Who is Involved?
The Mexican government, led by Secretary of Government Rosa Icela Rodríguez and Subsecretary Arturo Medina, has incorporated 570 legislative and policy proposals from families and groups of individuals searching for their missing loved ones. These discussions aim to fortify the reforms to the General Law on Forced Disappearance of Persons, Forced Disappearance by Private Individuals, and the National Search System.
Key Proposals
- Unique Identity Platform: A secure and traceable single identity platform will be designed, allowing authorized entities to access databases related to health, migration, and addiction.
- Data Cross-Referencing with INE: A partnership with the National Institute of Statistics and Geography (INE) will enable data cross-referencing, granting access to health, migration, and addiction databases.
- Mandatory Genetic and Fingerprint Tests: Before any burial, mandatory genetic and fingerprint tests will be required to aid investigations.
- National Search Alert Protocol: A mandatory national search alert protocol will be established to streamline the search process.
- Comprehensive Well-being Measures: Proposals include providing health, education, and cultural activities for children, adolescents, and their families.
- Protection Mechanisms: Specific security protocols will be implemented to safeguard family members.
- Immediate Reporting Rules: New regulations will mandate immediate and obligatory reporting of disappearance cases, with penalties for authorities who fail to register or initiate investigations.
- Elimination of Article 23 bis: The article creating local search commissions per entity and coordination with the National Commission will be removed to prevent redundancies.
- Strengthened Forensic Standards: Scientific standards in forensic analysis will be reinforced.
- Public Registration Guidelines: Publication of guidelines for the national registry of missing persons will be obligatory.
Government Commitment and Next Steps
Secretary Rodríguez emphasized that locating, identifying, and supporting families of missing persons is a top priority set by President Claudia Sheinbaum. The government aims to provide assistance “with respect, dignity, sensitivity, and empathy” towards victims.
Rodríguez called on the Federal Congress to support these reforms, urging public servants at all government levels to uphold their responsibilities and respect the dignity of searchers.
Subsecretary Medina highlighted that this process extends beyond the legislative proposal, emphasizing the need for regulations, budgets, and concrete public policy. He also announced a national human rights session on July 3 with state secretaries to continue the agenda.
Key Questions and Answers
- What is the main goal of these reforms? The primary objective is to strengthen the search, location, and identification of forced disappearances while ensuring respect, dignity, sensitivity, and empathy towards victims.
- What is the unique identity platform? A secure and traceable single identity platform that allows authorized entities to access relevant databases for investigative purposes.
- What is the significance of the partnership with INE? The collaboration enables data cross-referencing and grants access to health, migration, and addiction databases.
- What mandatory tests are now required before burials? Genetic and fingerprint tests are obligatory before any burial to aid investigations.
- What new regulations have been introduced for reporting disappearances? Immediate and obligatory reporting of disappearance cases with penalties for non-compliance by authorities.
- What will happen to Article 23 bis? The article creating local search commissions per entity and coordination with the National Commission will be removed to prevent redundancies.
- What is the next step in this process? The creation of regulations, budgets, and concrete public policy, along with a national human rights session on July 3 with state secretaries to continue the agenda.
