Mujeres buscadoras (in English, the “searching women”) are Mexican women who track missing relatives in contexts of violence and unequal treatment. In their search, they go through fields, hospitals, clandestine graves, and morgues, often at great personal risk. These women regularly face threats, attacks, forced displacement, and even murder. In its most recent session, the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) urged the Mexican government to integrate mujeres buscadoras into the national protection mechanism for human rights defenders and journalists. The Committee emphasized the urgent need for preventive measures that not only safeguard these women from further harm but also formally recognize them as human rights defenders.
Compiled From: “México debe reconocer a las mujeres buscadoras como defensoras de los derechos humanos,” Noticias ONU, Jul 7, 2025.