Background and Relevance
A delegation from Fuerzas Unidas por Nuestros Desaparecidos en Coahuila y en México (Fuundec-M), accompanied by Consultora Solidaria and the Centro de Derechos Humanos Fray Juan de Larios, met with members of the United Nations Committee against Forced Disappearances (CED) in Geneva. This meeting marked a significant step as the CED activated Article 34 of the International Convention, placing Mexico under special scrutiny for the widespread persistence of forced disappearances and structural impunity.
Who are the key players?
Fuundec-M is a prominent organization advocating for those who have gone missing in Coahuila and across Mexico. Consultora Solidaria and the Centro de Derechos Humanos Fray Juan de Larios are human rights organizations that support Fuundec-M’s mission. The CED, a UN committee, monitors and advises on forced disappearances worldwide.
Why is this significant?
The CED’s activation of Article 34 is a rare and crucial step, highlighting the severity of forced disappearances in Mexico. This action puts pressure on the Mexican government to address this human rights issue and implement necessary reforms.
Key Points from the Meeting
- Worsening Situation: The delegation reported that forced disappearances have continued to escalate, with 26 people vanishing daily in 2024 and the number rising to over 45 in the first half of 2025.
- CED Recommendations: The CED urged the Mexican government to adopt a comprehensive national policy for preventing and eradicating forced disappearances, withdraw the military from public security tasks, and strengthen civilian law enforcement. Additionally, they recommended immediate, impartial, and exhaustive investigations of all cases, harmonization of genetic databases, and accelerated mass identification of bodies and remains.
- Historical Context: According to the report “Forced Disappearances Generalized and/or Systematic Committed in Mexico” by Consultora Solidaria, Fundación para la Justicia, and various academic institutions, forced disappearances are not isolated incidents but part of structural patterns of state repression and violence dating back to the Dirty War (1960-1980), deepened by counterinsurgency strategies in Chiapas post-1994, and solidified during the “war on drugs” initiated in 2006.
- Government Involvement: The report alleges that authorities at all levels of government, sometimes in collusion with criminal organizations, have participated in arbitrary detentions, torture, extrajudicial killings, and forced disappearances. These crimes have not been investigated or sanctioned.
Key Questions and Answers
- What are forced disappearances? Forced disappearances refer to the abduction of individuals by state or non-state actors, often followed by torture, extrajudicial killings, and concealment of evidence to prevent identification and prosecution.
- Why is the CED’s activation of Article 34 significant? Article 34 requires the state to submit regular reports on its progress in addressing forced disappearances. This activation puts pressure on the Mexican government to take concrete actions and reforms.
- What are the CED’s recommendations to the Mexican government? The CED urged the adoption of a comprehensive national policy for preventing and eradicating forced disappearances, withdrawal of the military from public security tasks, strengthening civilian law enforcement, immediate and thorough investigations, harmonization of genetic databases, and accelerated mass identification of bodies and remains.
- What is the historical context of forced disappearances in Mexico? The patterns of state repression and violence leading to forced disappearances in Mexico can be traced back to the Dirty War (1960-1980), intensified by counterinsurgency strategies in Chiapas post-1994, and solidified during the “war on drugs” initiated in 2006. These actions have involved authorities at all levels of government, sometimes colluding with criminal organizations.
Additional Context
Forced disappearances have long been a human rights concern in Mexico, with thousands of people reported missing since the start of the “war on drugs” in 2006. The involvement of state and non-state actors, including collusion with criminal organizations, has complicated efforts to investigate and prosecute these crimes. The CED’s activation of Article 34 represents a critical opportunity to address this issue and hold the Mexican government accountable for its actions.
