Author: Emma Buckhout
Today marks two years since the enforced disappearance of the 43 students from the Ayotzinapa rural teachers’ college on the night of September 26 and 27, 2014—that’s two long dark years that their families and friends have been battling through sorrow and fighting for truth and justice.
In this high-profile case there have been important steps forward thanks to the work of independent experts supported by the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR). Yet the Mexican government has continued to obstruct investigations and insist on its own version of events that have been proven false by numerous studies. This is unacceptable. And even more, there are over 27,000 registered disappeared persons in Mexico since 2007, and that’s just according to official figures. The delays, inconsistencies, and backsliding in the Ayotzinapa case reflect Mexico’s broader lack of progress on addressing human rights violations in the country and should not be tolerated.
On the 2nd anniversary of the egregious attacks and enforced disappearances of the Ayotzinapa students, LAWG stands with their families and thousands more across Mexico that are fighting for justice. We make the following demands:
- U.S. government should support and monitor the immediate implementation of the IACHR supported follow-up mechanism and ensure that justice is brought to the families of the students;
- Mexican government should redouble its search for the students including by following up on leads obtained through laser scanning technology, or LIDAR;
- Mexico’s Attorney General’s Office should investigate and prosecute Tomás Zerón and other individuals including federal, state, and municipal police responsible for obstruction of justice, enforced disappearance, and other human rights violations against the students; and
- Mexican government should pass a well-funded Disappearance Law that incorporates the demands of the families of the disappeared, including a national search mechanism and a means for families to participate in the monitoring of the law.
We need your help—raise your voice and stand with the families of the Ayotzinapa students and thousands more sons and daughters across Mexico to demand truth and justice!
Speak out and share on Facebook:
Spread the word on Twitter:
- In English: Where are they? I demand truth & justice for families of #Ayotzinapa43 & thousands more across Mexico. #Ayot2inapa pic.twitter.com/NjohrouZfQ
- En español: ¿Dónde están? Exijo verdad y justicia para los 43 normalistas desaparecidos, y miles más en México. #Ayot2inapa pic.twitter.com/RVAi9dxjFM
Join us in-person in Washington, DC today, September 26th, 6:30-8pm: Mexican Human Rights Experts Speak Out on Migrants and Families of Disappeared in Mexico
See event on Facebook here.
See the LAWG Blog for more information on the case:
- Two Years Later—LAWG Calls for Justice for Families & Full Support for Ayotzinapa Follow-up Mechanism
- Ayotzinapa Case: Spring 2016 Update, Resources
Thank you for your support and solidarity!
