Organizations and families of missing persons in Mexico expressed their rejection of the recent initiative to reform the General Law on Missing Persons presented by the Federal Executive Branch. They assert that this proposal does not address the serious deficiencies in the handling of cases of forced disappearances and, instead, promotes the implementation of a mass surveillance system that they consider ineffective and even dangerous for the safety of the population.
In a statement issued by affected groups and families, they denounced that this reform did not originate from a broad and public consultation, crucial to adequately address this humanitarian crisis. “We do not support this initiative because it does not respond to the problems faced by the families of the disappeared,” they stated.
The proposal was criticized for its lack of a participatory process, without which, they assert, there is a risk of perpetuating impunity and further prolonging the suffering of the victims. Therefore, the families demanded that the Senate and the Chamber of Deputies organize a transparent public debate on the reform, by convening an Open Parliament, which would allow for a serious discussion and from a humanistic perspective of the necessary modifications to the law.
“It is essential that this reform be carried out professionally, responsibly, and without haste,” they emphasized. In their message, they stressed the importance of carrying out the process with empathy and providing the opportunity to generate an initiative that truly addresses the tragedy experienced by the families of the disappeared.
In addition, they called on the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, requesting its intervention and monitoring during the reform process. They asserted that the lack of responsible support from international organizations could distort the proposal and further violate the rights of the victims.
This call comes within a context where search groups and families have been demanding justice for the thousands of missing persons in Mexico for years. With the goal of achieving an effective reform truly oriented toward truth and justice, the families offer to actively participate in an open, transparent process based on a clear and representative methodology.
Finally, they reiterated that any attempt to modify the law without real dialogue and without considering the voices of the victims would not only be a mistake, but also a new form of political simulation that would only exacerbate impunity in Mexico.
Original article by Mario Marlo, Zona Docs, May 24, 2025.
Translated by Schools for Chiapas.
Photo from Ximena Torres