The Veracruz State Congress approved reforms to the Law on the Disappearance of Persons, which provide for the reduction of procedural deadlines, the incorporation of technological and forensic tools, and the implementation of effective coordination to locate missing persons.
At the proposal of Governor Rocío Nahle García, the legal changes were approved with 41 votes in favor and three against. These changes will oblige the state to fulfill its obligation to conduct an immediate, exhaustive, and diligent search for missing persons.
What do the changes include?
The legal changes include sanctions for public officials who delay investigations, in addition to strengthening the right to the truth and access to justice for victims and those searching.
The reform establishes the use of the Unique Population Registry Code as a basis for identification to facilitate the location of missing persons, and the creation of a Single Identity Platform that connects all records and enables rapid and efficient searches.
Furthermore, public and private institutions that safeguard human remains are required to maintain up-to-date records and guarantee forensic identification before any burial. Coordination between authorities is strengthened to avoid delays due to disputes over jurisdiction and ensure immediate responses.
It is established that the Specialized Prosecutor’s Office for the Attention of Reports of Missing Persons and the State Attorney General’s Office will have specialized personnel trained and certified in the investigation of the crimes covered by the Law.
As well as Specialized Investigation Units, Context Analysis Units, Victim Assistance and Follow-up Units, Immediate and Long-Term Search Units, and specialized areas for cybercrime.
It will be guaranteed that the investigation file number and the unique identification number, as well as the information necessary to inform the families of missing persons about the progress of the investigation, will be immediately provided.
Additionally, the State has the obligation to provide comprehensive welfare measures, with emphasis on the children of missing persons, and the protocols established for this purpose will contain safety and protection plans for families.
Source: msn
