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Searching women in Mexico, who have emerged as symbols of resistance in a context of alarming and systematic disappearances of females, continue to face a serious lack of official recognition and protection. This situation was highlighted in a recent report by the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) presented in Geneva.
CEDAW emphasized the urgent need to protect these brave women who, lacking a system that properly penalizes their aggressors, are forced to confront violence and structural injustice in their daily work. Their efforts are crucial to guaranteeing the right to truth and justice, and the organization calls on the Mexican state to implement concrete measures to safeguard their safety in a hostile environment.
The report revealed that the searchers are often mothers, sisters, and activists who undertake risky journeys to hospitals and clandestine graves in search of their missing loved ones. Every day, they face constant threats and assaults, in addition to significant physical and emotional strain due to the nature of their search.
CEDAW recommended integrating these searchers into the National Protection Mechanism for Defenders and Journalists, so they can receive proactive protection measures. It also urged the development of collective protection protocols that adapt to the realities of their work, including movements into high-risk areas and exhumation activities.
The report also highlighted the need for prompt and thorough investigations into the abuses suffered by these women, both by state officials and criminal groups. Effective coordination between federal and state authorities, with a gender perspective, is essential according to CEDAW’s analysis.
Between 2010 and 2024, at least 22 murders of searchers were documented, evidencing the systematic risks they face. In 2024, these women brought their situation to the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights, seeking recognition and protection. They demanded a genuine commitment from authorities to investigate the complaints and hold perpetrators accountable.
Although initiatives have emerged to promote equality in the country, CEDAW believes that progress is limited. It calls for the creation of monitoring mechanisms to ensure the implementation of previous recommendations, such as criminalizing forced disappearance and improving official records regarding these situations. The lack of follow-up on these commitments perpetuates impunity and deepens the suffering of families who cry out for justice.
Source: MiMub in Spanish