Maria Claudia Falcone
Encyclopedia
María Claudia Falcone is one of the high school students kidnapped in Argentina
on September 16, 1976 by the military dictatorship
, in what is known as the Night of the Pencils
. During this incident Maria Claudia, 16 years old, along with several other students, was kidnapped by military personnel due to her activism
in demanding free public transportation for students. The students' activities were deemed "subversive" by the Argentine military dictatorship.
("Noche de los Lápices"), during which seven other students were kidnapped for their student activism. Only four out of ten students (another student was kidnapped a few weeks before the Night of the Pencils, bringing the total to ten) are known to have survived.
Maria Claudia was held in various clandestine detention centers: Arana, Pozo de Banfield, Pozo de Quilmes, Police headquarters in the Province of Buenos Aires and commissaries 5a., 8a., y 9a. of La Plata and 3a. of Valentín Alsina, at Lanús, and the shooting range of the Police headquarters in the Province of Buenos Aires.
At these centers she was tortured and subjected to extensive abuses and sexual violations, as a form of torture and punishment.
She was last seen by fellow student and kidnapping victim Pablo Díaz, on December 28 of the same year, at Banfield.
Argentina
Argentina , officially the Argentine Republic , is the second largest country in South America by land area, after Brazil. It is constituted as a federation of 23 provinces and an autonomous city, Buenos Aires...
on September 16, 1976 by the military dictatorship
Military dictatorship
A military dictatorship is a form of government where in the political power resides with the military. It is similar but not identical to a stratocracy, a state ruled directly by the military....
, in what is known as the Night of the Pencils
Night of the Pencils
The Night of the Pencils , was a series of kidnappings and forced disappearances, followed by the torture, rape, and murder of a number of young students during the last Argentine dictatorship...
. During this incident Maria Claudia, 16 years old, along with several other students, was kidnapped by military personnel due to her activism
Activism
Activism consists of intentional efforts to bring about social, political, economic, or environmental change. Activism can take a wide range of forms from writing letters to newspapers or politicians, political campaigning, economic activism such as boycotts or preferentially patronizing...
in demanding free public transportation for students. The students' activities were deemed "subversive" by the Argentine military dictatorship.
Biography
Born on August 16, 1960, in the city of La Plata. She belonged to the "Unión de Estudiantes Secundarios" (UES), or High School Student's Union, and participated in education and charity activities in surrounding villages. She studied Arts in La Plata.Kidnapping
She was kidnapped from her grandmother's sister's house, located in Street 56. No. 586 in La Plata, on September 16, 1976 along with her friend María Clara Ciocchini, in what is known as the Night of the PencilsNight of the Pencils
The Night of the Pencils , was a series of kidnappings and forced disappearances, followed by the torture, rape, and murder of a number of young students during the last Argentine dictatorship...
("Noche de los Lápices"), during which seven other students were kidnapped for their student activism. Only four out of ten students (another student was kidnapped a few weeks before the Night of the Pencils, bringing the total to ten) are known to have survived.
Maria Claudia was held in various clandestine detention centers: Arana, Pozo de Banfield, Pozo de Quilmes, Police headquarters in the Province of Buenos Aires and commissaries 5a., 8a., y 9a. of La Plata and 3a. of Valentín Alsina, at Lanús, and the shooting range of the Police headquarters in the Province of Buenos Aires.
At these centers she was tortured and subjected to extensive abuses and sexual violations, as a form of torture and punishment.
She was last seen by fellow student and kidnapping victim Pablo Díaz, on December 28 of the same year, at Banfield.