Mexico AG's office proposes stronger probes into disappearances, extortion, femicide

Mexico's Attorney General's Office (FGR) has put forward new proposals aimed at strengthening the investigation of serious crimes, including disappearances, extortion, and femicide. The initiatives were presented during the 54th Plenary Assembly of the National Conference of Justice Prosecutors (CNPJ), chaired by FGR head Ernestina Godoy Ramos.

The FGR's proposals focus on standardizing the capabilities and procedures used by different prosecutor offices. This includes developing specialized skills for investigating disappearances, upholding human rights, improving forensic capacities, and handling cases of extortion and femicide. The office also seeks to professionalize its personnel and enhance the collection of crime data.

A significant challenge highlighted is the investigation of disappearances, which requires specialized and standardized search and investigation methods, along with inter-institutional coordination and comprehensive support for victims and their families. To address this, the FGR, through its Specialized Prosecutor's Office for Human Rights, has promoted a National Strategy to Strengthen Prosecutor Offices specializing in disappearances.

Furthermore, a national diagnosis was conducted to assess the current capacities, strengths, and needs of state prosecutor offices. This assessment aims to identify discrepancies and successful practices, paving the way for coordinated actions to improve the investigation, search, location, identification, and support for victims and their families. An updated Homologated Protocol for the Investigation of Disappearances was also approved, developed with input from families, collectives, international organizations, and civil society. This protocol establishes a national, coordinated methodology with a human rights perspective, incorporating differentiated approaches for vulnerable groups.

Additionally, the conference approved an updated Homologated Protocol for Investigating Crimes Against Human Rights Defenders. This protocol aligns with a ruling by the Inter-American Court of Human Rights in the Digna Ochoa case and emphasizes the rights of defenders, recognizing them as rights holders requiring enhanced protection. The implementation of these protocols involves dissemination, training, institutional adaptation, and ongoing monitoring and evaluation.