Authorities in Oaxaca have failed to approve a Programme for the Search for Missing Persons in the State of Oaxaca, more than a year after its completion led by the victims’ families. Without an approved programme, efforts to locate missing persons remain fragmented, uncoordinated, and ineffective. With a sharp increase in missing persons over recent years – from 418 in 2022 to 760 in 2025 – the situation in the state is critical. The delay in approval contravenes obligations of the Mexican state under international human rights law and standards, which emphasize the duty to guarantee effective search mechanisms and protect the rights of victims and their families. We demand authorities the immediate approval and implementation of the Programme.
