Summary:

This article examines the role of the witness in trials for crimes against humanity, the subjective effects of providing testimony, and the use of testimonial literature as an alternative to legal testimony. The research focuses specifically on legal proceedings related to crimes committed by the Argentine military dictatorship (1976-1983), highlighting the paradoxical position of the witness, who is a fundamental piece of evidence in the trial, yet is simultaneously restricted and conditioned by the legal actors who dictate the terms of their testimony. The article explores the tension between legal practices and the subjective experience of the witnesses who offer their testimony within the context of these trials. Along these lines, the research proposes the testimonial literature as a valuable alternative that allows witnesses to subjectivize the horror they have experienced, find their own voice, and become the author of their testimony.

Key words: Argentine dictatorship | crimes against humanity | witness | testimony | testimonial literature