Background on Causa en Común and the Disappearance Crisis
Causa en Común, a prominent Mexican human rights organization, has raised concerns over the alarming 13% increase in disappearances across the country since the beginning of 2025. The group has directly accused the federal government of failing to act with due diligence, engaging in mere simulation, and lacking the political will to address this humanitarian crisis.
Statistics and Impact
According to the National Registry of Missing and Unidentified Persons, there have been 8,606 reported disappearances from January to July of this year. This figure represents a 13% increase compared to the same period in 2024, equating to an average of 41 disappearances per day.
- In the first six months of 2025, nine states reported more disappearances than homicides. Notably, the Mexico City had 1,111 disappearances against 464 homicides; the State of Mexico had 1,075 disappearances against 894 homicides; and Tamaulipas had 201 disappearances against 127 homicides, according to Causa en Común.
- During the first ten months of the current administration, at least 227 clandestine graves have been reported according to Causa en Común’s “Gallery of Horror” report.
Criticism of the National Search Commission
Causa en Común criticized the recent resignation of Teresa Reyes Sahagún, the head of the National Search Commission, citing her lack of experience, legitimacy, and results. The organization emphasized that the structural crisis within the search system remains unresolved.
“The Mexican state institutions addressing disappearances operate without direction, resources, and genuine support from those in power,” stated Causa en Común in a press release.
Furthermore, the recently approved legislative reforms by Congress have done little to change the crisis in disappearances. These modifications reportedly fail to increase personnel or budgets for strengthening search commissions, and they neglect crucial aspects such as memory policies, prevention, victim protection, forensic backlog, and fiscal neglect.
Proposed Solutions by Causa en Común
To tackle the crisis and revitalize the National Search System, Causa en Común has proposed several measures:
- Reverse the militarization and allocate budgets to bolster police forces, fiscal offices, forensic services, CEAV (National Search Commission), and the National Search Commission.
- Promote a transparent process for selecting the new head of the National Search Commission, involving families and collectives.
- Convene the full National Search System, which has not met since September 2024.
- Demand regular reports from the FGR (Federal Attorney General’s Office) on the National Forensic Data Bank and publish the National Exhumation and Forensic Identification Program.
Key Questions and Answers
- What is Causa en Común? Causa en Común is a Mexican human rights organization that advocates for justice, truth, and non-repetition of human rights violations.
- Why is the increase in disappearances significant? The 13% rise in disappearances highlights the worsening humanitarian crisis in Mexico, emphasizing the urgent need for government intervention and effective search mechanisms.
- What criticisms does Causa en Común have regarding the federal government’s response? Causa en Común accuses the federal government of inaction, simulation, and lacking political will to address the crisis. They also criticize recent legislative reforms for failing to provide necessary resources and support for search commissions.
- What solutions has Causa en Común proposed? Causa en Común suggests reversing militarization, allocating budgets for strengthening search-related institutions, promoting a transparent process for selecting the National Search Commission’s head, convening the full National Search System, and demanding regular reports on forensic data and exhumation programs.
