HIGH COMMISSIONER FOR HUMAN RIGHTS WELCOMES ARGENTINE COURT DECISION TO REPEAL AMNESTY LAWS

16 June 2005


United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Louise Arbour today welcomed the 14 June ruling by the Supreme Court of Justice of Argentina invalidating two amnesty laws that shielded military officers from prosecution for crimes allegedly committed during the country's so-called "Dirty War."

“This is a historic step for Argentina”, Mrs. Arbour said. “The ruling opens the way for justice to be done and may allow the country to finally come to terms with a painful chapter in its history”.

“It is also heartening to see that the faith of the survivors of the atrocious human rights violations of the ‘Dirty War’ in the rule of law and the courts was not misplaced”, she added.