Where are they? Thousands of families in Mexico ask themselves this question every day as they search for missing relatives. In August 2025, over 130,000 people are registered as disappeared in Mexico. Their relatives are not only struggling with the loss, but also with the uncertainty: Is he or she still alive? What are the circumstances of the disappearance? Who is responsible?
In their search for certainty, relatives often take the search into their own hands: they exchange information in collectives, follow anonymous clues and comb remote places for mass graves. Over the years, many become real experts in forensic work. It is often the women in the families who lead this search. The Madres Buscadoras have long since gained recognition for their work beyond Mexico’s borders. They are taking on a task in Mexican society that the state and its authorities have so far failed to fulfill.
To mark the International Day of the Victims of Enforced Disappearances, the German Coordination for Human Rights in Mexico publishes a factsheet that outlines the background of the situation and recommends actions for policy makers in Mexico, Germany, and the European Union.
