Silenced by the State: Enforced Disappearances in Latin America

Abstract

Enforced disappearances persist as one of the most severe human rights violations in Latin America. This paper evaluates the effectiveness of distinct state responses to these crimes against humanity in Argentina, Colombia, and Mexico, more specifically, the Argentine Dirty War, Colombia's "falsos positivos" (false positives), and the Ayotzinapa case in Mexico. Although these countries have developed institutional mechanisms to battle this major challenge, their outcomes remain insufficient. Through a comparative case study of each nation’s truth commission reports and institutional systems, the study examines whether these mechanisms have led to accountability and effectiveness by examining the discovery of the truth, the prosecution of perpetrators, reparations, and guarantees against repetition. Many countries view Argentina as a leading figure and model, yet it continues to face significant obstacles in advancing the cause of victims. Colombia and Mexico have also demonstrated signs of expansion that combat enforced disappearances, but there are notable drawbacks and limitations. The findings suggest that, while legal and institutional reforms and frameworks are important, they are individually inadequate to ensure accountability and protection for victims.