Uruguay’s culture of impunity continues to rear its head

The decision by Uruguay’s Supreme Court of Justice to transfer Judge Mariana Mota is evidence that the country’s culture of impunity for the crimes of the 1973-85 dictatorship endures. The judge was in charge of more than 50 cases of human rights violations perpetrated during the authoritarian regime. In 2010, he condemned former dictator Bordaberry to 30 years in prison for leading the military-backed coup in 1973 in a historic verdict. The transfer of judge Mota is a damaging setback of alarming consequences in the search for justice for past crimes in Uruguay and calls into question the real extent of Uruguay’s commitment to the cause of justice and human rights.