The Search for Justice: Examining the resilience of Mexican women in the search for their loved ones

Thousands of people have vanished in the Americas as a result of organised crime, violent wars, and power abuses. More than 116,000 people are officially missing in Mexico alone, which has left families frantic to find their loved ones.

Among these initiatives, Hasta Encontrarte, a collective made up primarily of women who have used their grief as an opportunity to take action, stands out. Their unrelenting quest for the missing reveals the obvious flaws in the government’s protection and response, in addition to the horrific personal cost of these disappearances.

Amnesty International reported that families of the missing have formed around 200 groups to search for their loved ones.

Hasta Encontrarte, a collective founded in 2021 in Guanajuato, consists of 86 families, with 99% of its members being women.

The group has discovered 23 clandestine graves and recovered 203 missing persons.

Advocacy and Emotional Support

Hasta Encontrarte also advocates for policy changes with national authorities and international organizations. The collective provides emotional support and a sense of sisterhood to its members during their difficult search efforts.

Key Figures in the Search Effort

Karla Martínez: Searching for her brother, Juan Valentín Martínez Jiménez, missing since February 2020. She faced governmental inaction and undertook independent searches.

Bibiana Mendoza: Searching for her brother, Manuel Ojeda Negrete, missing since January 2018. Despite threats, she remains active in the search, drawing strength from the collective.

Verónica Duran: Searching for her son, Iván Arturo Silva Durán, missing since November 2019. She has faced job loss and mental anguish but continues her advocacy.

Governmental Inaction and Responsibility

Families are now on their own to handle problems as the Mexican government has mainly failed to aid in the search for the missing.

The absence of official assistance draws attention to structural problems with the way the government handles disappearances and the needs of impacted families.

Empowerment Through Collective Action

The women of Hasta Encontrarte have discovered resilience and strength via their group actions, despite the risks and psychological toll. The group provides vital support for those involved in the search as well as assistance with the actual physical search for the missing.

The Role of Women in Advocacy

The women of Hasta Encontrarte represent the larger fight of women who are fighting for the rights of the disappeared on the front lines throughout the Americas.

Their activism is essential for keeping the public informed about the problem and for exerting pressure on the authorities to respond.

Global Guidelines and Safety

The campaign and report by Amnesty International highlight the necessity for governments to enact policies that safeguard women who conduct searches. These guidelines are essential for establishing secure settings where women can carry out their search efforts without fear.