Background on the Issue
Violence has engulfed Mexico, tearing families apart and leaving more than 126,000 people missing. Families from Chihuahua, Coahuila, Baja California; Morelos, Estado de México, and the capital itself have been affected. These families have discovered thousands of clandestine graves across the country, including in the Ajusco since more than 15 years ago.
Profiles of the Missing
- Nimbe Selene Zepeta Xochicua: A young woman from the Edomex who went missing in May 2019 while heading to school and has not been found.
- Teodulfo Torres Soriano: A man who went missing in 2013, with his family demanding the government to recognize his “right to be searched for.”
- Jonathan Romero Gil: A young man detained and disappeared by municipal police in Acapulco in 2018, with his mother denouncing the severe violence in Guerrero.
- Fátima and Daniel: A girl held captive and later killed by neighbors, and a boy murdered in Monterrey where his family sought protection from the government.
- Madres asesinadas en la búsqueda: Mothers who have been killed while searching for their disappeared loved ones, including two in Jalisco in April alone.
Families’ Demands for Justice and Truth
Each year, more collectives and individuals travel to the center of the country to voice their demands for justice, truth, and accountability from the government. They march together, their cries for justice echoing from the Angel to the Zócalo, hoping to reach President’s ears. Despite her denial of the situation and minimization of suffering, they directly address her and her government:
- Restructure the FGR: They propose that President begin by restructuring the FGR, pursuing cases against those responsible for enforced disappearances and human rights violations.
- Guarantee everyone’s security: They demand that the government prioritize ensuring everyone’s safety.
- Address crime and human rights violations: They accuse the government of ignoring, despising families, and allowing criminal organizations to thrive.
International Support and Calls for Action
The United Nations Committee against Enforced Disappearances has invoked Article 34 to address this crisis. Families demand an independent investigation mechanism, in line with the Committee’s recommendations, to find missing persons and establish preventive measures.
- Punish the guilty: Families call for punishment of those responsible.
- No compromise: They warn, “Without the families, never; without the families, no.”
Urgent Call for Societal Action
With growing activism from families and indifference from the current government, their call for solidarity resonates more urgently. They implore society to not only empathize but also take action:
“Do not just feel compassion; take action.” Support their demands until they are reunited with their loved ones.
