Background on Key Participants
On Friday, the National Search System for Missing Persons (SNBP) held its first ordinary session of 2025 to bolster interinstitutional coordination and reinforce search mechanisms under the new legal framework. The meeting was chaired by Secretary of Government, Rosa Icela Rodríguez, with notable attendees including:
- Subsecretary of Human Rights, Population and Migration, Arturo Medina
- Head of the National Search Commission (CNB), Martha Lidia Pérez Gumecindo
- Attorney General of the Federal District, Bertha Alcalde
- Representative from the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (ONU-DH), Humberto Henderson
- Coordinator of the UNFPA’s Population Identification Program in Mexico, Maximilian Murck
Purpose and Key Points of the Meeting
The primary objective of this session was to fortify search, location, and identification processes for missing persons in collaboration with all levels of government. Secretary Rodríguez emphasized the commitment to justice for affected families, guided by President Claudia Sheinbaum’s instructions.
Key points from the meeting include:
- Strengthening search, location, and identification processes for missing persons
- Collaboration with all levels of government
- Guaranteeing the human rights to be found and to seek information about missing family members
- New legislation resulting from 450 meetings with groups and families of missing persons
- Call for a well-organized National Search Plan with population expectations and precise work indicators
Remarks from Subsecretary Arturo Medina
Subsecretary Arturo Medina highlighted the need for coordination, technical rigor, and human sensitivity in locating and identifying missing persons.
Proposed Actions and Next Steps
During the session, Commissioner Pérez Gumecindo presented a proposal for work routes for the National Search System:
- Reactivation of the Implementation, Monitoring, Evaluation Commission
- Update of the Homologated Search Protocol
- Creation of a working group with authorities and the National Citizen Council to draft the Draft Regulation of the General Law
She also called for state authorities to participate in regional meetings to finalize the Regional Search Plans, crucial for establishing the National Search Program.
The CNB will continue international cooperation projects with the UNFPA’s Population Identification Program.
Key Questions and Answers
- What is the purpose of the SNBP’s first ordinary session of 2025? The main goal was to strengthen interinstitutional coordination and reinforce search mechanisms under the new legal framework for missing persons.
- Who were the key participants in this meeting? The attendees included the Secretary of Government, Rosa Icela Rodríguez; Subsecretary Arturo Medina; CNB Head Martha Lidia Pérez Gumecindo; Attorney General Bertha Alcalde; ONU-DH representative Humberto Henderson; and UNFPA’s Maximilian Murck.
- What new legislation was discussed? A new law resulting from 450 meetings with groups and families of missing persons was mentioned.
- What are the proposed actions for the National Search System? Proposed actions include reactivating the Implementation, Monitoring, Evaluation Commission; updating the Homologated Search Protocol; and creating a working group with authorities and the National Citizen Council to draft the Draft Regulation of the General Law.
