By Miguel Ramírez, head of operations of the ICRC in Mexico
Diana Gutiérrez’s mother Adulfa is 81 years old and disappeared on 13 September 2016 in the State of Mexico. Her daughter and other relatives have been searching for her ever since. They treasure their memories of Adulfa and remember her as a loving woman who enjoyed a cup of coffee and a good film.
It is very hard for the relatives of missing people, says Nailea Carreño, from Guanajuato, who is looking for her sister Sharon, who disappeared on 21 June 2020. Before she disappeared, Sharon would come home and go straight to bed with her dinner. “I used to find that annoying, but now I miss it,” admits Nailea, whose daily routine is now focused around getting involved in search parties and praying that her sister will be found.
In Mexico, the scourge of violence is ever-present, complex and constantly changing. The number of violent deaths in Mexico is at a critical level, with 23 homicides per 100,000 inhabitants in 2023, according to calculations based on official data. Violence breaks down the fabric of society, leaving a trail of missing people, unmarked graves, forced migration, broken families, mental health problems and more. It restricts mobility and access to basic services such as education and health.
At the same time, Mexico, like many other coun