Mother’s Day in Mexico City was a sombre occasion for Joanna Alvear of Toluca as she joined hundreds of women at the Mother’s Monument, holding homemade posters in search of their missing loved ones. Alvear, representing one of the estimated 111,000 missing persons in Mexico today, clutched a poster with a heart-breaking plea for her daughter Lilith.
Every year on Mother’s Day, families of the disappeared march through Mexico City demanding answers in the unsolved cases. With the upcoming nationwide elections, concerns arise about the government’s handling of disappearances under President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador and if his successor can do better.
Despite promises from Lopez Obrador, families like Alvear’s have had to lead their own searches due to lack of government support. The number of disappearances has continued to rise, reaching over 100,000 in 2022. The government’s recent census, categorising disappearances ambiguously, has caused backlash from families and advocates who say the true scale of the problem is not being represented.
As the election nears, candidates have promised to address public concerns about disappearances and government corruption used to cover up crimes. However, many families remain sceptical about real change and are pushing for empathy, understanding, and answers from the government.