The world was shocked when 43 teacher-training students were taken away by police in 2016 and never seen again. Sadly, their disappearance is no isolated case.
But the forced disappearances of the students is only the tip of a terrifying nightmare. More than 35,000 people are now reported disappeared in Mexico. It's a staggering number that continues to climb amidst lack of investigation and widespread collusion between state officials and organized crime.
The families of the disappeared have joined together in self-help groups and formed a national movement to demand action. Their tireless efforts achieved new commitments by the government in 2017 to create a National Search Commission and special investigators to bring perpetrators of disappearances to justice. But promises are not enough. All these measures must be fully and effectively implemented.
Please add your name to our call for action.
Dear Alfonso Navarrete Prida, Secretary of the Interior:
From Canada, I am deeply concerned that the number of reported disappearances is now more than 35,000 cases. This is nothing less than an acute crisis and a terrible stain on Mexico's reputation in the world.
I call on you to:
- Guarantee adequate funding and staffing to ensure full, effective implementation of the Law on Disappearance and the National Search Commission
- Implement all the recommendations made by the Inter-disciplinary Group of Independent Experts (GIEI) with regard to the disappearance of the students of Ayotzinapa and effectively address worrying failures in the investigation, including those that amount to crimes, identified by the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights in his report "Double Injustice"
- Investigate all cases of disappearance and enforced disappearance promptly, thoroughly and impartially, and bring those responsible to justice.
[Your comment here]
Sincerely,
[Your name here]
