Morena Lists Support for Sheinbaum's Disappearance Initiatives
The Morena parliamentary group in the Chamber of Deputies is preparing to analyze and approve the presidential initiatives on the issue of disappeared persons, according to Gabriela Jiménez Godoy, vice-coordinator of the group. Jiménez Godoy assured that the Morena caucus will give unanimous support to the initiatives sent by President Claudia Sheinbaum to Congress. This move seeks to provide the legal foundations and comprehensively address the prevention, investigation, and care of victims of disappearance.
Details of the Proposed Initiatives
While the exact chamber of origin for these initiatives is still to be determined, Morena legislators are ready to delve into the details, discuss them thoroughly, and ultimately approve them. The expectation is that these initiatives, arriving on Monday, will be instrumental in strengthening the search and identification of missing persons and improving coordination between state and federal authorities.
According to the vice-coordinator of the Grupo Parlamentario de Morena en la Cámara de Diputados, Gabriela Jiménez Godoy, the reforms propose equating the crime of disappearance with that of kidnapping, standardizing penalties and investigative procedures across all state and federal prosecutor's offices. This alignment aims to increase the severity of sanctions and expedite investigations related to disappearances (Arellano, 2024).
«The crime of disappearances requires a commitment to the truth, justice, and reparation for families, as well as a comprehensive approach that strengthens prevention, investigation, and attention to victims. For these reasons, we will vote in favor of the initiatives that the President sends to Congress to contribute to and improve the legal framework to combat this scourge,» stated Jiménez Godoy.
Key Reforms and Transparency Measures
The reforms will include reinforcing and making more transparent the figures related to disappearances. Specifically, monthly publication of investigation files on disappearances, both in local prosecutor's offices and in the Attorney General's Office (FGR), will be established. This measure seeks to improve the response from authorities and guarantee investigations at the national level. This point aligns with the necessity for clear and accessible data, an important step towards achieving a more transparent approach to the fight against disappearances (Grupo Milenio, 2024).
Consolidating Identification and Forensic Information
President Sheinbaum's initiatives also encompass reforming the General Population Law to consolidate the single population certificate as the sole source of identity for individuals. This certificate would be cross-referenced with all existing administrative records in the country, facilitating identification and tracking.
Furthermore, reforms to the current General Law on Forced Disappearance of Persons and Disappearance Committed by Individuals, as well as to the National Search System for Persons, are planned. The goal is to create a unique forensic information database, fed by data from the forensic services of the 32 state prosecutor's offices and the FGR, as well as from state and federal forensic services. This centralized database represents a significant step forward in identifying and locating missing persons.
Challenges and Future Steps
Implementing these reforms effectively will require strong inter-institutional coordination, adequate resources, and a genuine commitment from the three branches of government to confront the disappearances that affect and grieve all Mexicans. Without these elements, even the most well-intentioned reforms could fall short of their goals. The commitment to provide the necessary resources and ensure effective coordination is crucial.
Impact on the Fight Against Disappearances
According to Silvia Arellano (2024), the proposed reforms will strengthen the search for missing persons, reinforce sanctions related to this crime, and create unique databases at the national level to combat this and other crimes. These measures are designed to provide more effective tools for authorities and families seeking their loved ones. The hope is that these changes will mark a turning point in the fight against disappearances in Mexico.
Strengthening the Legal Framework
The legislative initiatives that President Sheinbaum is expected to present on Monday will be debated and, presumably, supported by the Morena caucus. These initiatives aim to strengthen the legal framework and improve coordination between authorities. The vice-coordinator of the Morena parliamentary group highlights the importance of aligning the crime of disappearance with kidnapping in terms of sanctions and investigative procedures.
The Importance of Inter-institutional Coordination
The creation of a unique forensic information database, fed by data from state and federal forensic services, as well as reforming the General Population Law to consolidate the single population certificate as the unique source of identity for individuals are all key steps in the right direction. It's worth mentioning that without robust inter-institutional coordination and adequate resources, the fight against disappearances will be far from over.
- Strengthening the search for missing persons
- Reinforcing sanctions for crimes related to disappearances
- Creating unique national databases
