UN demands answers in the case of missing persons; care has been provided: SG

Jessica Xantomila and Alexia Villaseñor

La Jornada Newspaper
Friday, January 16, 2026, p. 8

As yesterday marked three years since the disappearance of lawyer Ricardo Lagunes Gasca and indigenous defender Antonio Díaz Valencia, experts from the United Nations (UN) demanded immediate answers about the fate and whereabouts of the victims. For its part, the Ministry of the Interior reported that “it has provided permanent, coordinated and good faith attention, in strict accordance with the national legal framework and the international commitments assumed by the country.”

The agency maintained that following the notification of the Urgent Action issued by the UN Committee against Forced Disappearances and the precautionary measure granted by the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights, inter-institutional coordination mechanisms were immediately activated in matters of investigation, search, care for victims and protection, with the permanent participation of family members and their legal representation.

In an information card, he pointed out that there is currently a dynamic institutional work path that is constantly reviewed and strengthened. In addition, international organizations will continue to be informed in a timely manner.

In a statement, UN experts, including members of the working groups on Forced or Involuntary Disappearances and on Business and Human Rights, said that Mexican authorities must comply with international obligations to investigate, proactively search, locate and hold perpetrators criminally accountable.

They recalled that Ricardo and Antonio were last seen after attending a community meeting, amid an ongoing dispute over natural resources between San Miguel de Aquila, Michoacán, and the Luxembourg-based mining company Ternium (part of the Argentine-Italian group Techint).

They stated that the families of the victims have reported that to date the Mexican authorities have not provided an effective response and that the company in question has not fully cooperated with the investigations and search activities.