On October 4, 2024, human rights defender Sandra Domínguez and her husband, Alexander Hernández, disappeared from their home in María Lombardo de Caso, San Juan Cotzocón, Oaxaca, Mexico. Sandra’s family promptly reported their disappearance to the authorities.
We urge Mexican officials to take immediate action, use all available resources, and work closely with Sandra’s family and search teams to locate her alive. Those responsible must be held accountable.
Here’s what you can do:
Write to the Governor of the State of Oaxaca urging the authorities to:
- Find Sandra Domínguez alive by using all available resources and acting without delay.
- Coordinate closely with her family and all relevant authorities in the search efforts.
- Ensure a transparent investigation that identifies and prosecutes those responsible.
- Uphold human rights protections for defenders facing threats and violence.
Write to:
Governor Salomón Jara Cruz
State of Oaxaca
Valerio Trujano s/n, Centro Histórico
68000 Oaxaca de Juárez,
Oaxaca, Mexico
Email: teresita.villalobos@oaxaca.gob.mx
X: @salomonj / @GobOax
Salutation: Dear Governor,
And copy:
His Excellency Carlos Manuel Joaquin Gonzalez
Ambassador
Embassy of the United Mexican States
45 O’Connor Street, Suites 1000, 1010 and 1030
Ottawa, ON K1P 1A4
Tel: (613) 233-8988, -9272, -9917 / 613-795-1868 (24h)
Email: infocan@sre.gob.mx
A courageous advocate for women’s rights
Sandra Domínguez, an Ayuuk Indigenous human rights defender from Oaxaca, Mexico, is a lawyer who fights against gender-based violence. In 2020, she exposed a WhatsApp group where Oaxaca state officials shared sexual images of Indigenous women. She was among the victims and took legal action against one of the officials involved. Her bravery in seeking justice made her a target. On October 8, 2024, her family reported her disappearance to authorities.
A crisis of disappearances in Mexico
Disappearances remain a serious crisis in Mexico. In 2024 alone, the National Search Commission (CNB) recorded at least 10,228 new cases. By October 2024, official data showed 116,615 people had gone missing or disappeared since 1952.
Families and communities searching for their loved ones face extreme risks, including threats, violence, and even enforced disappearance. Amnesty International’s report, Searching Without Fear: International Standards for protecting women searchers in the Americas, highlights that searching for the disappeared is a human right. It also underscores the urgent need for governments to protect women searchers, who often face unique dangers..
Please take action as soon as possible until April 16, 2025. The UA will be duly updated should there be the need for further action.
