The United Nations Committee on Enforced Disappearances announced on Apr. 3 that it will request the case of Mexico be referred to the General Assembly, in an exceptional measure aimed at mobilizing international support for the country’s crisis of missing persons.
The committee said its decision is based on information containing “well-founded indications” that enforced disappearances have been committed and continue to occur in Mexico, which could constitute crimes against humanity. The committee recommended that the General Assembly consider actions such as technical cooperation, financial support, and specialized assistance to strengthen efforts in searching for and investigating cases. It also suggested analyzing possible links between public officials and organized crime.
The Mexican government responded by calling the decision “biased,” arguing that the mechanism used by the committee applies only to contexts where disappearances are systematic and promoted by the state, which it said does not reflect Mexico’s current reality. “The Government of Mexico does not tolerate, permit or order enforced disappearances,” stated the Foreign Ministry, which also accused the committee of relying on “partial and biased” information focused on events from 2009 to 2017.
This announcement comes a week after Mexican authorities reported more than 130,000 people have gone missing since 2006 amid violence related to anti-drug operations. The UN body clarified that referring this case to the General Assembly does not imply determining criminal responsibility but aims instead to draw international attention to the situation.
While acknowledging there was no evidence of a generalized state policy promoting disappearances, the committee warned there are indications in some cases of participation or tolerance by public officials. The Mexican government further questioned what it called a “lack of legal rigor” in the report and raised concerns about potential conflicts of interest among some members of the committee.
