Help Mothers of the Disappeared Find Justice

Covid-19 has shaken the world, causing the closure of borders, airports, schools, companies and has in general, paralyzed the entire world. In line with the above, Mexico reaches day 65 of the social distancing decreed by the federal government, and due to which many of the government agencies have suspended or reduced their activities to stop the spread of the disease. The health emergency has also caused groups of relatives of missing persons to have suspended their search activities.

Relatives, adhering to the rules of social distancing, have been forced to remain in their homes, thus putting a forced halt in their searches. For families looking to locate a relative, this situation becomes more difficult every day. Each day of compulsory isolation is a potential day wasted where a loved one could have returned home. The relatives stay at home, being aware that only in this way can they stay healthy to continue searching for the more than 61,000 people who have disappeared. Staying healthy to continue looking for their relatives is what motivates mothers, daughters and sisters in Veracruz to remain in confinement in their homes.

Despite the confinement and due to the lack of an optimal response by the government of Veracruz and the federal government, on May 10, women looking for a family member who has disappeared, took to the streets of Xalapa to demand that the search is not stopped, and for the authorities to clarify how the search would continue during the duration of the health emergency.

Considering at the moment, women looking for a family member are going through a difficult time, due to the uncertainty of the continuation of the search process by the authorities and at the same time when they’ll be able to return to the streets and farms to continue their work.In these days of quarantine, and being aware of the difficult situation that the members of the groups are going through, the IMDHD held a self-care session for the women of the groups, to help them cope healthily with the quarantine process, as well as alleviate any emotional distress, have a space in which they talk about what worries them, as well as what gives them hope and strength to continue. During the session, we also provided some exercises for them to practice, as well as general health tips to make them feel better and as soon as possible, to be able to resume their activities while being healthy and strong.

This week, the aim is to start with humanitarian support to members of the groups that due to the health emergency, have lost their jobs or their income has been seriously affected due to mobility restrictions or the closure of non-essential businesses. We seek to provide humanitarian support to family members in the State of Mexico and Veracruz. The humanitarian aid that is sought to be provided will be made up of medical supplies, food, as well as medicines.