its website into different languages, and ensure that its website can be easily accessed by people around the world.

o        Most recently, APDH posted onto its website the script from the trial of Miguel Etchecolatz, a man accused of severe human rights abuses during Argentina’s military dictatorship. Jorge Julio Lopez, who was a key witness in Etchecolatz’s trial, disappeared soon after giving his testimony; it is feared that Mr. Lopez may have been kidnapped or killed for testifying. Etchecolatz was later sentenced to life in prison for abuses he committed against innocent people during the dictatorship. The whereabouts of Mr. Lopez remains unknown.

 

APDH receives regular financing from several donors whose contributions amount to about 1,000 pesos per month. The organization has two lawyers who work out of the office of APDH and help to pay the monthly rent. From time to time, APDH additionally receives donations from national and international volunteers as well as community members. Also, the Comisión Provincial por la Memoria is currently contributing a small monthly payment to APDH (however, this funding is not permanent).

 

About APDH’s Clients

APDH promotes and defends the human rights of every person, regardless of age, sex, race, political beliefs, religion, or social background. Its events are attended by university students, professors, and interested community members.