Amnesty International criticized Sheinbaum for her handling of the Teuchitlán case

The organization Amnesty International (AI) denounced the strategy of the Mexican Government to address  the disappearance crisis. They denounce that the strategy lacks a comprehensive approach and has not been built with the participation of search collectives.

"The measures announced by the Mexican Government to address the serious crisis of disappearances in the country lack a comprehensive approach. They were not developed through a constructive dialogue with the search collectives"

stated the international organization.

The statement comes after  the discovery of clandestine graves and crematoriums on properties in Teuchitlán, Jalisco,  and Reynosa, Tamaulipas. There, search groups have been threatened by organized crime and even by state agents.

Demand for protection for searchers

The organization urged the Mexican Government to ensure the safety of those searching for their relatives, whose complaints "can't be ignored."

It also insisted that the investigation into the findings in Jalisco must be "diligent, professional, and ethical." They state that any delay can lead to the loss of crucial evidence.

According to AI, the disappearance crisis in Mexico  is a reflection of the human rights crisis in the country. There are more than 124,000 missing people with an average of 30 cases daily.

Concern over Sheinbaum's new measures

The announcement by President Claudia Sheinbaum about reforms to  strengthen the search for people was met with skepticism by AI.

Edith Olivares Ferreto, director of AI in Mexico, stated that state commissions must be strengthened and a direct dialogue with search collectives must be established.

Olivares warned about the lack of renewal of the National Citizen Council of the National Search System. She also urged the need to ensure the protection of searchers.

She also expressed concern  about the proposal to create a National Unique Forensic Information Base and the National Human Identification Platform. This is because the Forensic Data Bank, already contemplated in the law, has not been implemented.

Criticism of equating disappearance and kidnapping

Finally, AI rejected Sheinbaum's proposal to equate the crime of disappearance with that of kidnapping. It also called for rescuing the National Human Identification Center (CNIH), whose reactivation requires sufficient budget and qualified personnel.

"It is essential to guarantee the right of victims and their families to truth and justice," concluded the organization.