The Committee highlights that «all persons involved in Yonathan’s disappearance are shielded by impunity.»
May 3, 2023. Today, the United Nations Committee on Enforced Disappearances (CED-UN) issued its first ruling against Mexico. The case relates to the Enforced disappearance of Yonathan Isaac Mendoza Berrospe, whose relatives went to the UN represented by IDHEAS.
In its decision, the Committee considered that, according to the evidence, it was demonstrated that Yonathan Isaac’s disappearance occurred in the context of security operations carried out in the state of Veracruz in December 2013, involving agents of the Secretariat of the Navy (SEMAR) and state police.
Likewise, the Committee warned of severe omissions and irregularities on the part of the Attorney General’s Office and its counterpart in the state of Veracruz, who to date have not identified any responsible party, nor have they been able to locate the young man. The Committee observed that the case is suraunded by impunity and that the authorities of the Mexican State have not conducted a thorough and impartial investigation into Yonathan’s disappearance, which leads to the conclusion that the Mexican State forcibly disappeared the young man.
As a result, it ordered the Mexican State to ensure the effective search for Mr. Berrospe, as well as the prosecution of those responsible, including the chain of command. Moreover, it ordered reparations for the victims and the necessary measures to ensure non-repetition.
In this regard, Yonathan’s mother, Angélica Berrospe, thanked IDHEAS for its support in the search for her son and pointed out, «What I want is for them to return my son to me, I want to find my son. I want them to continue supporting us in carrying out the searches. I have no words.»
On the other hand, Juan Carlos Gutierrez Contreras, legal coordinator of IDHEAS, highlighted that «this decision is historic, not only for being the first decision against Mexico within the framework of the Universal System, but because the Committee highlights the obligation of the Mexican State to comply with what is ordered by the United Nations and cites the decision of the Supreme Court of Justice, which in Amparo 1077/2019, litigated by IDHEAS, established the binding nature of Urgent Actions. Likewise, the Committee points out that the State has not taken measures to guarantee the search for the victim and concludes that, nine years after the events, Mrs. Angélica and Mexican society do not know the truth about what happened to Yonathan. Neither the family nor Mexican society knows the names of those responsible for the events, and they have not been timely and sufficiently informed.»
IDHEAS. Litigio estratégico en derechos humanos. A.C.
