"La ciencia aplicada con los derechos humanos tiene que ver con mi historia" - Caras y Caretas

The article highlights the profound intersection of scientific expertise and human rights through the experience of Mariana Herrera Piñero, director of Argentina’s National Genetic Data Bank. Her journey began with a personal revelation of family connections to victims of state terrorism, transforming her professional background in molecular genetics into a dedicated fight for the right to identity. This narrative illustrates how individual histories can drive institutional change, emphasizing that genetic science serves as a vital tool for uncovering hidden truths and restoring dignity to affected families. Herrera’s leadership transformed the Bank from a purely technical laboratory into a social instrument accessible to the broader public and the region. By fostering strong collaboration with human rights organizations like the Grandmothers of Plaza de Mayo, the institution ensures that identification processes are grounded in close ties with victims’ families. This approach underscores the necessity of integrating open data practices with community engagement, ensuring that genetic information is not just stored but actively used to support justice and historical memory in Latin America. The resilience of the Bank amidst political and economic challenges demonstrates its transversal importance in preserving judicial proof and confidential data for human rights cases. Its ability to adapt its methodologies, such as identifying descendants through grandchildren, shows the evolving nature of forensic genetics. This relevance to open data lies in the ethical management of sensitive biological information: maintaining transparency and accessibility while protecting privacy is crucial for sustaining public trust and ensuring that these tools remain available for truth-seeking and legal accountability.

Source: carasycaretas.org.ar
Published on 2025-10-07

"La ciencia aplicada con los derechos humanos tiene que ver con mi historia" - Caras y Caretas

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