Mother’s Day in Mexico City was a solemn occasion this year for families of the missing, who gathered at the Mother’s Monument to demand answers for their disappeared loved ones. Joanna Alvear, searching for her daughter Lilith, represents one of over 100,000 missing persons in Mexico. Every year on Mother’s Day, families march in Mexico City to bring attention to the tens of thousands of unsolved cases. As Mexico approaches pivotal elections, questions arise about President Lopez Obrador’s handling of disappearances and whether his successor can improve the situation.
Lopez Obrador came into office promising justice for the disappeared, particularly in high-profile cases like the Ayotzinapa 43. Despite his efforts, sentiment has soured among families as justice remains elusive, and disappearances continue to rise. Critics accuse Lopez Obrador of prioritizing his image over tangible results and dispute his government’s efforts to downplay the scale of the issue. The human rights group Amnesty International has called for transparency in government records and further involvement of families in the process.
As a new administration approaches, skepticism pervades among families of the missing, who feel disillusioned by unmet promises. Presidential hopefuls Claudia Sheinbaum and Xochitl Galvez have each addressed the disappearances in their campaigns, promising to address systemic issues like government corruption and public security. Families emphasize the need for empathy and action from the government, regardless of which party takes office. Many are distrustful of politicians using their grief for political gain, urging for genuine efforts to find their missing loved ones.
Candidates like Sheinbaum and Galvez have pledged to improve public security and address the root causes of crime, offering differing approaches to the issue of disappearances. Families demand a restoration of government agencies focused on finding the missing, pointing to the dismantling of key search and identification commissions in recent years. The emotional toll of reporting disappearances and enduring prolonged investigations adds stress to families already grappling with loss.
Among the marchers on Mother’s Day was Ana Maria Velazquez, whose son went missing trying to cross the border into the United States. She, like many others, hopes for more empathy from politicians and longs for answers about the fate of her loved ones. Regardless of the outcome of the upcoming elections, families are united in their desire for action, transparency, and support from the government. They seek assurance that their pain and loss will not be exploited for political gain, but instead met with genuine efforts to bring closure and justice to their unresolved cases of disappearance.
